Principles of Criminal Law

by Ashworth, Andrew

• ISBN13: 9780199259809
• ISBN10: 0199259801
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-08-07
• 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 Venerian Professor of English Law at All Souls College, Oxford

Table of Contents

Table of Cases	xi
Table of Conventions	xxi
Table of Legislation	xxii
1 CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND THE CRIMINAL LAW	1	(23)
1.1 The Contours of Criminal Liability	4	(1)
1.2 The Machinery of English Criminal Law	5	(1)
1.3 The Sources of English Criminal Law	6	(3)
1.4 The Criminal Law in Action	9	(8)
1.5 Outline of the Aims and Functions of the Criminal Law	17	(2)
1.6 The Criminal Law and Sentencing	19	(5)
2 CRIMINALIZATION	24	(34)
2.1 The Politics of Lawmaking	25	(3)
2.2 The Principle of Individual Autonomy	28	(2)
2.3 The Principle of Welfare	30	(2)
2.4 Harm and Minimalism	32	(5)
2.5 Assessing the Seriousness of Offences	37	(5)
2.6 Morally Wrong Behaviour	42	(5)
2.7 Criminalizing Omissions	47	(2)
2.8 Minor Harms	49	(2)
2.9 Remote Harms	51	(1)
2.10 Victimless Crime	52	(3)
2.11 Conclusions	55	(3)
3 PRINCIPLES AND POLICIES	58	(38)
3.1 Rules and Principles	58	(1)
3.2 Constitutionality and Codification	59	(3)
3.3 Human Rights and Criminal Law	62	(4)
3.4 The Range of the Criminal Law	66	(3)
3.5 The Rule of Law and Fair Procedures	69	(17)
3.6 Principles Relating to the Conditions of Liability	86	(8)
3.7 Conclusions	94	(2)
4 CRIMINAL CONDUCT	96	(61)
4.1 The General Part of the Criminal Law	96	(3)
4.2 Involuntary Conduct	99	(7)
4.3 Acts, States of Affairs, and Possession	106	(4)
4.4 Omissions	110	(4)
4.5 Personality	114	(9)
4.6 Causation	123	(12)
4.7 Justifiable Conduct	135	(14)
4.8 Chastisement of Children	149	(2)
4.9 Justifications, Necessity, and the Choice of Evils	151	(4)
4.10 Conclusions	155	(2)
5 POSITIVE FAULT REQUIREMENTS	157	(47)
5.1 The Issues	157	(1)
5.2 Some General Principles	158	(6)
5.3 Varieties of Fault	164	(34)
5.4 The Variety of Fault Terms	198	(1)
5.5 The Referential Point of Fault	199	(5)
6 NEGATIVE FAULT REQUIREMENTS	204	(52)
6.1 Grounds of Excuse	204	(1)
6.2 Agency, Capacity, and Mental Disorder	205	(8)
6.3 Intoxication	213	(8)
6.4 Duress and Necessity	221	(10)
6.5 Provocation	231	(3)
6.6 Reasonable Mistake and Putative Defences	234	(3)
6.7 Ignorance or Mistake of Law	237	(6)
6.8 Entrapment	243	(1)
6.9 Fault and the Excuses	244	(12)
7 HOMICIDE	256	(55)
7.1 Death and Finality	256	(1)
7.2 Requirements of Criminal Homicide	257	(1)
7.3 Defining Murder: the Inclusionary Question	258	(9)
7.4 Defining Murder: the Exclusionary Question	267	(26)
7.5 'Involuntary Manslaughter'	293	(9)
7.6 Endangerment on the Roads	302	(4)
7.7 Endangerment in Other Situations	306	(5)
8 NON-FATAL VIOLATIONS OF THE PERSON	311	(52)
8.1 Varieties of Physical Violation	311	(1)
8.2 Reported Physical Violations	311	(2)
8.3 Offences of Non-Fatal Physical Violation	313	(26)
8.4 Reported Sexual Assaults	339	(4)
8.5 Non-consensual Sexual Intercourse	343	(9)
8.6 Other Non-consensual Sexual Offences	352	(6)
8.7 Incest	358	(1)
8.8 Parameters of the Law on Sexual Assault	359	(4)
9 OFFENCES OF DISHONESTY	363	(49)
9.1 Introduction	363	(3)
9.2 The Offence of Theft	366	(21)
9.3 Taking a Conveyance Without Consent	387	(2)
9.4 Robbery	389	(2)
9.5 Blackmail	391	(2)
9.6 Burglary	393	(4)
9.7 Handling Stolen Goods	397	(1)
9.8 Deception Offences	398	(7)
9.9 Fraud Offences	405	(2)
9.10 Dishonesty, Discretion, and 'Desert'	407	(5)
10 COMPLICITY	412	(33)
10.1 Introduction	412	(1)
10.2 Distinguishing Principals from Accessories	413	(3)
10.3 The Conduct Element in Complicity	416	(8)
10.4 The Fault Element in Complicity	424	(5)
10.5 Accessorial Liability for Different Results	429	(6)
10.6 Derivative Liability and the Missing Link	435	(4)
10.7 Special Defences to Complicity	439	(2)
10.8 Conclusions	441	(4)
11 INCHOATE OFFENCES	445	(30)
11.1 The Concept of an Inchoate Offence	445	(1)
11.2 The Justifications for Penalizing Attempts at Crimes	445	(3)
11.3 The Elements of Criminal Attempt	448	(7)
11.4 The Justifications for an Offence of Conspiracy	455	(5)
11.5 The Elements of Criminal Conspiracy	460	(4)
11.6 Incitement	464	(3)
11.7 Voluntary Renunciation of Criminal Purpose	467	(2)
11.8 The Relationship between Substantive and Inchoate Crimes	469	(2)
11.9 The Place of Inchoate Liability	471	(4)
Bibliography	475	(16)
Index	491