Criminal Law Examples and Explanations Book

Chapter 1: The Sources and the Limitations of the Criminal Law

• Overview
• Sources of Criminal Law -The Common Law as a Source of Criminal Law -Legislative Sources -The Model Penal Code as a Source of Criminal Law -Constitutional Sources and Limits
• Limitations on the Criminal Law -The Principle of Legality -Ex Post Facto -The Rule of Lenity -Void for Vagueness
• The Burden of Proof
• Examples and Explanations

Chapter 2: The Purposes of Punishment

• Overview
• Defining Punishment
• The Purposes of Punishment -Utilitarianism -Retribution -The Relationship of the Theories
• Examples and Explanations

Chapter 3: Actus Reus

• Overview
• The Common Law -Voluntary Act -Omission and Legal Duty -Moral Duty -Possession
• The Model Penal Code -Voluntary Act -Omission and Legal Duty -A More Precise Definition for Actus Reus -Possession
• Examples and Explanations

Chapter 4: The Doctrines of Mens Rea

• Overview
• The Concepts of Mens Rea -'Traditional' and 'Statutory' Mens Rea -Specific Kinds of Mens Rea
• The Relevance of Motive -Motive as Specific Intent -Motive and Defenses
• Contemporaneity, Prior Fault, and Time Frames
• Statutory Interpretation and Mens Rea -Principles of Statutory Construction -Element Analysis -The 'Default Position'
• The Model Penal Code -Element Analysis -The Default Position Under the Code -Subjectivity vs. Objectivity
• Examples and Explanations

Chapter 5: Mistake

• Overview
• Mistake and Ignorance of Law -Ignorance of the Law -Mistake of Law -The Model Penal Code
• Mistake of Fact -Reasonableness and Specific Intent -Knowledge and Willful Blindness
• Mistake of Legal Fact
• Model Penal Code
• A Note on the Future of Mistake
• Examples and Explanations

Chapter 6: Strict Liability

• Overview
• The Reach of Strict Criminal Liability
• Legislative Intent, Positivism, and Democracy
• Definitions and Indicia of Strict Liability -Public Welfare Offenses -Mala in Se ('Real') vs. Mala Prohibita ('Unreal'?) Crimes -'Regulatory' or 'Police' Offense -The Litmus Test of Available Punishments -Innocent Actors
• Strict vs. Vicarious Liability
• Policy Analysis: Arguments For and Against Strict Liability
• Alternatives to Strict Liability
• 'Greater Crime' Theory
• Constitutionality
• The Model Penal Code
• A Recap and Methodology
• Examples and Explanations

Chapter 7: Causation

• Overview
• The Rationale of Causation
• The Elements of Causation -The Common Law -Proximate Cause -Contributory Negligence and Proximate Causation
• The Model Penal Code -Responsibility for Causing Harm -'But For' Causation -Other Causation, Concurrent Causation, and Transferred Intent -Culpability as to Result
• Examples and Explanations

Chapter 8: Homicide

• Overview
• Human Being -When Does Life Begin? -When Does Life End?
• Murder -'Original' Murder: Killing with 'Malice Aforethought' -Presumed Malice -Gradations of Murder -The Model Penal Code Approach -Some Further Thoughts
• Felony Murder -Introduction -Restrictions on the Doctrine: 'Cause' Questions
• Manslaughter -Voluntary Manslaughter/Involuntary Manslaughter -The Model Penal Code Approach
• Examples and Explanations

Chapter 9: Rape

• Overview
• The Common Law Approach -Definition -Spousal Immunity -Force -Threat of Force -Attacking the Credibility of the Complainant -Fraud -American Common Law
• The Actus Reus of Rape
• The Mens Rea of Rape
• The Model Penal Code -Second-Degree Rape -First-Degree Rape -Gross Sexual Imposition
• Modern Rape Statutes -Rape by Force or Threat of Serious Bodily Injury -Rape in the First Degree -Spousal Immunity -Rape Because No Legally Effective Consent
• Evidence Reforms