Criminal Law Quiz

Module Guide Overview

• The module guide provides an overview of the course, including the purpose, learning objectives, and assessment details.

Sources of Criminal Law

• Statutes, common law, and European Union law are sources of criminal law.

Knowledge and Understanding

• Enhancing knowledge and understanding of the subject requires regular reading and engagement with the recommended textbooks.

Prosecution Proceedings

• The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has the overall responsibility for bringing proceedings.
• The main factor influencing the decision to proceed with a prosecution is the likelihood of a conviction.

Court Proceedings

• The majority of offences are heard in the Magistrates' Court.

Reading Key Cases

• The textbook 'Case and Materials on Criminal Law' is a key resource for reading key cases.
• The purpose of reading key cases is to gain a deeper understanding of the subject and develop critical thinking skills.

Chapter Reviews

• It is recommended to review and reflect on the key points at the end of each chapter.

Examination Skills

• The examination tests various skills, including knowledge, understanding, and application.

Trial Proceedings

• The jury is responsible for deciding how much weight to give to the evidence presented in a trial.
• Jury directions are instructions given by the judge to the jury on the law and the evidence.

European Convention on Human Rights

• The case of Dudgeon v UK (1981) led to the ruling that a legislative provision criminalising homosexual activity between consenting adults in private in Northern Ireland was a breach of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Textbooks

• 'Wilson' refers to the textbook 'Criminal Law' by Williams.
• The e-book version of 'Criminal Law' is recommended over the hard copy only version.
• The textbook 'Smith and Hogan' is described as having a great deal of value added.
• The textbook 'Ormerod and Laird' is encouraged to be read widely and referred to occasionally.

Elements of Crime

• The three basic elements of a crime are actus reus, mens rea, and concurrence.
• Actus reus refers to the guilty act or omission.
• Mens rea refers to the guilty mind or intention.

Purpose of Criminal Law

• According to the American Model Penal Code, one of the purposes of criminal law is to protect the public from harm.

Threshold of Criminal Law Intervention

• The criminal law intervenes when the threshold of harm or risk of harm is crossed.

Distinction between Criminal Law and Other Laws

• The distinction between criminal law and the law of contract and tort lies in the level of culpability and the type of punishment.

Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm

• Assault occasioning actual bodily harm requires proof of the presence of actual bodily harm.

Skills for Proficiency in Criminal Law

• Effective discharge of the day-to-day tasks of a criminal lawyer requires knowledge, understanding, and critical thinking skills.

Understanding Criminal Law

• Understanding criminal law requires a deep understanding of the rules, principles, and policies.
• Lawyers subject the rules to critical scrutiny to develop a deeper understanding of the subject.

Latin Maxim

• The Latin maxim actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea is commonly translated as "an act does not make a person guilty unless the mind is guilty".

Definition of Murder

• According to Section 4.2 of Wilson, the definition of murder is an unlawful killing with malice aforethought.

Test your knowledge of criminal law with this quiz! From understanding the basics to navigating the complexities, this quiz will help you sharpen your legal skills. Are you up to date with the latest examination format? Find out now!