Understanding Criminal Law [Student Edition] [Paperback]

Joshua Dressler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2006 | ISBN-10: 082057001X | ISBN-13: 978-0820570013 | Edition: 4

This comprehensive and clearly written Understanding treatise is frequently cited by scholars and courts in their analysis of substantive criminal law. Understanding Criminal Law is designed to be taught in conjunction with any casebook. The topics covered are those most often raised in criminal law casebooks, and coverage of these subjects is meant to complement professors' classroom discussions. The text focuses on the basic elements of, and defenses to, specific crimes such as homicide, rape, and theft, group criminality, and inchoate liability. Understanding Criminal Law also covers theories of punishment, sources of the criminal law, and overarching principles such as legality and proportionality. The common law is emphasized with extensive comparisons to the Model Penal Code and thoughtful examination of the underpinnings of the utilitarian philosophies of substantive criminal law. The text of Understanding Criminal Law encourages students to consider the approach these philosophies would take to a particular matter under discussion, thus providing an excellent learning tool for gaining a firm understanding of how our criminal justice system works.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 679 pages
• Publisher: Matthew Bender & Co; 4 edition (March 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 082057001X
• ISBN-13: 978-0820570013
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #274,900 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine discussion of the essentials of criminal law., October 11, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Understanding Criminal Law (Legal Text Series) (Paperback)

Among legal study guides, this book is superior. The author clearly lays out the principles and discusses all the important facets of each area very clearly. The book is textual (so if you are looking for a study guide and prefer outlines, look elsewhere). It is somewhat long, but a good read, and very well organized.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Supplement, August 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Understanding Criminal Law (Legal Text Series) (Paperback)

I completely agree with the reviews below: this is a thorough and infintely readable supplement for any student of criminal law OR for the interested layperson. It was especially useful for my studies because I had the pleasure of being assigned Prof. Dressler's casebook as well, which I regard as the best (among many) of my first year casebooks. This is a clearly written and thoughtfully designed book covering all the basic concepts of modern criminal law in the U.S. I highly recommend it.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Helpful Learning Tool, April 27, 2000

By 

Suzanne Gelb, Ph.D., Psychologist (Honolulu, Hawaii USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Understanding Criminal Law (Legal Text Series) (Paperback)

As a first year law student, I found this book to be a valuable companion to class lectures and other homework assignments, providing clarification, elaboration and insight into this complex and rich subject. If you have not yet had the privilege of adding this to your library, I especially recommend it at this critical period for many -- a few weeks before final examinations!