Criminal Law, Procedure, and Evidence

This book provides a comprehensive view of U.S. legal principles, addressing constitutional principles, statutory criminal laws, procedural law, and common-law evidentiary doctrines. It examines the tensions between individual liberty and societal needs in enforcing criminal laws and includes discussion questions and hypothetical scenarios to check learning. It is ideal for courses in criminal law and procedure that focus on the philosophical underpinnings of the system.

Format: Hardback
Length: 302 pages
Publication date: 12 October 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book offers a thorough exploration of U.S. legal principles, delving into diverse issues while highlighting the interconnectedness between them. It presents a cohesive and comprehensive view of the interrelationships between constitutional principles, statutory criminal laws, procedural law, and common-law evidentiary doctrines. In this extensively revised and updated new edition, readers will find valuable discussion questions and hypothetical scenarios to assess their understanding.

Constitutional principles serve as the cornerstone upon which substantive criminal law, criminal procedure law, and evidence laws rest. The concepts of due process, legality, specificity, notice, equality, and fairness are fundamental to these three disciplines, and a deep understanding of their implications is essential for a comprehensive grasp of the subject matter. This book examines the delicate balance between individual liberty enshrined in the Constitution and the societal need to enforce criminal laws as a means of achieving social control, order, and safety. Drawing from his firsthand experience as a law enforcement official and criminal defense attorney, the author presents real-life scenarios that highlight the challenges in applying constitutional principles to specific criminal justice situations.

Each chapter of the text features a realistic problem presented in the form of a fact pattern, focusing on one or more classic criminal justice issues that readers can easily relate to. These problems are presented from the perspectives of citizens caught up in a police investigation and of police officers attempting to enforce the law within the framework of constitutional protections.

This book is particularly well-suited for courses in criminal law and procedure that aim to delve into the philosophical underpinnings of the system. It provides a valuable resource for students, scholars, and legal professionals seeking to enhance their understanding of the complex interplay between legal principles and the practical implications of criminal justice.

Weight: 750g
Dimension: 254 x 178 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032540849
Edition number: 2 ed