LL108
Criminal Law
This information is for the 2020/21 session.
Teacher responsible
Prof Peter Ramsay
Availability
This course is compulsory on the BA in Anthropology and Law and LLB in Laws. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit and to General Course students.
Course content
The course examines the 'general part' of criminal law and selected areas of the special part of criminal law in the context of theories of the aims and functions of criminalisation. The course will discuss the limits to criminalization; the conceptual framework of criminal liability (conduct, responsibility, capacity, defences); homicide; sexual offences; non-fatal violence against the person; property offences (with particular reference theft, fraud, robbery and burglary);secondary participation in crime; attempts, conspiracy, encouragement; 'pre-inchoate' offences; regulatory offences.
Teaching
This course is delivered through a combination of classes and lectures totalling a minimum of 40 hours across Michaelmas Term and Lent Term. This year some or all of this teaching will be delivered through recorded online lectures and a mix of both in-person and online classes to accommodate students who are unable to physically be on campus. This course includes a reading week in Weeks 6 of Michaelmas Term and Lent Term.
Formative coursework
This will be set by the teacher in charge of the class. A minimum of two pieces of written work will be required, usually one essay and one problem.
Indicative reading
A detailed reading list will be distributed at the start of the course (for the current list, see the public folders). A number of criminal law textbooks are available, and students will be expected to read the relevant parts of the most recent editions of one of these, e.g. Nicola Lacey, Oliver Quick & Celia Wells, Reconstructing Criminal Law; Andrew Ashworth and Jeremy Horder, Principles of Criminal Law; Jonathan Herring, Criminal Law: Text, Cases and Materials; M. Allen, Introduction to Criminal Law. They will also be expected to read all cases and materials marked as primary on the detailed reading lists provided.
Assessment
Exam (100%, duration: 3 hours, reading time: 15 minutes) in the summer exam period.
Important information in response to COVID-19
Please note that during 2020/21 academic year some variation to teaching and learning activities may be required to respond to changes in public health advice and/or to account for the situation of students in attendance on campus and those studying online during the early part of the academic year. For assessment, this may involve changes to mode of delivery and/or the format or weighting of assessments. Changes will only be made if required and students will be notified about any changes to teaching or assessment plans at the earliest opportunity.
Key facts
Department: Law
Total students 2019/20: 181
Average class size 2019/20: 10
Capped 2019/20: No
Value: One Unit
Personal development skills
- Communication
- Specialist skills
