Students should be able to identify the enforcement structure and sentencing options in respect of any given common law or statutory offence. Students should be able to read an appellate case and describe the offence charged, the facts on which the charge is based, and the outcomes of the trial and each level of appeal. Students should be able to analyse statutory offences. Students should be familiar with law reform proposals in relation to any offences studied. Students should comprehend the significance of procedural matters such as burden of proof and evidential principles.
All societies employ sanctions to enforce standards of behaviour.
This course examines the underlying principles of criminal liability in England and Wales through study of a number of offences, ranging from regulatory offences to homicide.