Students today expect learning to be both efficient and interesting. They use online materials and study aids to supplement class-assigned materials and to "hack" the law. This textbook cuts out the middle person by integrating challenging principal cases that are aggressively edited into an engaging overview of the black letter law. The explanatory sections describe the law through lively language and colorful examples that students can readily grasp and remember. Providing students with a clear doctrinal overview permits the selection of cases that drill down deeper into fundamental or cutting-edge issues. Many of the principal cases put the old wine of the criminal law into new bottles that students will find meaningful and interesting. In addition to homicide, rape, assault, traditional property crimes and drug offenses, the cases selected include environmental and white collar crime, obstruction of justice, criminal copyright infringement, hate crimes, sex trafficking, online threats, revenge porn and computer crimes. Short discussion questions follow each case that stimulate understanding of the holding and the deeper issues at stake. Additional materials raise important critical perspectives dealing with issues of race, class and gender. Practice problems and links to online video clips allow students to apply what they are learning, and the appendix contains numerous materials for engaging lawyering exercises.

A book that students find interesting and instructors consider educationally valuable, this Fifth Edition of Contemporary Criminal Law combines traditional concepts with thought-provoking cases and engaging learning tools. Taking a casebook approach, the text covers both foundational and emerging legal topics such as terrorism, gangs, cybercrime, and hate crimes, illustrated by real-life examples that students connect with. Clear explanations of criminal law and defenses are complemented by provocative, well-edited cases followed by discussion questions to stimulate critical thinking and in-class discussion. The book provides a contemporary perspective on criminal law that encourages students to actively read and analyze the text. The Fifth Edition is enhanced throughout by new cases that offer the most up-to-date coverage of evolving legal opinions and developments in criminal law. New to This Edition New cases illuminate important concepts, including decisions on criminal acts, criminal intent, parties, corporate crime, kidnapping, identity theft, computer crime, prostitution, terrorism, and more. One or more new You Decide sections in most chapters clarify concepts to illustrate the complexity of legal analysis and enhance the interactive character of the text. Additional hypothetical problems are available on the companion site. New Crime in the News features look at recent events such as the criminal trial of Dylann Roof, the dark web, and the leaking of confidential government documents to help students apply important concepts to real-world scenarios. New and expanded discussions of critical topics cover the Second Amendment and gun control, the Trump administration's stance on marijuana, sentencing guidelines, and criminal defenses.

In his student treatise, noted authority Paul Robinson uses the Model Penal Code, realistic hypotheticals, and lucid explanations to describe the existing rules of American criminal law. (In fact, professors consistantly remark on how well written and clear Robinson's text is.) He explains the reasoning behind those rules, The interrelation among them, and their application. Robinson gives the MPC's position on each topic, along with the most common deviations from it. Rather than viewing each rule in isolation, he examines each part of criminal law as a piece of a machine for determining criminal liability. The six parts of the book define those interrelationships: Introduction General Principles in the Definition of Offenses Principles of Imputation General Defenses Inchoate Liability Specific Offenses Since lawyers who know the reasoning of the drafters have a powerful advantage in arguing for a particular interpretation of a code provision, Robinson points students to important bibliographic sources at the end of each section. Each chapter starts with a hypothetical based on a real case. Throughout the chapter, Robinson refers back To The hypothetical, using it as a vehicle to analyze and clarify abstract concepts. Numerous footnotes, case references, and bibliographies make this text a lasting research tool. For a meaningful exploration of this fascinating area of study, you can depend on Paul Robinson's Criminal Law . Be sure to recommend this vital work to your next criminal law class.

This is a comprehensive, introductory criminal law textbook that expands upon traditional concepts and cases by coverage of the most contemporary topics and issues. Contemporary material, including terrorism, computer crimes, and hate crimes, serves to illuminate the ever-evolving relationship between criminal law, society and the criminal justice system's role in balancing competing interests. The case method is used throughout the book as an effective and creative learning tool.Features include:" vignettes, core concepts, 'Cases and Concepts', 'You Decides, excerpts from state statutes, 'legal equations' and Crime in the News boxes" fully developed end-of-chapter pedagogy includes review questions, legal terminology and 'Criminal Law on the Web' resources" instructor resources (including PowerPoint slides, a computerized testbank and classroom activities) and a Student Study Site accompany this text

These original essays introduce students to the complex and influential field of critical criminology. It presents many of the theories of critical criminology — Marxist, Feminist, Left Realist, Postmodern, Constitutive, Peacemaking, and Restorative Justice — and explores how, despite their distinctions, each theory is rooted in radical criminology, and all are critical of mainstream criminology.

Controversial Issues in Crime and Justice, the first volume in the Studies in Crime, Law and Justice series, addresses many of the current controversial issues in criminology. The contributors look at various stages of the criminal justice system, beginning with types of crime, then focusing on the police, the courts and finally imprisonment and its alternatives.

Beverley McLachlin was the first woman to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. Joining the Court while it was establishing its approach to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, McLachlin aided the court in weathering the public backlash against controversial decisions during her tenure. Controversies in the Common Law explores Chief Justice McLachlin’s approach to legal reasoning, examines her remarkable contributions in controversial areas of the common law, and highlights the role of judicial philosophy in shaping the law. Chapters in this book span thirty years, and deal with a variety of topics – including tort, unjust enrichment, administrative and criminal law. The contributors show that McLachlin had a philosophical streak that drove her to ensure unity and consistency in the common law, and to prefer incremental change over revolution. Celebrating the career of an influential jurist, Controversies in the Common Law demonstrates how the common law approach taken by Chief Justice McLachlin has been successful in managing criticism and ensuring the legitimacy of the Court.