criminal law literature that would be good for most people to read

[Leyeden]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio

would someone recommend some literature for criminal law that would be good for any adult to read? kind of a good guide or overview with important points

thanks

 

[quincy]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio

would someone recommend some literature for criminal law that would be good for any adult to read? kind of a good guide or overview with important points

thanks

You might want to visit an area law library and ask the librarian.

 

[adjusterjack]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio

would someone recommend some literature for criminal law that would be good for any adult to read? kind of a good guide or overview with important points

thanks

You'll find the most important points in the Ohio Criminal Code:

https://law.justia.com/codes/ohio/2016/title-29/

Equally important are the Ohio Rules of Criminal Procedure:

http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/LegalResources/Rules/criminal/CriminalProcedure.pdf

Read both in their entirety and if any particular topic appeals to you, you can google for further reading matter.

 

[Taxing Matters]

You'll find the most important points in the Ohio Criminal Code:

https://law.justia.com/codes/ohio/2016/title-29/

Equally important are the Ohio Rules of Criminal Procedure:

http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/LegalResources/Rules/criminal/CriminalProcedure.pdf

Read both in their entirety and if any particular topic appeals to you, you can google for further reading matter.

While good resources to look up particular statutes and court rules, doing as you suggest is not a very efficient or effective way to learn to learn the basics of criminal law, particularly since those resources exclude much of what is relevant in criminal cases, like court decisions interpreting the federal and state constitutions, the statutes, etc. It is far better to find a coursebook or treatise on criminal law that organizes all these things, explains the relevance of them, and how the are applied in practice.

 

[quincy]

For one good text (out of many that could be considered), there is "Criminal Law" by Lloyd L. Weinreb, Dane Professor of Law, Harvard University, published by Foundation Press.

But because there are eight law schools in Ohio, finding a law library and librarian (or a friendly law professor) to direct you to good texts should not be too much of a challenge.

 

[latigo]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio

would someone recommend some literature for criminal law that would be good for any adult to read? kind of a good guide or overview with important points

thanks

Contrary to adjusterjack's LAYMAN'S OPINION you aren't going to learn much about the subject by reading codified laws and procedural rules! It would be like trying to learn a foreign language by studying one of the Collins' dictionaries.

One treatise on the subject that seems to be generally recommended is Joshua Dressler's "Understanding Criminal Law" 6th Edition - available through Amazon for as little as $9.00 used paperback.

Good luck.

 

[quincy]

Contrary to adjusterjack's LAYMAN'S OPINION you aren't going to learn much about the subject by reading codified laws and procedural rules! It would be like trying to learn a foreign language by studying one of the Collins' dictionaries.

One treatise on the subject that seems to be generally recommended is Joshua Dressler's "Understanding Criminal Law" 6th Edition - available through Amazon for as little as $9.00 used paperback.

Good luck.

I found your suggested text for $1.99 through Barnes & Noble.

 

[westside]

Contrary to adjusterjack's LAYMAN'S OPINION you aren't going to learn much about the subject by reading codified laws and procedural rules! It would be like trying to learn a foreign language by studying one of the Collins' dictionaries.

One treatise on the subject that seems to be generally recommended is Joshua Dressler's "Understanding Criminal Law" 6th Edition - available through Amazon for as little as $9.00 used paperback.

Good luck.

I know a lot of laymen who can read and understand the (in this case) ORC every bit as well as the average lawyer. It's not remotely the most complicated part of the practice of law, and may well be the least.

 

[quincy]

I know a lot of laymen who can read and understand the (in this case) ORC every bit as well as the average lawyer. It's not remotely the most complicated part of the practice of law, and may well be the least.

That is not what latigo or Taxing Matters were saying. They were saying that statutes and court rules are not the way to learn the basics of criminal law. I agree.

 

[LdiJ]

That is not what latigo or Taxing Matters were saying. They were saying that statutes and court rules are not the way to learn the basics of criminal law. I agree.

I agree on the court rules, but the statutes are also important. All of the suggested books are going to include statutes as part of the teaching of law.

 

[westside]

That is not what latigo or Taxing Matters were saying. They were saying that statutes and court rules are not the way to learn the basics of criminal law. I agree.

I'll agree, other that saying there seemed to be an implication by one of them that the reading of the actual law is too complex for the average layman, which is nonsense.