Category: Criminal Law

The 9th edition of Criminal Law Text, Cases and Materials is another extensively comprehensive learning resource from Oxford University Press. Like many others in OUP’s Text, Cases and Materials series, it includes substantial extracts from key cases, secondary legislation and academic debate. Cases are brought to life with detailed explanatory commentary, providing the learner with a complete and current picture of the law (at time of going to press).

The resource, which is much more than a reference book, is a thorough resource for both students and practitioners.  The wealth of online resources included are invaluable. Inside this treasure trove of online resources, readers will find amongst other things:Regular updates to the law following publication, key in this fast moving area of the law.

– A bank of interactive multiple choice questions helps to consolidate and validate knowledge.

– Flash cards of key cases.

– A full bibliography for the text.

– A video of the author taking about criminal law study and his approach to the subject.

– A selection of key annotated web links, guiding readers towards further useful sites.

– Guidance on answering questions posed in the text (questions that this applies to are highlighted in the text).

This text is particularly well structured and uses formatting well to draw the reader’s attention to key points of interest.  A table at the start clearly sets out the additions included in the 9th edition compared to the 8th edition including:

– Important developments in the law on self defence and rape.

– Developments in the law on causation.

– Clarifications on the law on loss of control.

– New case law on manslaughter.

– Analysis of the new law on dishonesty.

– 22 new cases.

The author takes a unique approach to the study of law and splits each chapter into two parts: (i) the current law as it stands (the ‘black letter’ law) and (ii) the theory behind the law.  The author clearly cross references these two parts throughout the text which allows the reader to quickly find the corresponding reference. The start of each chapter highlights the central topics which will be covered as well as definitions of key legal terms. Interspersed throughout the text there are relevant lists of further reading so readers can find relevant additional sources.  A useful ‘concluding thoughts’ section at the end of each chapter summarises the key points covered and serves as a quick summary for those flicking through. Rather helpfully (especially for students), each chapter includes test questions and examination tips such as flowcharts and guidelines on approaching specific questions or scenarios.

Given how comprehensive it is, I fully recommend Criminal Law, Text, Cases and Materials to anyone needing a clear and rounded account of this area of the law.  This tex has a wealth of clear, well set out and engaging information and pulls together a number of sources and formats to support lots of learning styles. It is easy to see why this is so highly recommended by lecturers across universities; Criminal Law, Text, Cases and Materials would be an asset to anyone interested in this topic.

Reviewed on 30 September 2020.

This is the first time I’ve had the opportunity to review Smith, Hogan & Ormerod’s Criminal Law but I very much enjoyed reading this fifteenth edition: it gives the reader a thorough understanding of criminal law, from principles and definitions through to a comprehensive list of cases.

Such well structured material is always popular with students and I was very pleased to see that Smith, Hogan & Ormerod’s Criminal Law does exactly what students need. Whilst covering over 1000 pages with plenty of examples, it is a clear and accessible text: ideal for law students and practitioners alike. It also comes with a thorough array of online resources from the online resource centre, including a number of additional chapters, web links to further reading resources, a key to all abbreviations used in the text and even an online bibliography.

A clear table at the start clearly sets out the additions included in the 15th edition compared to the 14th edition including:

– eleven new cases;

– changes to reflect the changes to the test for dishonesty made by the Supreme Court; and

– details of the Supreme Court’s seminal judgment in Jogee.

Smith, Hogan & Ormerod’s Criminal Law is split into two distinct parts: (i) general principles and (ii) particular crimes. Each part has a number of chapters. For example, part (i) includes chapters on: elements of crime; crimes of negligence; crimes of strict liability; parties to crime; and assistance after the offence. Part (ii) includes chapters on: murder; manslaughter; sexual offences; theft; and fraud (to name but a few).

This layout is very clear with each chapter being broken down into accessible sections, which allows the reader to easily access particular topics of interest. Unlike some books, there is, however, nothing by way of self-test questions.

Taking everything into account, I recommend Smith, Hogan & Ormerod’s Criminal Law to anyone needing a clear and comprehensive account of this area of the law. The text is (on the whole) clear, accessible and engaging and is well deserving of the praise it receives. Another great publication by Oxford University Press.

Reviewed on 15 June 2020.

It is likely that one of the first things which strikes you when you start your undergraduate law degree, and visit the local bookshop, is the sheer choice of textbooks on first year modules like criminal law.  There are some long-standing texts and many new texts like Stuart Macdonald’s Text, Cases and Materials on Criminal Law.  Macdonald’s aim is simple: to combine detailed commentary and analysis of the law with excerpts from a range of sources, both legal and non-legal, to help set the law in context and deepen the reader’s understanding.  While being somewhat ambitious, this aim is impressively achieved.

Written by Dr Stuart Macdonald, Text, Cases and Materials on Criminal Law is split into eleven chapters: your criminal law toolkit; the anatomy of a crime; key actus reus concepts; key mens rea concepts; homicide; non-fatal acts against the person; sexual offences; property offences; intoxication; mental condition defences; substantive defences; inchoate offences; and accessories.  This covers the main topics of most undergraduate criminal law modules.

Each chapter follows a similar approach and layout.  The chapter objectives are set out.  The text is also clearly separated from the materials (which stands out by the use of highlighted boxes).  There are also sporadic activity boxes (but the answers do not (somewhat disappointingly) appear in the text), flow charts and conclusions at the end of each chapter.  The flowcharts are perhaps one of the best features of the text; they really ensure the reader’s understanding of the material is sound.  Each chapter also includes some self-test questions (again without the answers), checklists and a list of further reading.

Macdonald’s Text, Cases and Materials on Criminal Law provides a clearly written and accessible account of criminal law.  It includes extracts from the main cases and materials on criminal law; a vital resource if you do not have ready access to library resources, or just want to consider the key extracts.  The self-test and activity questions usefully encourage the reader to undertake further and independent research (and the further reading list is an excellent starting point).  It would, however, be useful to have some suggested points for these discussions so the reader can test their understanding.  Text, Cases and Materials on Criminal Law is, for all these reasons, likely to quickly become a text adopted by many students and lecturers.

Reviewed on 17 January 2016