Understanding Criminal Law [STUDENT EDITION] (Paperback)

by Joshua Dressler (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This book deals exclusively with substantive criminal law, with primary attention given to the elements of individual criminal responsibility. It is authoritative, current, highly readable, and widely used at law schools throughout the nation. Coverage focuses on the basic elements of, and defenses to, specific crimes, such as homicide, rape, and theft, as well as group criminality and inchoate liability. 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 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.

Product Details

• Paperback: 679.0 pages
• Publisher: LexisNexis; 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: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #15,622 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 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.

13 of 13 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.

10 of 10 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!