CriminalLawoffersauniquehybridapproachtolearningcriminallaw.Mosttextbooksoversimplythelawbypresentingthe“blackletterlaw“formajoranddefenses,buttheyrarelypresentanycorrespondingexplorationofthegrayareasthatexistbeyondthebasicrulesoflaw.Conversely,casebookspresentnumerouseditedjudicialopinions,oftenwithcontext.CriminalLawtakesthebestfromeachoftheseapproachesbymergingtextualpedagogyandcaseanalysesintoacoherentframeworkthatincludeslegalhistory,socialcontext,andpublicpolicy.Takingahistoricalapproach,legalexpertHenryF.FradellapresentsthelawasitevolvedfromEnglishcommonlawandcomparesitwiththemodernstatutoryapproachtocrimessetforthintheAmericanLawInstitute’shighlyinfluentialModelPenalCode.Afterprovidingsuchcomparativepedagogyforeachcrimeordefense,CriminalLawpresents1-2editedcasesthatallowthereadertocontrasthowthe“blackletterlaw“playsoutintherealworld.Aftereachcase,aseriesofquestionschallengestudentstoengageincriticalthinkingaboutthecaseanditsimplicationsasprecedent.Finally,chapterscontainanumberofadditionalpedagogicalfeaturesthatfocusonpublicpolicyconcernsandstatutoryinterpretationskillsusingpenallawsfromavarietyofU.S.states.
