Understanding criminal law

The topics covered [in this book] are those most often raised in criminal law casebooks, and coverage of these subjects is meant to complement professors' classroom discussions. The text focuses on the basic elements of, and defenses to, all crimes; provides in-depth coverage of such crimes as homicide, rape, and theft; and covers other important topics covered in the Criminal Law course, such as accomplice and inchoate liability. [This book] also covers theories of punishment, sources of the criminal law, and overarching principles such as legality and proportionality. The common law is emphasized with extensive comparisons to the Model Penal Code and modern statutes. This edition offers the most significant updating ever, including coverage of quickly-changing legal areas, such as sexual assault and self-defense law. Recent and ongoing revisions to the Model Penal Code are also covered.*

Contents

• Preface to the eighth edition

• Criminal law : an overview

• Principles of criminal punishment

• Sources of the criminal law

• Constitutional limits on the criminal law

• Legality

• Proportionality

• Burdens of proof

• Presumptions

• Actus reus

• Mens rea

• Strict liability

• Mistakes of fact

• Mistakes of law

• Causation

• Concurrence of elements

• Defenses : an overview

• Justifications and excuses

• Self-defense

• Defense of others

• Defense of property and habitation

• Law enforcement defenses

• Necessity

• Duress

• Intoxication

• Insanity

• Diminished capacity

• Attempt

• Solicitation

• Conspiracy

• Liability for the acts of others : complicity

• Criminal homicide

• Theft

• Rape (sexual assault)