Criminal Law

Katheryn Russell-Brown is the Chesterfield Smith Professor of Law and Director of the Center for the Study of Race and Race Relations at the University of Florida, Levin College of Law. Professor Russell-Brown received her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley, law degree from the University of California, Hastings, and Ph.D. in criminology from the University of Maryland. Prior to joining the University of Florida law faculty in 2003, Professor Russell-Brown taught in the Criminology and Criminal Justice department at the University of Maryland for 11 years. She has been a visiting law professor at American University and the City University of New York (CUNY). She has been a lecturer at Howard University and her first teaching position was at Alabama State University. Professor Russell-Brown teaches, researches, and writes on issues of race and crime and the sociology of law. Her article, "The Constitutionality of Jury Override in Alabama Death Penalty Cases," was cited in the U.S. Supreme Court decision, Harris v. Alabama (1995). In 2009, Professor Russell-Brown was awarded a Soros Justice Advocacy Fellowship. Her project focused on ways to integrate criminal justice issues into the elementary education curriculum. Professor Russell-Brown's work includes the textbook Criminal Law (Sage, 2016) (co-authored with Angela J. Davis) and books, The Color of Crime, 2d edition (New York University Press, 2009), Protecting Our Own: Race, Crime and African Americans, (Rowman and Littlefield, 2006), and Underground Codes: Race, Crime, and Related Fires (New York University Press, 2004). Angela J. Davis is a professor of Law at the American University Washington College of Law where she teaches Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, and Criminal Defense: Theory and Practice. Professor Davis has been a Visiting Professor at George Washington University Law School and Georgetown University Law Center. She has served on the adjunct faculty at George Washington, Georgetown, and Harvard Law Schools. Professor Davis is the author of Arbitrary Justice: The Power of the American Prosecutor (Oxford University Press, 2007), the co-editor of Trial Stories (with Professor Michael E. Tigar) (Foundation Press, 2007), and a co-author of the 6th edition of Basic Criminal Procedure (with Professors Stephen Saltzburg and Daniel Capra) (Thomson West 2012). Professor Davis' other publications include articles and book chapters on prosecutorial discretion and racism in the criminal justice system. Professor Davis received the American University Faculty Award for Outstanding Teaching in a Full-Time Appointment in 2002, the American University Faculty Award for Outstanding Scholarship in 2009, and the Washington College of Law's Pauline Ruyle Moore award for scholarly contribution in the area of public law in 2000 and 2009. Professor Davis' book Arbitrary Justice won the Association of American Publishers 2007 Professional and Scholarly Publishing Division Award for Excellence in the Law and Legal Studies Division. She was awarded a Soros Senior Justice Fellowship in 2004. Professor Davis is a graduate of Howard University and Harvard Law School. She serves on the Board of Trustees of the Sentencing Project and the Southern Center for Human Rights.Professor Davis served as the Executive Director of the National Rainbow Coalition from 1994 - 1995. From 1991 - 1994, she was the Director of the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia ("PDS"). She also served as the Deputy Director from 1988 - 1991 and as a staff attorney at PDS from 1982 - 1988, representing indigent juveniles and adults charged with crimes. Professor Davis is a former law clerk of the Honorable Theodore R. Newman of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.

Chapter 1: Introduction and Overview of Criminal Law Criminal Law Terms and Concepts Sources of Criminal Law Classifications, Distinctions, and Limitations in Criminal Law Crime and People in the Criminal Justice System The Structure of the Criminal Justice System Case Briefing Chapter 2: Constitutional Limits on Criminal Laws First Amendment Second Amendment Fifth Amendment Eighth Amendment Fourteenth Amendment Right to Privacy Chapter 3: The Elements of a Crime A Voluntary Act (Actus Reus) Guilty State of Mind (Mens Rea) Concurrence and Causation Strict Liability Chapter 4: Incomplete Crimes Attempt Solicitation Conspiracy Merger Doctrine Other Incomplete Offenses Chapter 5: Theft and Other Property Offenses Larceny and Theft Embezzlement False Pretenses Burglary Arson White-Collar Crime Chapter 6: Public Order Crimes and Offenses Against Public Decency Public Order Crimes Crimes Against Public Decency Chapter 7: Rape and Other Violent Crimes Rape and Other Sexual Assaults Robbery Kidnapping Assault and Battery Chapter 8: Criminal Homicide Definitions Intentional Killings Unintentional Killings Felony Murder Capital Punishment Chapter 9: Justification Defenses Types of Defenses Defensive Force Duress and Necessity Chapter 10: Excuse Defenses Competency and Insanity Infancy Intoxication Syndrome "Defenses" Cultural Defenses Chapter 11: Punishment and Sentencing Punishment Prisoners' Rights Sentencing Chapter 12: State-Involved Crimes Crimes Against the State Crimes Committed by Public Officials

"It has an engaging style and includes great examples to help students understand concepts. The authors have done a fine job in making an often 'dry' subject exciting for the student." -- Robert Lockwood "Each of the authors has a fascinating legal background, and clearly knows their area of the law." -- Kathleen Nicolaides, JD "Good use of cases for facilitation of discussion as well as resources for the student as they continue their academic journey...Great work!" -- Pamela Chambers "It is an excellent book" -- Barry R. Langford "It was a good read, it covered all the necessary topics with great explanation." -- Richard Colangelo "It is structured very similarly to how I like to teach my course. I like it much better than my current text as it works on the student's analytical skills." -- Becky Kohler da Cruz "The authors have done a good job of using hypothetical problems, cases, and discussion questions to involve students in the learning process. They have presented the material in a clear and understandable fashion for senior level students." -- Robert Lockwood "The liberal use of case law to illustrate the concepts, which were clearly described, really adds to the value of this text." -- Tim Robicheaux