The Structure and Limits of Criminal Law

636 Pages·2014·46.545 MB·English

by  Paul H. Robinson

The Structure and Limits of Criminal Law
The International Library of Essays on Criminal Law
Series Editor: Stephen Shute
Titles ni the Series:
The Codification of Criminal Law
Michael Bohlander and Daley Birkett
The Theoretical and Philosophical Foundations of Criminal Law
David Dolinko
Criminal Law and Human Rights
PH.PH.M.C. van Kempen
Expert Evidence and Scientific Proof in Criminal Trials
Paul Roberts
Theoretical Foundations of Criminal Trial Procedure
Paul Roberts
The Structure and Limits of Criminal Law
Paul H. Robinson
The Structure and Limits of
Criminal Law
Edited by
Paul H. Robinson
University of Pennsylvania Law School, ASU
First published 2014 yb Ashgate Publishing
Published 2016 yb Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
117 Third Avenue, New ,kroY NY ,71001 USA
Routledge is na imprint of eht rolyaT & Francis ,puorG na informa business
Copyright© luaP H. Robinson .4102 For copyright of laudividni articles esaelp refer ot eht
Aclmowledgements.
llA rights reserved. No part ofthis book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised ni any mrof or yb any
electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known ro hereafter invented, including photocopying and
recording, or ni any information storage or retrieval system, without permission ni writing morf the
publishers.
Notice:
Product ro corporate names may eb trademarks or registered trademarks, and era used only rof
identification dna explanation without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing ni Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book si available from the British .yrarbiL
The Library of Congress has cataloged the printed edition sa :swollof 2013954271
ISBN :31 978-1-4724-2293-4 (hbk)
Contents
Acknowledgements vii
Series Preface xi
Introduction by Paul .H Robinson and Joshua Samuel Barton xi
TRAP I EHT STRUCTURE OF CRIMINAL WAL
Paul .H Robinson (1993), 'Should eht Criminal Law Abandon eht
Actus Reus-Mens Rea Distinction?', ni Stephen Shute, John Gardner
and Jeremy Horder ,)sde( Action and eulaV ni Criminal Law, :drofxO
Clarendon Press, .pp 187-211. 3
2 Paul .H Robinson (1984), 'Imputed Criminal Liability', elaY Law Journal, ,39
.pp 609-76. 29
3 Paul .H Robinson (1997), 'General Defences', in Structure and Function
ni Criminal Law, New :kroY Oxford University Press, .pp 68-124. 79
4 Kent Greenawalt ,)6891( 'Distinguishing Justifications morf Excuses',
Law and Contemporary Problems, 49, .pp 89-108. 551
5 Paul .H Robinson (1994), 'A Functional Analysis of Criminal Law',
Northwestern University Law Review, ,88 .pp 857-913. 571
TRAP II EHT LIMITS FO CRIMINAL :WAL OFFENCE CONDUCT
6 H.L.A. Hart (1959), 'Immorality and Treason', ehT Listener, 03 ,yluJ
.pp 162-63. 532
7 Herbert .L Packer (1969), 'The Search rof Limits: Law and Morals',
ni ehT Limits of the Criminal Sanction, Stanford: Stanford University Press,
.pp 261-69. 142
8 Norval Morris and Gordon Hawkins ,)0791( 'The Overreach of eht
Criminal Law', in ehT Honest Politician's Guide ot Crime Control,
Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press, .pp 2-28. 152
9 Bernard .E Harcourt (1999), 'The Collapse of eht Harm Principle', Journal of
Criminal Law and Criminology, 90, .pp 109-94. 279
01 .P.A Simester and Andrew nov Hirsch (2002), 'Rethinking eht Offense Principle',
Lega1Theory,8,pp.269-95. 563
TRAP III EHT LIMITS OF CRIMINAL :WAL OFFENDER CULPABILITY
11 Richard .A Wasserstrom (1959-60), 'Strict Liability in the Criminal Law',
Stanford Law Review, 12, .pp 731-45. 593
vi ehT Structure and Limits of Criminal Law
21 .A.L.H traH (1964-65), 'Crime and eht Criminal :waL A Review', elaY waL
Journal, 7 ,4 .pp 1325-3 .1 114
31 Jay Campbell ( ,)5691 'A Strict Accountability Approach ot Criminal
Responsibility', Federal Probation, ,92 .pp 33-36. 914
41 Sanford .H hsidaK (1968), 'The Decline of Innocence', Cambridge waL
Journal, ,62 .pp 273-90. 324
51 George .P Fletcher 1791( ,) 'The Theory of Criminal Negligence:
A Comparative Analysis', University of Pennsylvania waL Review, 119,
.pp 401-38. 144
61 Norval Morris (1982), 'The Abolition ofthe laicepS Defense of Insanity',
ni ssendaM and eht Criminal ,waL Chicago dna :nodnoL University of
Chicago ,sserP .pp 53-76. 974
71 Sanford .H hsidaK (1987), 'Excusing Crime', California Law Review, ,57
.pp 257-89. 305
81 luaP .H Robinson dna nhoJ .M yelraD (1997), 'The Utility of Desert',
Northwestern University waL Review, ,19 .pp 453-99. 735
91 luaP .H Robinson ,)1102( 'Are eW Responsible rof ohW eW Are?
ehT Challenge rof Criminal waL Theory ni eht Defenses of Coercive
Indoctrination dna "Rotten laicoS Background"', Alabama Civil Rights &
Civil Liberties Law ,weiveR ,2 .pp 53-77. 585
Name Index 116
Acknowledgements
Ashgate would ekil ot thank eht researchers dna eht contributing authors who provided copies,
along with eht following rof their permission ot reprint copyright material.
ehT California Law Review rof the :yasse Sanford .H Kadish ,)7891( 'Excusing Crime',
California Law Review, ,57 .pp 257-89. Copyright© 7891 California Law ,weiveR .cnI
Cambridge waL Journal for eht :yasse Sanford H. hsidaK (1968), 'The Decline of Innocence',
Cambridge waL Journal, ,62 .pp 273-90.
Cambridge University Press rof eht :yasse .P.A Simester and Andrew von Hirsch ,)2002(
'Rethinking the Offense Principle', Legal ,yroehT ,8 .pp 269-95. Copyright© 2002 Cambridge
University Press.
tneK Greenawalt rof the :yasse tneK Greenawalt ,)6891( 'Distinguishing Justifications
morf Excuses', Law and Contemporary ,smelborP ,94 .pp 89-108. Copyright © 6891 tneK
Greenawalt.
Immediate Media ,ynapmoC London rof the :yasse H.L.A. Hart ,)9591( 'Immorality and
Treason', ehT Listener, 30 ,yluJ .pp 162-63. Copyright© 9591 Immediate Media ,ynapmoC
London.
Northwestern University School of waL for the :syasse luaP H. Robinson ,)4991(
'A Functional Analysis of Criminal Law', Northwestern University waL Review, ,88
.pp 857-913. Copyright© 4991 Northwestern University School of ;waL dranreB .E Harcourt
( ,)9991 'The Collapse of eht Hann Principle', Journal of Criminal waL and Criminology, ,09
.pp 109-94. Copyright © 9991 Northwestern University loohcS of ;waL luaP .H nosniboR
dna nhoJ .M Darley (1997), 'The Utility of Desert', Northwestern University waL Review, 91,
.pp 453-99. Copyright© 7991 Northwestern University School of .waL
Oxford University Press for eht :syasse Paul .H Robinson (1993), 'Should the Criminal Law
Abandon eht Actus Reus-Mens Rea Distinction?', in Stephen ,etuhS John Gardner and Jeremy
Horder ,)sde( Action and eulaV ni Criminal Law, :drofxO Clarendon Press, .pp 187-211; Paul
.H Robinson (1997), 'General Defences', in Structure and Function ni Criminal Law, New
:kroY Oxford University Press, .pp 68-124. Copyright© 7991 Paul .H Robinson.
Stanford University sserP rof eht :syasse Herbert .L Packer (1969), 'The hcraeS for :stimiL
waL dna Morals', ni ehT Limits of eht Criminal Sanction, Stanford: Stanford University ,sserP
.pp 261-69. Copyright© 9691 Herbert .L ;rekcaP drahciR .A mortsressaW (1959-60), 'Strict
Liability ni eht Criminal Law', Stanford waL Review, ,21 .pp .54--137
viii ehT Structure and Limits of Criminal Law
University of Alabama School of waL rof eht :yasse luaP .H Robinson ,)1102( 'Are eW
Responsible rof ohW eW ?erA ehT Challenge for Criminal waL Theory ni eht Defenses of
Coercive Indoctrination dna "Rotten laicoS Background"', Alabama Civil Rights & Civil
Liberties Law Review, ,2 .pp 53-77.
University of Chicago Press rof eht :syasse Norval Morris and Gordon Hawkins ,)0791( 'The
Overreach of the Criminal Law', n i ehT Honest Politician S: Guide ot Crime ,lortnoC Chicago
and London: University of Chicago Press, .pp 2-28. Copyright© 0791 University of Chicago;
Norval Morris (1982), 'The Abolition of the Special Defense oflnsanity', in Madness and eht
Criminal Law, Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press, .pp 53-76. Copyright©
2891 University of Chicago.
University of Pennsylvania waL Review rof eht :yasse George .P Fletcher 791( ,)I 'The Theory
of Criminal Negligence: A Comparative Analysis', University of Pennsylvania Law Review,
,911 .pp 401-38.
elaY Law Journal rof the :syasse Paul .H Robinson (1984), 'Imputed Criminal Liability', elaY
Law Journal, ,39 .pp 609-76. Copyright © 4891 Paul .H Robinson; H.L.A. Hart (1964-65),
'Crime and eht Criminal :waL A Review', elaY Law Journal, ,47 .pp 1325-31.
Every effort sah neeb made ot trace lla the copyright holders, tub if any evah neeb inadvertently
overlooked the publishers lliw eb pleased ot make the necessary arrangement ta eht tsrif
opportunity.
Publisher's Note
ehT material in siht volume has been reproduced gnisu eht facsimile method. sihT means ew
can retain the original pagination ot facilitate easy and correct citation of eht original .syasse
It also explains eht variety of typefaces, page layouts and numbering.
Series Preface
This series, consisting of xis volumes, brings together some of the most significant and
influential writings to have neeb published ni the dleif of criminal ,wal criminal procedure, and
criminal justice ni the tsal century or .os Individually, each volume illuminates many of the
key debates that have ebbed and flowed ni the ;dleif collectively, they provide the conceptual,
theoretical, and structural tools we need to understand how contemporary criminal wal works.
That understanding si further advanced yb the fact that each volume begins with a synthetic
introduction which places the selected essays ni their context and explores the connections
and contrasts between them.
ehT Theoretical and Philosophical Foundations ofCriminal Law (David Dolinko) includes
9 I path-breaking essays no criminal wal theory. These essays consider demanding questions
such :sa What conduct should and should not eb criminalised? What authority does the
state have to respond to various criminal wrong doings yb inflicting intentional mrah no
perpetrators ni the mrof of criminal punishment? What role od the concepts of individual
'choice', 'capacity' and 'character' play ni the ascription of moral and criminal responsibility?
What si the relevance of mental state to culpability judgement and how should this judgement
change when we have lluf information about the reasons someone had for acting sa they did?
What liability should eb imposed no people for the crimes they seek to bring about tub fail?
and, more generally, What place should luck and happenstance have ni the criminal ?wal
nI ehT Structure and Limits of Criminal Law (Paul .H Robinson) a further 91 essays confront
a series of important foundational questions regarding how we should best understand the
architecture of the criminal :wal sI ti possible to construct a single, unified, conceptual
framework into which lla criminal wal rules ?tif if ti ,si What value does such a framework
have? Can we identify a set of necessary and sufficient conditions for criminal liability? and,
if we can, What are the proper limits ofthese doctrines dna how should they eb expressed?
nI the volume no ehT Codification of Criminal Law (Michael Bohlander and Daley Birkett)
issues concerning the development of criminal codes are considered yb another 24 essayists.
The apparently simple question 'What si a criminal code?' turns out to eb frustratingly
difficult to answer, sa si the question whether ti si sensible for every country to adopt .eno
Most authors ni this volume, whether approaching the topic morf a theoretical, historical, or
comparative perspective, answer the latter question ni the affirmative. tuB a wef are more
sceptical. For them, whatever approach si taken, the promised benefits of lluf codification
- simplicity, accessibility and comprehensibility - will always remain tantalisingly out of
reach or eb undermined or negated yb the likely ssol of flexibility and responsiveness that
codification brings.
Concern with human rights sah neeb present ni one mrof or another ni lla human societies
since time immemorial. ,teY despite these deep roots, the notion that every human being
si a rights-bearer yb virtue of their humanity, and that certain of these rights era universal
dna inalienable, has neeb taken up ni the tsal 001 or os years ni a way that has on parallel
ni any previous historical period. This explosion of interest ni human rights thinking raises