NCJ Number
12869
Date Published
1974
Length
345 pages
Annotation
HANDBOOK ON THE SUBSTANTIVE CRIMINAL LAW WRITTEN ESPECIALLY FOR THE PRESENT OR PROSPECTIVE POLICE OFFICER.
Abstract
PART I, INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL LAW, IS ORIENTATION MATERIAL AND INCLUDES BASIC LEGAL PRINCIPLES APPLICABLE TO THE WHOLE OF THE CRIMINAL LAW FIELD. IT DEFINES CRIMINAL LAW, POINTS OUT ITS SOURCES, CLASSIFIES CRIMES, EXPLAINS THE MEANING OF THE ACT, INTENT, AND CORPUS DELICTI. IT TELLS WHO MAY COMMIT CRIME, WHO MAY NOT COMMIT CRIME, AND UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES PEOPLE MAY BE JUSTIFIED OR EXCUSED FROM ACTS WHICH OTHERWISE ARE CLASSIFIED AS CRIMES. PART II, THE LAW OF CRIMES, IS A PRESENTATION OF COMMON LAW CRIMINAL ACTS. INCIDENTAL TO THE DISCUSSION AND IN AN EFFORT TO CLARIFY THE COMMON LAW, SOME STATUTORY LAW IS OFFERED. CRIMINAL OFFENSES ARE CLASSIFIED IN TERMS OF SOCIAL HARM - OFFENSES AGAINST THE PERSON, HOME, PROPERTY, PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, MORALITY, PUBLIC PEACE, AND OFFENSES AFFECTING THE CONDUCT OF GOVERNMENTAL FUNCTIONS. EACH SPECIFIC ACT, AS IT EXISTS IN THE COMMON LAW, IS DEFINED. SPECIAL EFFORT IS MADE TO EXPLAIN THE EXACT ACT AND INTENT NECESSARY TO CONSTITUTE THE CRIME. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)