A really good series of introductory books is the Oxford University "Very Short
Introduction" series. This series gives serious introductions to all sorts of topics in
all sorts of disciplines. For the series generally see
http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/category/academic/series/general/vsi.do. They are
written by experts for intelligent novices. They also give some further reading. So
for law generally there is
Raymond Wacks, Law: A Very Short Introduction (2008).
CL4302 CRIMINAL LAW [30]
And
CL4202 CRIMINAL LAW [20]
BOOKS RECOMMENDED FOR PURCHASE 2012-13:
Textbook
You are recommended to purchase:
Monaghan Criminal Law Directions 2nd edition 2012 [Oxford University Press]
This book covers the basic principles of Criminal Law in a clear, easily accessible
style. However, your reading throughout the year will obviously not be restricted to
this one textbook. Reading for each tutorial will include a number of cases and/or
academic articles – these additional resources are vitally important to your
success in this module!
Do not be tempted to purchase an earlier edition of the recommended textbook.
Criminal Law, in common with many other areas of law, is constantly changing and
developing and even the most recent edition of a textbook may be out of date by the
time it is published. Monaghan is supported by an online resource centre which
contains various resources, including self assessment tests and updates on significant
developments in the law.
Statute Books
You will also need to purchase a statute book:
Blackstone's Statutes on Criminal Law edited by P R Glazebrook [Oxford
University Press]
New editions of the statute book are published annually. The 22nd edition (2012-13)
was published in August 2012. You may be able to purchase second hand copies of
previous editions, but you are advised to purchase only editions published since
2010 which contain the relevant provisions of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.
The statute book may be taken into the examination at the end of the year, but you
are advised to purchase your copy at the beginning of the year as you will need to
refer to it in tutorials throughout the year. Please note that books taken into the
examination must be unmarked, save that highlighting and underlining are permitted –
so avoid any temptation to write notes on the book during the year. If you intend to
purchase a second hand copy, make sure it has not been annotated in any way. .
Other recommended textbooks
There are several other textbooks on Criminal Law which are available in the Law
Library and which you will find it useful to consult from time to time. Different
authors often adopt different approaches to the same topic and it is always useful to
read as widely around a subject as time allows (Please note that the Coroners and
Justice Act 2009 introduced significant reform to the law relating to voluntary
manslaughter which came into effect in October 2010. Please therefore exercise
caution if you refer to any textbooks published before 2009.)
The following are amongst the major texts you may wish to consult to widen your
reading:
Ormerod Smith & Hogan Criminal Law, 13th ed 2011 [Oxford University Press].
This is the standard, traditional text on Criminal law, which covers the subject in
depth. It is one of the most authoritative textbooks to which reference may be made
in Law Commission Reports and judgments.
Card Cross and Jones Criminal Law 20th ed 2012 [Oxford University Press]. This
up to date textbook provides a thorough coverage of the syllabus, providing
considerably more detail and analysis than the recommended text. You may well
find it useful to consult once you have a good grasp of the basic principles of
criminal law
Allen, Textbook on Criminal Law, 11th ed 2011 [Oxford University Press]. A
relatively up to date textbook that provides comprehensive coverage of the
syllabus.
Ashworth, Principles of Criminal Law, 6th ed 2009 [Oxford University Press].
This concentrates almost exclusively on the principles and policies underlying the
criminal law. You may find this useful to refer to once you have studied a
particular topic in the standard text.
Herring Great Debates: Criminal Law 2009 [Palgrave MacMillan]. This book
provides an introduction to some of the more advanced writing and debates on
Criminal Law. You will need to have a grasp of the basic principles of Criminal
Law before you refer to this text, but you may find it useful, particularly in
developing the analysis skills required for essay writing.
Herring Criminal Law: Text, Cases and Materials 5th ed 2012 [Oxford University
Press] This book contains text, cases and materials and will therefore give you
access to a wider variety of material, including critical perspectives from various
leading commentators.
Further Reading
In 1989 the Law Commission published a draft criminal code and commentary upon
it. Most textbooks and casebooks contain the relevant provisions of the code, but the
entire document is available for consultation in the law library:
Law Commission, Criminal Law: A Criminal Code for England and Wales - [Law
Commission No 177]
Volume 1: Report and Draft Criminal Code Bill
Volume 2: Commentary on the Draft Criminal Code Bill
See more recently (NB Reports published post 1995 can be read or downloaded from
the Law Commission website http://www.lawcom.gov.uk/pubs.htm )
Law Commission No 218: Legislating the Criminal Code - Offences Against the
Person and General Principles. (1993)
Law Commission No 229: Legislating the Criminal Code - Intoxication and
Criminal Liability (1995).
The Law Commission has produced several Reports on specific areas of Criminal
Law. See for example:
Law Commission No 300: Inchoate Liability for Assisting and Encouraging Crime
(2006).
Law Commission No 304: Murder, Manslaughter and Infanticide (2006)
Law Commission No 305 Participating in Crime (2007)
Law Commission No 318 Conspiracy and Attempts (2009)
These reports (together with any relevant preceding consultation papers) will be
referred to at various times throughout the module.
The main periodical dealing with Criminal Law is the Criminal Law Review which is
issued monthly. This contains commentaries, in the form of articles and case notes, on
current developments in Criminal law. The Criminal Law Review can be accessed via
the Westlaw database and copies are available in the law library. You will, of course,
be referred to specific articles in this and other periodicals throughout the year, but it
is also a good idea to browse through the latest edition of the Criminal Law Review
each month.
As can be seen from the above, there is no shortage of textbooks, casebooks and other
secondary legal material available for you to read. But remember that what you have
to achieve is an understanding of the law through its primary sources - i.e. law reports
and statutes, and in doing so learn how to discover what the law is (since what you
learn this year of what the law is may not be true next year or the year after). The
writers of textbooks and articles are merely commentators on the law. Their views and
commentaries will certainly help you understand the existing law, but you will find
that their views are not always unanimous and must, therefore, sometimes be
erroneous. This means that you cannot rely exclusively on such material. For
example, reading what a commentator has to say about a certain case or statute is not
the same as reading the law report or statutory provision yourself. There is, therefore,
no substitute for reading the law report of key cases and statutes in full. Further
guidance will be provided in tutorials.