Principles of Criminal Law

by Ashworth, Andrew

• ISBN13: 9780199281145
• ISBN10: 0199281149
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-09-14
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

This stimulating and authoritative text addresses the underlying principles and rationales of criminal law, bringing the subject to life through a critically engaging and contextual approach. The fifth edition incorporates detailed discussion of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and explores current controversies such as the shape of the law of murder, including discussion the Law Commission's 2005 proposals. Andrew Ashworth's book remains essential reading for students seeking an in-depth and sophisticated exploration of criminal law that makes the theoretical background clear and accessible. Book jacket.

Author Biography

Andrew Ashworth is Vinerian Professor of English Law at University of Oxford

Table of Contents

Table of Cases	xi
Table of Conventions	xxi
Table of Legislation	xxiii
Criminal Justice and the Criminal Law	1	(21)
The Contours of Criminal Liability	4	(2)
The Machinery of English Criminal Law	6	(1)
The Sources of English Criminal Law	7	(1)
The Criminal Law in Action	8	(7)
Outline of the Aims and Functions of the Criminal Law	15	(2)
The Criminal Law and Sentencing	17	(5)
Criminalization	22	(34)
The Politics of Lawmaking	23	(2)
The Principle of Individual Autonomy	25	(3)
The Principle of Welfare	28	(2)
Harm and Minimalism	30	(5)
Assessing the Seriousness of Offences	35	(5)
Morally Wrong Behaviour	40	(4)
Criminalizing Omissions	44	(3)
Minor Harms	47	(2)
Remote Harms	49	(1)
Victimless Crime	50	(2)
Conclusions	52	(4)
Principles and Policies	56	(39)
Rules and Principles	56	(1)
Constitutionality and Codification	57	(3)
Human Rights and Criminal Law	60	(4)
The Range of the Criminal Law	64	(4)
The Rule of Law and Fair Procedures	68	(17)
Principles Relating to the Conditions of Liability	85	(7)
Conclusions	92	(3)
Criminal Conduct	95	(62)
The General Part of the Criminal Law	95	(3)
Involuntary Conduct	98	(7)
Acts, States of Affairs, and Possession	105	(4)
Omissions	109	(4)
Personality	113	(9)
Causation	122	(13)
Justifiable Conduct	135	(14)
Chastisement of Children	149	(2)
Justifications, Necessity, and the Choice of Evils	151	(4)
Conclusions	155	(2)
Positive Fault Requirements	157	(45)
The Issues	157	(1)
Some General Principles	158	(6)
Varieties of Fault	164	(32)
The Variety of Fault Terms	196	(1)
The Referential Point of Fault	197	(5)
Negative Fault Requirements	202	(47)
Excuses and Denials of Responsibility	202	(1)
Agency, Capacity, and Mental Disorder	203	(8)
Intoxication	211	(8)
Duress and Necessity	219	(10)
Reasonable Mistake and Putative Defences	229	(3)
Ignorance or Mistake of Law	232	(5)
Entrapment	237	(1)
Reviewing the Non-Justificatory Defences	238	(11)
Homicide	249	(57)
Death and Finality	249	(1)
The Conduct Element: Causing Death	250	(2)
Defining Murder: The Inclusionary Question	252	(10)
Defining Murder: The Exclusionary Question	262	(25)
'Involuntary Manslaughter'	287	(10)
Endangerment on the Roads	297	(4)
Endangerment in Other Situations	301	(5)
Non-Fatal Violations of the Person	306	(55)
Varieties of Physical Violation	306	(1)
Reported Physical Violations	306	(2)
Offences of Non-Fatal Physical Violation	308	(27)
Reported Sexual Assaults	335	(2)
Non-Consensual Sexual Penetration	337	(15)
Offences Against the Vulnerable	352	(6)
Other New Sexual Offences	358	(1)
Re-Assessing Sexual Offences Law	358	(3)
Offences of Dishonesty	361	(49)
Introduction	361	(3)
The Offence of Theft	364	(21)
Taking a Conveyance Without Consent	385	(3)
Robbery	388	(2)
Blackmail	390	(2)
Burglary	392	(3)
Handling Stolen Goods	395	(2)
Deception Offences	397	(7)
Fraud Offences	404	(1)
Dishonesty, Discretion, and 'Desert'	405	(5)
Complicity	410	(34)
Introduction	410	(1)
Distinguishing Principals from Accessories	411	(3)
The Conduct Element in Complicity	414	(8)
The Fault Elements in Complicity	422	(5)
Accessorial Liability for Different Results	427	(7)
Derivative Liability and the Missing Link	434	(3)
Special Defences to Complicity	437	(3)
Conclusions	440	(4)
Inchoate Offences	444	(29)
The Concept of an Inchoate Offence	444	(1)
The Justifications for Penalizing Attempts at Crimes	445	(2)
The Elements of Criminal Attempt	447	(8)
The Justifications for an Offence of Conspiracy	455	(4)
The Elements of Criminal Conspiracy	459	(5)
Incitement	464	(2)
Voluntary Renunciation of Criminal Purpose	466	(2)
The Relationship between Substantive and Inchoate Crimes	468	(2)
The Place of Inchoate Liability	470	(3)
Bibliography	473	(22)
Index	495