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Essential Criminal Law
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Essential Criminal Law

Third Edition
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Criminal Law
August 2019 | 408 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
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Essential Criminal Law provides a highly accessible introduction to U.S. criminal law that helps students, including those with no prior exposure to case law, build their legal reasoning skills. Drawing from more than 30 years of teaching experience, best-selling author Matthew Lippman guides readers through the complexities of the legal system using thought-provoking examples of real-life crimes and legal defenses, along with approachable case analyses. The Third Edition keep readers up to date with coverage of timely topics and the most current developments in criminal law and public policy.
 
PREFACE
CHAPTER ORGANIZATION  
ORGANIZATION OF THE TEXT  
DIGITAL RESOURCES  
THIRD EDITION  
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS  
 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
 
CHAPTER 1. The Nature, Purpose, and Function of Criminal Law
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: TRUE OR FALSE?  
INTRODUCTION  
THE NATURE OF CRIMINAL LAW  
CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAW  
THE PURPOSE OF CRIMINAL LAW  
THE PRINCIPLES OF CRIMINAL LAW  
CATEGORIES OF CRIME  
SOURCES OF CRIMINAL LAW  
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS  
THE STRUCTURE OF THE FEDERAL AND STATE COURT SYSTEMS  
PRECEDENT  
CHAPTER SUMMARY  
CHAPTER REVIEW QUESTIONS  
LEGAL TERMINOLOGY  
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: ANSWERS  
 
CHAPTER 2. Constitutional Limitations
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: TRUE OR FALSE?  
INTRODUCTION  
RULE OF LEGALITY  
BILLS OF ATTAINDER AND EX POST FACTO LAWS  
STATUTORY CLARITY  
EQUAL PROTECTION  
THE BILL OF RIGHTS  
FREEDOM OF SPEECH  
FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY  
TIME, PLACE, AND MANNER RESTRICTIONS  
FREEDOM OF RELIGION  
PRIVACY  
THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS  
CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT  
CASE ANALYSIS  
CHAPTER SUMMARY  
CHAPTER REVIEW QUESTIONS  
LEGAL TERMINOLOGY  
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: ANSWERS  
 
CHAPTER 3. Elements of Crimes
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: TRUE OR FALSE?  
INTRODUCTION  
CRIMINAL ACTS AND THOUGHTS  
A VOLUNTARY CRIMINAL ACT  
STATUS  
OMISSIONS  
POSSESSION  
MENS REA CRIMINAL INTENT  
GENERAL AND SPECIFIC INTENT  
INTENT UNDER THE MODEL PENAL CODE  
TRANSFERRED INTENT  
STRICT LIABILITY OFFENSES  
CONCURRENCE OF ACT AND INTENT  
CAUSALITY  
CASE ANALYSIS  
CHAPTER SUMMARY  
CHAPTER REVIEW QUESTIONS  
LEGAL TERMINOLOGY  
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: ANSWERS  
 
CHAPTER 4. Parties to Crime
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: TRUE OR FALSE?  
INTRODUCTION  
PARTIES TO A CRIME  
ACTUS REUS OF ACCOMPLICE LIABILITY  
MENS REA OF ACCOMPLICE LIABILITY  
ACCESSORY AFTER THE FACT  
VICARIOUS LIABILITY  
CASE ANALYSIS  
CHAPTER SUMMARY  
CHAPTER REVIEW QUESTIONS  
LEGAL TERMINOLOGY  
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: ANSWERS  
 
CHAPTER 5. Attempt, Solicitation, and Conspiracy
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: TRUE OR FALSE?  
INTRODUCTION  
ATTEMPT  
IMPOSSIBILITY  
ABANDONMENT  
SOLICITATION  
CONSPIRACY  
CASE ANALYSIS  
CHAPTER SUMMARY  
CHAPTER REVIEW QUESTIONS  
LEGAL TERMINOLOGY  
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: ANSWERS  
 
CHAPTER 6. Criminal Defenses: Justifications and Excuses
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: TRUE OR FALSE?  
INTRODUCTION  
JUSTIFICATIONS AND EXCUSES  
DEFENSES BASED ON A LACK OF CAPACITY TO COMMIT A CRIME  
DEFENSES BASED ON JUSTIFICATION OR EXCUSE  
DEFENSES JUSTIFYING THE USE OF FORCE  
DEFENSES BASED ON GOVERNMENTAL MISCONDUCT  
NEW DEFENSES  
CASE ANALYSIS  
CHAPTER SUMMARY  
CHAPTER REVIEW QUESTIONS  
LEGAL TERMINOLOGY  
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: ANSWERS  
 
CHAPTER 7. Homicide
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: TRUE OR FALSE?  
INTRODUCTION  
TYPES OF CRIMINAL HOMICIDE  
ACTUS REUS AND CRIMINAL HOMICIDE  
MENS REA AND CRIMINAL HOMICIDE  
MURDER  
MANSLAUGHTER  
THE BEGINNING OF HUMAN LIFE  
THE END OF HUMAN LIFE  
THE YEAR-AND-A-DAY RULE  
CORPUS DELICTI  
CASE ANALYSIS  
CHAPTER SUMMARY  
CHAPTER REVIEW QUESTIONS  
LEGAL TERMINOLOGY  
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: ANSWERS  
 
CHAPTER 8. Other Crimes Against the Person
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: TRUE OR FALSE?  
INTRODUCTION  
ASSAULT AND BATTERY  
STALKING  
THE COMMON LAW OF RAPE  
SEXUAL BATTERY  
KIDNAPPING  
FALSE IMPRISONMENT  
CASE ANALYSIS  
CHAPTER SUMMARY  
CHAPTER REVIEW QUESTIONS  
LEGAL TERMINOLOGY  
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: ANSWERS  
 
CHAPTER 9. Crimes Against Property
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: TRUE OR FALSE?  
INTRODUCTION  
LARCENY  
EMBEZZLEMENT  
FALSE PRETENSES  
THEFT  
RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY  
FORGERY AND UTTERING  
ROBBERY  
CARJACKING  
EXTORTION  
BURGLARY  
TRESPASS  
ARSON  
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF  
CASE ANALYSIS  
CHAPTER SUMMARY  
CHAPTER REVIEW QUESTIONS  
LEGAL TERMINOLOGY  
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: ANSWERS  
 
CHAPTER 10. White-Collar and Organized Crime
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: TRUE OR FALSE?  
INTRODUCTION  
CORPORATE CRIMINAL LIABILITY  
ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES  
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH  
SECURITIES FRAUD  
MAIL AND WIRE FRAUD  
THE TRAVEL ACT  
HEALTH CARE FRAUD  
ANTITRUST VIOLATIONS  
IDENTITY THEFT  
ACCESS DEVICE FRAUD  
MONEY LAUNDERING  
CURRENCY VIOLATIONS  
TAX CRIME  
COMPUTER CRIME  
THEFT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY  
THEFT OF TRADE SECRETS  
RACKETEER INFLUENCED AND CORRUPT ORGANIZATIONS  
CASE ANALYSIS  
CHAPTER SUMMARY  
CHAPTER REVIEW QUESTIONS  
LEGAL TERMINOLOGY  
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: ANSWERS  
 
CHAPTER 11. Crimes Against Public Order and Morality
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: TRUE OR FALSE?  
INTRODUCTION  
DISORDERLY CONDUCT  
RIOT  
PUBLIC INDECENCIES: QUALITY-OF-LIFE CRIMES  
VAGRANCY AND LOITERING  
HOMELESSNESS  
GANGS  
THE OVERREACH OF CRIMINAL LAW  
PROSTITUTION  
OBSCENITY  
CASE ANALYSIS  
CHAPTER SUMMARY  
CHAPTER REVIEW QUESTIONS  
LEGAL TERMINOLOGY  
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: ANSWERS  
 
CHAPTER 12. Crimes Against Social Order and Morality: Alcohol and Drug Offenses
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: TRUE OR FALSE?  
INTRODUCTION  
ALCOHOL OFFENSES  
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES  
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS  
CASE ANALYSIS  
CHAPTER SUMMARY  
CHAPTER REVIEW QUESTIONS  
LEGAL TERMINOLOGY  
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: ANSWERS  
 
CHAPTER 13. Offenses Against Public Administration and the Administration of Justice
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: TRUE OR FALSE?  
INTRODUCTION  
OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT  
BRIBERY  
COMMERCIAL BRIBERY  
SPORTS BRIBERY  
FOREIGN CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT  
EXTORTION  
PERJURY  
OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE  
THE CITIZEN’S DUTY TO ASSIST LAW ENFORCEMENT  
RESISTING ARREST  
COMPOUNDING A CRIME  
ESCAPE  
CONTEMPT  
CASE ANALYSIS  
CHAPTER SUMMARY  
CHAPTER REVIEW QUESTIONS  
LEGAL TERMINOLOGY  
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: ANSWERS  
 
CHAPTER 14. Crimes Against the State (online only at edge.sagepub.com/lippmaness3e)
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: TRUE OR FALSE?  
INTRODUCTION  
TREASON  
SEDITION  
SABOTAGE  
ESPIONAGE  
TERRORISM  
IMMIGRATION  
INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL LAW  
CASE ANALYSIS  
CHAPTER SUMMARY  
CHAPTER REVIEW QUESTIONS  
LEGAL TERMINOLOGY  
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: ANSWERS  
NOTES  
 
ENDNOTES
 
GLOSSARY
 
CASE INDEX
 
SUBJECT INDEX

Supplements

Student Study Site

edge.sagepub.com/lippmaness3e

SAGE edge for students enhances learning, it’s easy to use, and offers:

  • an open-access site that makes it easy for students to maximize their study time, anywhere, anytime;         
  • eFlashcards that strengthen understanding of key terms and concepts;         
  • eQuizzes that allow students to practice and assess how much they’ve learned and where they need to focus their attention;
  • tables and figures from the book;
  • a list of statutes that are summarized and appear throughout the book; and
  • an appendix on reading and briefing cases.
Instructor Resource Site

edge.sagepub.com/lippmaness3e

SAGE edge for instructors supports your teaching by making it easy to integrate quality content and create a rich learning environment for students with:

  • a password-protected site for complete and protected access to all text-specific instructor resources;    
  • test banks that provide a diverse range of ready-to-use options that save you time. You can also easily edit any question and/or insert your own personalized questions;         
  • editable, chapter-specific PowerPoint® slides that offer complete flexibility for creating a multimedia presentation for your course;
  • lecture notes that summarize key concepts by chapter to help you prepare for lectures and class discussions;
  • tables and figures from the book;
  • suggested answers to the You Decide boxes in the text;
  • leading cases that summarize important cases in each chapter;
  • a list of statutes that are summarized and appear throughout the book; and
  • an appendix on reading and briefing cases.

"A thorough and perfect introduction to criminal law. An easy, interesting, and enjoyable read for students."

Dory Mizrachi
University of Nevada

“Lippman’s criminal law textbooks are well written in language that students are able to understand, interjecting proper terminology to encourage the abandonment of slang when discussing the topics. I would describe this textbook as comprehensively and concisely written—a textbook that students will actually read and understand.”

Janet Heuer
Bemidji State University

“A thorough and comprehensive text covering all of the essential points for an undergraduate criminal justice course. The text includes an inclusive glossary, examples drawn from recent events, and many You Decide breakout boxes both illustrating concepts and allowing students to critically assess and resolve complex matters."

Michael Shapiro
Georgia State University
Key features

NEW TO THIS EDITION:

  • Recent events are critically examined with regard to criminal law, such as the rise of hate crimes, the debate over the Second Amendment and gun control, the hackings related to the 2016 and 2018 elections, the opioid epidemic, and terrorism recruitment.
  • New edited cases explore crucial issues such as the possession of narcotics in a school zone, resisting arrest, street gangs and terrorism, justifications for driving under the influence of alcohol, aggravated kidnapping, and malicious mischief.
  • Coverage of timely topics with additional illustrative examples include warrantless GPS tracking of individuals, possession of computer files, the difference between reckless and negligent intent, the natural and probable causes doctrine, the insanity defense, revisions to felony murder laws, fraudulent representation of identity, and rape.
  • New opening vignettes discuss important topics like elder abuse, rape and withdrawal of consent, cybercrime, sex offender’s use of social media, and freedom of expression.
  • New You Decide boxes examine fresh issues such as gender disparity under the law, involuntary manslaughter, attempted murder, shoplifting in a self-service store, and aggravated identity theft.
  • New Criminal Law in the News and Criminal Law and Public Policy sections explore recent topics including the use of lethal injection, mental illness and crime, the use of rap music as evidence of a defendant’s criminal intent, fraternity hazing, and Stand Your Ground Laws.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Edited cases build critical thinking skills and expand students’ legal vocabulary by asking them to analyze and discuss cases that relate to the chapter material.
  • Chapter-opening vignettes offer students a real-world issue in criminal law to consider while they learn new chapter concepts.
  • Excerpts from the Model Penal Code are analyzed to help students understand the legal terminology and definitions of crimes.
  • You Decide boxes challenge students to put their own legal reasoning into action by answering questions about novel fact patterns based on actual appellate cases.
  • Legal equation illustrations aid visual learners and make the text even more approachable.
  • Criminal Law in the News and Criminal Law and Public Policy sections engage students by tying chapter material with current developments in law to deepen their understanding of how criminal law functions in the real world.

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1: An Introduction to Criminal Procedure

Chapter 12: The Initiation of the Legal Process, Bail, and the Right to Counsel

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