Core Statutes on Criminal Law 2008-2009

Publisher: Palgrave

Editors: Kate Cook, Mark James & Richard Lee

Price: £10.99

Edition: 2008-2009 Edition (July 2008)

ISBN: 978-0-230-21850-5

Buy from Palgrave: Click Here

It quickly becomes obvious, when browsing the various statute books, the extent that a subject is based upon statutory materials.  Core Statutes on Criminal Law 2008-2009 shows, by being less than 200 pages, quite frankly, that criminal law is not heavily statute based.  This should not, however, put readers off because the editors have done a great job in selecting just the right number of statutes.

Edited by a number of experienced academic criminal lawyers, Core Statutes on Criminal Law 2008-2009 is arranged alphabetically meaning that, as long as the reader knows the title rather than the year of the statute, the material can be quickly found.  Further editions may also consider including an index in chronological order.  The text is also well laid out with the heading of each statute in larger bold print and capital letters and the provision's title being in bold print.  Similarly, each sub-provision is consistently aligned.

Because these types of texts are predominantly used for examinations, the layout and formatting of Core Statutes on Criminal Law 2008-2009 ensures that the reader can be sure that all provisions have been considered.  For example, provisions often have an 'orphaned' sentence which, if not clearly shown, can often be overlooked.  Fortunately, this issue is avoided.  Similarly, the editors have included the relevant parts from interpretation provisions meaning vital context and understanding is not missed.

For anyone studying criminal law, Core Statutes on Criminal Law 2008-2009 is a vital guide to the statutory provisions.  They are clearly laid-out and thoughtfully selected meaning the reader is not bothered with often unnecessary material.  Whilst a more detailed index may have been helpful to locate material quickly, this is a minor issue in an otherwise excellent statute book.

Reviewed on 22 March 2009

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