LL108     
Criminal Law

This information is for the 2021/22 session.

Teacher responsible

Prof Jeremy Horder

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 will have a minimum of two hours of teaching content each week in Michaelmas Term and Lent Term in the form of an online lecture (every week) and one hour class (week 2 onwards). 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.

Course selection videos

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.

Important information in response to COVID-19

Please note that during 2021/22 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 differing needs of students in attendance on campus and those who might be studying online. For example, this may involve changes to the mode of teaching 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 2020/21: 225

Average class size 2020/21: 14

Capped 2020/21: No

Value: One Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Communication
  • Specialist skills