Gwybodaeth Modiwlau

The module aims to provide students with the opportunity to understand and examine critically the evidence, concepts, debates, and controversies associated with the study of criminal law. It will inform students of the principles of criminal law upon which most offences are based, and of the key criteria in identifying the most serious of criminal offences, such as homicide and sexual offences. They will also be informed of the key cases, and legislation which govern the criminal law. . As a core module for professional exemption purposes, the module will introduce students to the key foundational principles which underlie the criminal law at an early stage in their studies, emphasizing the role these principles play in everyday life. The module will then build upon these principles by focusing on the most serious criminal offences. It will create an environment where students are motivated to learn more out of curiosity. Students will be encouraged to review what is known, to identify what additional information is needed to solve substantive issues in criminal law, and to continue the search to find and critically examine new solutions to old problems. Learning goals for students will include the following: to be critical consumers of information emanating from legislation or a judicial authority and to be able to create, present and rebut arguments within the existing doctrinal framework.

The module sets out general principles relating to the mens rea (mental element) and the actus reus (conduct element) of criminal offences, before proceeding to look at the substantive offences of murder; manslaughter; partial defences; sexual offences; participation in crime; non-fatal offences against the person; property offences; inchoate offences: defences of incapacity and mental conditions and general defences.