Principles of Criminal Law

For courses in criminal law.

A succinct, readable survey of criminal law
Principles of Criminal Law is a clear, efficient introduction to criminal law viewed through the lens of human behavior. Concise enough for a one-semester course, it provides critical background information, establishes elements of major crimes, and covers a vast range of crimes, including white¿-collar, victimless, and political crimes — without dense citations or lengthy discussion. Bolstered by cases and critical-thinking features, the 7th edition has new information on organized and white-collar crime, up-to-date marijuana laws, and additional content on specific crimes and legal rules.

Cliff Roberson, LLM, PhD, is an emeritus professor of criminal justice at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, and a retired professor of criminology at California State University in Fresno. He has authored or co-authored more than 60 books and texts on legal subjects.

His previous academic experiences include Associate Vice-President for Academic Affairs, Arkansas Tech University; Dean of Arts and Sciences, University of Houston, Victoria; Director of Programs, National College of District Attorneys; Professor of Criminology and Director of Justice Center, California State University, Fresno; and Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, St. Edward’s University.

Dr. Roberson’s non-academic experience includes US Marine Corps service as an infantry officer, trial and defense counsel, military judge as a marine judge advocate, and director of the military law branch. Other legal employment experiences include Trial Supervisor, Office of State Counsel for Offenders, Texas Board of Criminal Justice, and judge pro tem in the California courts.

Dr. Roberson is admitted to practice before the US Supreme Court, US Court of Military Appeals, US Tax Court, federal courts in California and Texas, the Supreme Court of Texas, and the Supreme Court of California. His educational background includes a PhD in human behavior from the US International University; an LLM in criminal law, criminology, and psychiatry from George Washington University; a JD from American University; a BA in political science from the University of Missouri; and one year of postgraduate study at the University of Virginia School of Law.

Michael O’Reilley, AB in Criminology, JD, is an adjunct professor of criminal justice at California State University, East Bay in Hayward, California. He is the author of a book on prosecutorial and judicial misconduct and an article on the Hell’s Angels multiple murder case he successfully prosecuted in 2003. Mr. O’Reilley has taken several courses at Santa Clara University Jesuit School of Theology in the pursuit of a master’s degree in theological studies.

Mr. O’Reilley’s non-academic experiences in the field of criminal law include working as a police officer in Seaside, California; a probation officer in Spokane, Washington; an assistant public defender in Alameda County, California; a pro tem judge in Alameda and Contra Costa counties; a reserve police officer in Berkeley, California; Deputy Attorney General for the State of California; and Chief Deputy District Attorney of Napa, California. Mr. O’Reilley also practiced civil law with McInerney & Dillon in Oakland, California. His legal volunteer experiences include acting as a court-appointed special advocate for children in the foster care system and as a fee arbitrator for various bar associations. Mr. O’Reilley’s other non-academic experience includes being an elected member of his church’s parish council and a Eucharistic minister and lector at the Jesuit School of Theology.

Mr. O’Reilley is admitted to practice law before the Ninth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of California. He has won several professional awards and commendations, including the International Motorcycle Gang Investigation Association’s Prosecutor of the Year Award, the California Attorney General’s Outstanding Prosecutor Award, and commendations from the California Commission on Judicial Performance, the California Highway Patrol, and the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Department.

1. Introduction to Criminal Law
2. Criminal Liability
3. Requirement of an Act
4. Inchoate or Anticipatory Crimes
5. Defenses
6. Homicide
7. Sex Crimes
8. Crimes Against Persons
9. Theft and Property Crimes
10. Robbery, Extortion, and Bribery
11. Crimes Against Habitation
12. Crimes Against Public Morals
13. Narcotics and Alcohol Crimes
14. Crimes of Abuse
15. White-Collar and Organized Crimes
16. Punishments

Appendix
Glossary
Case Index
Subject Index