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Criminal Law
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Criminal Law


Other Titles in:
Crime and Law | Criminal Justice

February 2015 | 368 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc

An Interdisciplinary Approach

 

Criminal Law provides students with an integrated framework for understanding the U.S. criminal justice system with a diverse and inclusive interdisciplinary approach and thematic focus. Authors Katheryn Russell-Brown and Angela J. Davis go beyond the law and decisions in court cases to consider and integrate issues of race, gender, and socio-economic status with their discussion of criminal law. Material from the social sciences is incorporated to highlight the intersection between criminal law and key social issues. Case excerpts and detailed case summaries, used to highlight important principles of criminal law, are featured throughout the text. The coverage is conceptual and practical, showing students how the criminal law applies in the “real world”—not just within the pages of a textbook.

 
Chapter 1: Introduction and Overview of Criminal Law
Criminal Law Terms and Concepts

 
Sources of Criminal Law

 
Classifications, Distinctions, and Limitations in Criminal Law

 
Crime and People in the Criminal Justice System

 
The Structure of the Criminal Justice System

 
Case Briefing

 
 
Chapter 2: Constitutional Limits on Criminal Laws
First Amendment

 
Second Amendment

 
Fifth Amendment

 
Eighth Amendment

 
Fourteenth Amendment

 
Right to Privacy

 
 
Chapter 3: The Elements of a Crime
A Voluntary Act (Actus Reus)

 
Guilty State of Mind (Mens Rea)

 
Concurrence and Causation

 
Strict Liability

 
 
Chapter 4: Incomplete Crimes
Attempt

 
Solicitation

 
Conspiracy

 
Merger Doctrine

 
Other Incomplete Offenses

 
 
Chapter 5: Theft and Other Property Offenses
Larceny and Theft

 
Embezzlement

 
False Pretenses

 
Burglary

 
Arson

 
White-Collar Crime

 
 
Chapter 6: Public Order Crimes and Offenses Against Public Decency
Public Order Crimes

 
Crimes Against Public Decency

 
 
Chapter 7: Rape and Other Violent Crimes
Rape and Other Sexual Assaults

 
Robbery

 
Kidnapping

 
Assault and Battery

 
 
Chapter 8: Criminal Homicide
Definitions

 
Intentional Killings

 
Unintentional Killings

 
Felony Murder

 
Capital Punishment

 
 
Chapter 9: Justification Defenses
Types of Defenses

 
Defensive Force

 
Duress and Necessity

 
 
Chapter 10: Excuse Defenses
Competency and Insanity

 
Infancy

 
Intoxication

 
Syndrome “Defenses”

 
Cultural Defenses

 
 
Chapter 11: Punishment and Sentencing
Punishment

 
Prisoners’ Rights

 
Sentencing

 
 
Chapter 12: State-Involved Crimes
Crimes Against the State

 
Crimes Committed by Public Officials

 

Supplements

Student Study Site
?SAGE edge for students provides a personalized approach to help students accomplish their coursework goals in an easy-to-use learning environment.

  • Mobile-friendly eFlashcards strengthen understanding of key terms and concepts.
  • Mobile-friendly practice quizzes allow for independent assessment by students of their mastery of course material.
  • A customized online action plan includes tips and feedback on progress through the course and materials, which allows students to individualize their learning experience.
  • EXCLUSIVE! Access to full-text SAGE journal articles that have been carefully selected to support and expand on the concepts presented in each chapter.
  • Carefully selected, web-based multimedia resources feature relevant interviews, lectures, personal stories, inquiries, and other content for use in independent or classroom-based explorations of key topics.
  • Case materials apply criminal law and principles to real-world scenarios.
Instructor Resource site

The SAGE Edge Instructor Resource Site includes the following:

  • A Microsoft® Word® test bank is available containing multiple choice, true/false, short answer, and essay questions for each chapter. The test bank provides you with a diverse range of pre-written options as well as the opportunity for editing any question and/or inserting your own personalized questions to effectively assess students’ progress and understanding.
  • A Respondus electronic test bank is available and can be used on PCs. The test bank contains multiple choice, true/false, short answer, and essay questions for each chapter and provides you with a diverse range of pre-written options as well as the opportunity for editing any question and/or inserting your own personalized questions to effectively assess students’ progress and understanding. Respondus is also compatible with many popular learning management systems so you can easily get your test questions into your online course.
  • Editable, chapter-specific Microsoft® PowerPoint® slides offer you complete flexibility in easily creating a multimedia presentation for your course. Highlight essential content, features, and artwork from the book.
  • Lecture notes summarize key concepts on a chapter-by-chapter basis to help with preparation for lectures and class discussions.
  • EXCLUSIVE! Access to certain full-text SAGE journal articles that have been carefully selected for each chapter. Each article supports and expands on the concepts presented in the chapter. This feature also provides questions to focus and guide student interpretation. Combine cutting-edge academic journal scholarship with the topics in your course for a robust classroom experience.
  • Sample course syllabi provide suggested models for use when creating the syllabi for your courses.

  • Carefully selected, web-based video resources feature relevant interviews, lectures, personal stories, inquiries, and other content for use in independent or classroom-based explorations of key topics.

“It has an engaging style and includes great examples to help students understand concepts. The authors have done a fine job in making an often ‘dry’ subject exciting for the student.”

Robert Lockwood
Portland State University

“Each of the authors has a fascinating legal background, and clearly knows their area of the law.” 

Kathleen Nicolaides, JD
UNC Charlotte

“Good use of cases for facilitation of discussion as well as resources for the student as they continue their academic journey...Great work!”

Pamela Chambers
Sinclair Community College

“It is an excellent book”  

Barry R. Langford
Columbia College

“It was a good read, it covered all the necessary topics with great explanation.”

Richard Colangelo
Norwalk Community College

“It is structured very similarly to how I like to teach my course. I like it much better than my current text as it works on the student’s analytical skills.”

Becky Kohler da Cruz
Atlantic State University

“The authors have done a good job of using hypothetical problems, cases, and discussion questions to involve students in the learning process. They have presented the material in a clear and understandable fashion for senior level students.”

Robert Lockwood
Portland State University

“The liberal use of case law to illustrate the concepts, which were clearly described, really adds to the value of this text.”

Tim Robicheaux
The Pennsylvania State University

Chose another SAGE text

Mr Jay Odum
School Of Professional Stds, Peru State College
June 25, 2015

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1

Chapter 3


Katheryn Russell-Brown

Katheryn Russell-Brown is the Chesterfield Smith Professor of Law and Director of the Center for the Study of Race and Race Relations at the University of Florida, Levin College of Law.  Professor Russell-Brown received her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley, law degree from the University of California, Hastings, and Ph.D. in criminology from the University of Maryland.  Prior to joining the University of Florida law faculty in 2003, Professor Russell-Brown taught in the Criminology and Criminal Justice department at the University of Maryland for 11 years.  She has been a visiting law... More About Author

Angela J. Davis

Angela J. Davis is a professor of Law at the American University Washington College of Law where she teaches Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, and Criminal Defense: Theory and Practice. Professor Davis has been a Visiting Professor at George Washington University Law School and Georgetown University Law Center. She has served on the adjunct faculty at George Washington, Georgetown, and Harvard Law Schools. Professor Davis is the author of Arbitrary Justice: The Power of the American Prosecutor (Oxford University Press, 2007), the co-editor of Trial Stories (with Professor Michael E. Tigar) (Foundation Press, 2007), and a co-author of the... More About Author

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ISBN: 9781412977890
$166.00