Full Description
For sophomore/junior-level courses in Criminal Law, Introduction to Criminal Law, Criminal Law and Procedure, and Administration of Justice. This text is designed to introduce students to the fundamental nature of law, to give them an overview of general legal principles, and to help them develop a special understanding of the historical development of criminal law and its contemporary form and function in today's American society. Real stories and photographs of contemporary situations and issues bring the content to life, and Capstone Cases provide insights into the everyday workings of American jurisprudence and illustrate the logic by which appellate decisions are made.
Contents
(NOTE:Each chapter begins with an Introduction and concludes with a Summary, Questions for Discussion, Legal Resource on the World Wide Web, Suggested Readings and Classic Works, as well as Capstone Cases.) 1. The Nature and History of Criminal Law. What Is Criminal Law? The Purpose of Law? Historical Sources of Today's Law. The Federal System. The Model Penal Code. 2. Criminal Liability and the Essence of Crime. The Adversarial System. The Basic Elements of Crime. 3. Expanding the Concept of Crime. Corpus Delicti. Additional Elements of Crime. 4. Extending Criminal Liability: Inchoate Offenses and Parties to Crime. Criminal Attempt. Criminal Conspiracy. Criminal Solicitation. Parties to Crime. 5. Justifications as Defenses. Types of Defense. The Nature of Defense. Justification as a Defense. 6. Excuses as Defenses. The Nature of Excuses. Categories of Excuses. 7. The Defense of Insanity. Competency to Stand Trial. Purpose of the Insanity Defense. The Insanity Defense-A Common Misunderstanding. What Is Insanity? History of Insanity Defense. Diminished Capacity. How Widely Used Is the Insanity Defense? 8. Legal and Social Dimensions of Personal Crime: Homicide. Criminal Homicide. Murder. Mansluaghter. Negligent Homicide. Suicide. 9. Legal and Social Dimensions of Personal Crime: Assault, Battery, and Other Personal Crimes. Assault, Battery, and Mayhem. Sex Offenses. Kidnapping and False Imprisonment. 10. Legal and Social Dimensions of Property and Computer Crimes. Theft Crimes. Consolidation of Theft Crimes. Burglary. Arson. Computer and High-Technology Crimes. 11. Offenses against Public Order and the Administration of Justice. Crimes Against Public Order. Crimes Against the Administration of Government. 12. Offenses against Public Morality. Crimes Against Public Decency and Morality. 13. Victims and the Law. Who Is a Victim? A Short History of the Victim. Victim's Rights Legislation. Victim Statistics. The Costs of Criminal Victimization. Restitution. 14. Punishment and Sentencing. Sentencing Rationales. Imposing Criminal Sanctions. Plea Bargaining. Traditional Sentencing Options. Hate Crimes. Capital Punishment. Intermediate Sanctions. Appendix A: The Constitution of the United States of America. Appendix B: The Model Penal Code Excerpts. Glossary. Table of Cases. Subject Index.
