Criminal Law

Driving home key concepts and helping students maximize their study efforts, end-of-chapter summaries appear as bullet-point lists that are matched to chapter-opening Learning Objectives.

Brief case excerpts provide helpful exposure to the actual language of the courts within the context of key chapter concepts, while minimizing the risk of overwhelming students with excessive amounts of dense legal documentation.

Vibrant concept boxes, graphs and photographs enhance visual appeal while complementing the narrative, encouraging student interest and supporting different learning styles. In addition, Case Analysis and Writing Assignments facilitate critical thinking, case analysis and the development of writing skills.

Making extensive use of court opinions, especially the Supreme Court and case citations, the text clearly illustrates how courts interpret and apply criminal statutes within their jurisdiction. Citations of important decisions on key points of criminal law are included to guide students who may conduct additional research.

A favorite of instructors and students alike, numerous Case Close-Up excerpts use detailed factual statements and extended discussions of the court's reasoning to examine its analysis of difficult or emerging criminal law issues, giving students behind-the-scenes insight into the inner workings of the court system.

Chapter-opening vignettes prompt students to reflect on key concepts and highlight developments in criminal law such as execution methods and Supreme Court responses, criminal responses to internet sales and jurisdiction issues in a murder case.

You Be the Judge: These boxes put students in the role of a trial or appellate judge, requiring them to make decisions about real-life cases such as the relationship between harassment crimes and the First Amendment in Chapter 9.

Federal jurisdiction to pass criminal laws comes from the Constitution. The Commerce Clause: Interstate Commerce, Foreign Commerce and Commerce with the Indian tribes, are important provisions in the Constitution that give Congress that power. The book discusses this power and its limits, including material on the Foreign Commerce clause and significantly expanded discussions of the recent U.S. Supreme Court cases on the sovereignty and criminal law jurisdiction of Indian tribes and courts.

Supreme Court Focus: This edition highlights significant Supreme Court decisions impacting criminal law, including the effects of the Dobbs decision on abortion laws, the concept of substantive due process and recent rulings on presidential immunity related to the January 6th events. The text includes enhanced coverage of the latest holdings in death penalty cases as well as a Case Close Up which looks at the U.S. Supreme Court’s view of internet harassment crimes, the First Amendment and mens rea requirements.

Developing areas such as permissible gun control after the U. S. Supreme Court’s decisions regarding a Second Amendment right to bear arms, are highlighted. The “historical equivalent” test announced in Bruen as well as selected lower federal court’s application of the test in Bruen, are discussed. It is noted that in the 2024 Rahimi decision, the majority interpreted the historical equivalent test to mean a “relevantly similar” regulation, not a “twin” regulation on gun ownership and the Second Amendment -- a position favored by Justice Thomas.

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