Criminal Law Today : An Introduction with Capstone Cases

by Schmalleger, Frank

• ISBN13: 9780131702875
• ISBN10: 0131702874
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-01-01
• Publisher: Pearson College Div

Summary

This book is designed to introduce readers 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.This volume provides complete coverage of the nature and history of criminal law, criminal liability and the essence of crime, the concept of crime, justifications as defenses, excuses as defenses, the defense of insanity, legal and social dimensions of homicide, assault, battery, and other personal crimes, property and computer crimes, offenses against public order and the administration of justice, offenses against public morality, victims and the law, and punishment and sentencing.For individuals interested in criminal law and its function in society.

Table of Contents

Preface	xvii
Acknowledgments	xix
About the Author	xxi
The Nature and History of Criminal Law	2	(42)
Introduction	3	(1)
What Is Criminal Law?	3	(6)
Types of Crime	5	(2)
Types of Law	7	(2)
The Purpose of Law	9	(6)
Moral Enterprise	10	(1)
The Role of Criminal Law	11	(1)
The Rule of Law	12	(3)
Historical Sources of Today's Law	15	(10)
Natural Law	15	(3)
Early Codes	18	(2)
Common Law	20	(3)
The U.S. Constitution	23	(2)
The Federal System	25	(1)
The Model Penal Code	26	(1)
Summary	27	(1)
Questions for Discussion	28	(1)
Legal Resources on the World Wide Web	28	(2)
Suggested Readings and Classic Works	30	(1)
How to Brief a Case	31	(13)
Criminal Liability and the Essence of Crime	44	(42)
Introduction	45	(1)
The Adversarial System	46	(5)
Standards of Proof	47	(3)
Criminal Liability	50	(1)
The Legal Essence of Criminal Conduct	51	(13)
The Criminal Act	52	(4)
State of Mind	56	(8)
Concurrence	64	(1)
Summary	64	(1)
Questions for Discussion	65	(1)
Legal Resources on the World Wide Web	65	(1)
Suggested Readings and Classic Works	66	(1)
Capstone Cases	67	(19)
Expanding the Concept of Crime	86	(22)
Introduction	87	(1)
Corpus Delicti	88	(2)
Additional Elements of Crime	90	(8)
Causation	90	(2)
Resulting Harm	92	(2)
The Principle of Legality	94	(2)
Necessary Attendant Circumstances	96	(2)
Summary	98	(1)
Questions for Discussion	99	(1)
Legal Resources on the World Wide Web	99	(1)
Suggested Readings and Classic Works	100	(1)
Capstone Cases	100	(8)
Extending Criminal Liability: Inchoate Offenses and Parties to Crime	108	(54)
Introduction	109	(1)
Criminal Attempt	110	(8)
The Act Requirement	112	(1)
Preparation	112	(3)
Defenses	115	(2)
Completed Offense	117	(1)
Punishment	117	(1)
Criminal Conspiracy	118	(6)
Doctrine of Complicity	119	(1)
Elements of the Crime	120	(1)
Plurality Requirement	120	(1)
Required Intent	121	(1)
Parties to a Conspiracy	122	(1)
Duration of Conspiracy	122	(2)
Criminal Solicitation	124	(2)
Parties to Crime	126	(10)
Relationship of Complicity	127	(1)
Accomplice Liability	127	(1)
Accessory	128	(2)
The Criminal Liability of Corporations	130	(5)
Vicarious Liability	135	(1)
Summary	136	(1)
Questions for Discussion	137	(1)
Legal Resources on the World Wide Web	138	(1)
Suggested Readings and Classic Works	138	(1)
Capstone Cases	139	(23)
Justifications as Defenses	162	(34)
Introduction	163	(1)
Types of Defenses	164	(1)
The Nature of Defenses	165	(1)
Justification as a Defense	166	(15)
Necessity	166	(2)
Self-Defense	168	(4)
Defense of Others	172	(3)
Defense of Home and Property	175	(3)
Resisting Unlawful Arrest	178	(2)
Consent	180	(1)
Summary	181	(1)
Questions for Discussion	182	(1)
Legal Resources on the World Wide Web	183	(1)
Suggested Readings and Classic Works	183	(1)
Capstone Cases	183	(13)
Excuses as Defenses	196	(54)
Introduction	197	(1)
The Nature of Excuses	198	(1)
Categories of Excuses	199	(23)
Duress	200	(1)
Intoxication	201	(3)
Mistake	204	(6)
Age	210	(2)
Entrapment	212	(2)
Syndrome-Based Defense Enhancements	214	(8)
Summary	222	(1)
Questions for Discussion	223	(1)
Legal Resources on the World Wide Web	223	(1)
Suggested Readings and Classic Works	224	(1)
Capstone Cases	224	(26)
The Defense of Insanity	250	(38)
Introduction	251	(1)
Competency to Stand Trial	252	(8)
Purpose of the Insanity Defense	260	(2)
The Insanity Defense---A Common Misunderstanding	262	(1)
What Is Insanity?	263	(1)
History of the Insanity Defense	264	(10)
The M'Naughten Rule---Knowing Right from Wrong	265	(3)
Control Rules---The Irresistible Impulse Test	268	(3)
The Durham Rule---Crime as a Product of Mental Disease	271	(1)
The ALI Test---Substantial Capacity	271	(1)
Guilty but Mentally III (GBMI)	272	(1)
The Doctrine of Settled Insanity	273	(1)
Diminished Capacity	274	(2)
How Widely Used is the Insanity Defense?	276	(1)
Consequences of an Insanity Finding	277	(1)
Abolishing the Insanity Defense	278	(1)
Summary	279	(1)
Questions for Discussion	280	(1)
Legal Resources on the World Wide Web	280	(1)
Suggested Readings and Classic Works	281	(1)
Capstone Cases	282	(6)
Legal and Social Dimensions of Personal Crime: Homicide	288	(42)
Introduction	289	(1)
Criminal Homicide	290	(7)
Corpus Delicti	291	(1)
Taking of a Life	291	(2)
Defining ``Death''	293	(2)
Time of Death	295	(1)
Proximate Cause and Homicide	296	(1)
Murder	297	(5)
Malice Aforethought	297	(2)
Capital Murder	299	(2)
Felony Murder	301	(1)
Manslaughter	302	(4)
Voluntary Manslaughter	302	(2)
Involuntary Manslaughter	304	(2)
Negligent Homicide	306	(1)
Vehicular Homicide	307	(1)
Suicide	307	(9)
Summary	316	(1)
Questions for Discussion	317	(1)
Legal Resources on the World Wide Web	317	(1)
Suggested Readings and Classic Works	317	(1)
Capstone Cases	318	(12)
Legal and Social Dimensions of Personal Crime: Assault, Battery, and Other Personal Crimes	330	(48)
Introduction	331	(1)
Assault, Battery, and Mayhem	332	(11)
Assault	332	(2)
Placing Another in Fear	334	(1)
Conditional Assaults	334	(1)
Aggravated Assaults	334	(1)
Attempted Assault	335	(1)
Antistalking Statutes	335	(2)
Battery	337	(2)
Aggravated Battery	339	(1)
Mayhem	340	(3)
Sex Offenses	343	(8)
Rape	343	(3)
Same-Sex Rape	346	(1)
Rape Shield Laws	347	(1)
Sexual Assault	348	(3)
Kidnapping and False Imprisonment	351	(3)
Kidnapping	351	(2)
False Imprisonment	353	(1)
Terrorism	354	(5)
Terrorism and the Law	354	(3)
The USA Patriot Act	357	(2)
Summary	359	(1)
Questions for Discussion	359	(1)
Legal Resources on the World Wide Web	360	(1)
Suggested Readings and Classic Works	360	(1)
Capstone Cases	361	(17)
Legal and Social Dimensions of Property and Computer Crimes	378	(64)
Introduction	379	(1)
Theft Crimes	380	(19)
Larceny	381	(6)
Embezzlement	387	(1)
False Pretenses	388	(1)
Forgery	389	(2)
Receiving Stolen Property	391	(1)
Robbery	392	(2)
Extortion	394	(2)
Identity Theft---A New Type of Theft	396	(3)
Consolidation of Theft Crimes	399	(1)
Burglary	400	(5)
Arson	405	(2)
Computer and High-Technology Crimes	407	(15)
Early Computer Crime Cases	409	(1)
Computer Crime Laws	410	(7)
Types of Computer Crimes	417	(2)
Federal Cybercrime Enforcement Agencies	419	(1)
Internet-Based Crime	419	(3)
Summary	422	(1)
Questions for Discussion	423	(1)
Legal Resources on the World Wide Web	424	(1)
Suggested Readings and Classic Works	424	(1)
Capstone Cases	425	(17)
Offenses Against Public Order and the Administration of Justice	442	(56)
Introduction	443	(2)
Crimes Against Public Order	445	(23)
Breach of Peace and Disorderly Conduct	445	(7)
Fighting and Affray	452	(1)
Public Intoxication	453	(1)
Alcohol and Drug Laws	454	(1)
Riot and Unlawful Assembly	455	(2)
Vagrancy and Loitering	457	(2)
Teenage Curfew	459	(1)
Weapons Carrying	460	(7)
Illegal Entry into the United States	467	(1)
Crimes Against the Administration of Government	468	(7)
Treason	468	(2)
Perjury and Contempt	470	(1)
Obstruction of Justice	471	(2)
Escape	473	(1)
Misconduct in Office and Bribery	474	(1)
Summary	475	(1)
Questions for Discussion	476	(1)
Legal Resources on the World Wide Web	476	(2)
Suggested Readings and Classic Works	478	(1)
Capstone Cases	478	(20)
Offenses Against Public Morality	498	(48)
Introduction	499	(1)
Crimes Against Public Decency and Morality	500	(21)
Prostitution	501	(2)
Pornography, Obscenity, and Lewdness	503	(3)
Other Consensual Sex Offenses	506	(4)
Gambling and Gaming	510	(2)
Controlled Substances	512	(8)
A Critique of Laws Regulating Public Morality	520	(1)
Summary	521	(1)
Questions for Discussion	522	(1)
Legal Resources on the World Wide Web	522	(1)
Suggested Readings and Classic Works	523	(1)
Capstone Cases	523	(23)
Victims and the Law	546	(38)
Introduction	547	(1)
Who is a Victim?	548	(1)
A Short History of the Victim	549	(3)
The Philosophy of Victim Compensation	550	(1)
Victims' Assistance Programs Today	551	(1)
Victims' Rights Legislation	552	(10)
The Growth of Victims' Rights	554	(4)
``Son of Sam'' Laws	558	(2)
Victim Impact Statements	560	(2)
Victim Statistics	562	(8)
The National Crime Victimization Survey	563	(1)
Violence Against Women	564	(1)
Young Black Male Victims	565	(2)
Elderly Victims	567	(1)
The Uniform Crime Reports	568	(2)
Restitution	570	(2)
The Restoration Movement	571	(1)
Summary	572	(1)
Questions for Discussion	573	(1)
Legal Resources on the World Wide Web	573	(1)
Suggested Readings and Classic Works	574	(1)
Capstone Cases	574	(10)
Punishment and Sentencing	584	(47)
Introduction	585	(2)
Sentencing Rationales	587	(11)
Retribution	588	(1)
Deterrence	589	(1)
Rehabilitation	589	(2)
Restoration	591	(1)
Incapacitation	592	(6)
Imposing Criminal Sanctions	598	(6)
Federal Sentencing Practices	600	(2)
The Role of the Jury in Sentencing Enhancements	602	(1)
Truth in Sentencing	603	(1)
Plea Bargaining	604	(1)
Traditional Sentencing Options	605	(1)
Hate Crimes	606	(4)
Capital Punishment	610	(6)
The Courts and Capital Punishment	611	(2)
Limits on Death Row Appeals	613	(1)
Cruel and Unusual Punishments	614	(2)
Intermediate Sanctions	616	(1)
Summary	617	(1)
Questions for Discussion	618	(1)
Legal Resources on the World Wide Web	619	(1)
Suggested Readings and Classic Works	619	(1)
Capstone Cases	620	(11)
Appendix A: Constitution of the United States of America	631	(15)
Appendix B: Model Penal Code Excerpts	646	(53)
Glossary	699	(24)
Table of Cases	723	(8)
Subject Index	731