Jumpstart Criminal Law: Reading and Understanding Criminal Law Cases and Statutes

Jumpstart Criminal Law explores the context in which criminal statutes are drafted and enacted and in which criminal trials and appeals take place by considering the relationship between state and federal criminal prosecutions and trials; the difference between criminal offenses and defenses in different jurisdictions; the steps in the criminal justice process; the separate roles of judge and jury in criminal cases, and their significance; “element analysis” in criminal cases and with criminal statutes; the nature of the different types of criminal law defenses; criminal defense ethics; how, when, and why conduct is criminalized; and the role of “mens rea” and “actus reus” in criminal law. Legal reasoning and the criminal justice process are taught through numerous judicial opinions with analysis, presented in a straightforward and informal writing style comprehensible without in-class explanation. Pedagogical features support learning, such as a chapter with a glossary of the terms, idioms, and procedures encountered in reading cases in criminal law. Many judicial opinions are illustrated by an artist-drawn “cartoon.” The cases do not have complex fact patterns, but rather, are short and easy to read, and apply common rules and principles of law. Helpful exam prep combines examples of issue-spotting, essay, and multiple-choice questions with tips on how to carefully read criminal law exam questions.

Features:

• explores the context in which criminal statutes are drafted and enacted and in which criminal trials and appeals take place
  • the relationship between state and federal criminal prosecutions and trials
  • the difference between criminal offenses and defenses in different jurisdictions
  • the steps in the criminal justice process
  • the separate roles of judge and jury in criminal cases
  • “element analysis” in criminal cases and with criminal statutes
  • the nature of various types of criminal law defenses
  • criminal defense ethics
  • how, when, and why conduct is criminalized
  • the role of “mens rea” and “actus reus” in criminal law
• legal reasoning and criminal justice process taught via judicial opinions with analysis
• judicial opinions and analyses comprehensible without in-class explanation
• straightforward and informal writing style
• pedagogical features
  • glossary of terms, idioms, and procedures encountered in reading cases
  • line art: artist-drawn “cartoons” illustrate many judicial opinions
  • judicial opinions: short and easy to read, applying common rules of law
  • exam prep help
    • examples of issue-spotting, essay, and multiple-choice questions
    • tips on how to carefully read criminal law exam questions