00231 - Criminal Law (A-C)

Academic Year 2021/2022

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Single cycle degree programme (LMCU) in Law (cod. 9232)

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to explain the constitutional principles and the basic knowledge of criminal law, the structure and the notion of general principles of the criminal code and the main criminal offences.

Course contents

- Tasks and functions of the criminal law. The definition of crime

- The concept and the constitutional theory of protected interest

- The structure of criminal offences that arise constitutional problems

- The principles of criminal policy. The fragmentary character of criminal law

- The general theory of crime and the analysis of the elements of crime

- Criminal conduct and result

- The structure of crime

- The actus reus

- The classical model and the importance of the teleological method

- Voluntary act requirements

- The notion of result

- Causation. The different theories

- Fundament and discipline of justifications and defences

- The constitutional principle of culpability (art. 27, 1° e 3° co., Cost.)

- The strict liability

- Personality and culpability and the theories of punishment

- Capacity. The concept of mental illness and insanity.

- Mens rea

- Negligence

- Intention

- Mistake

- Attempt

- Penalties

- Principles of other continental crime systems. The reform of the Italian criminal code.

- The relation between the general and the special part of the criminal Code.

- Analysis of some of the principal criminal offences, in particular crimes against public administration, crimes against the administration of justice, crimes against public order, crimes against life, crimes against personal safety, crimes against persons (other crimes), crimes against property.

Readings/Bibliography

1) S. Canestrari, L. Cornacchia, G. De Simone, Manuale di diritto penale, Parte generale, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2017 (2nd ed.), (except chap. XXI "Nozione di antigiuridicità");

or, alternatively,

G. Fiandaca, E. Musco, Diritto penale. Parte generale, Zanichelli, Bologna, last edition;

2) AA.VV., Diritto penale. Lineamenti di parte speciale, Monduzzi, Bologna, seventh edition, 2016: chapp. concerning crimes against the administration of justice, crimes against public order, crimes against life, crimes against personal safety, crimes against persons ("le altre ipotesi di tutela", except part III), crimes against property. For students who follow the course, only chapp. concerning crimes against against life, crimes against personal safety;

or, alternatively,

G. Fiandaca, E. Musco, Diritto penale. Parte speciale, Voll. I e II, Zanichelli, Bologna, last edition: chapp. concerning crimes against the administration of justice, crimes against public order, crimes against life, crimes against personal safety, crimes against persons (criminal protection of honor and sexual crimes), crimes against property. For students who follow the course, only chapp. concerning crimes against against life, crimes against personal safety.

3) S. Canestrari, L. Cornacchia, G. De Simone (a cura di), Manuale di diritto penale, Parte speciale, Delitti contro la Pubblica Amministrazione, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2015: chapp. I-XIV;

or, alternatively,

G. Fiandaca, E. Musco, Diritto penale. Parte speciale, Vol. I, Zanichelli, Bologna, last edition: Chapter corcering crimes against public administration (parts "Nozioni generali"; "Sezione I" of "Delitti dei pubblici ufficiali contro la pubblica amministrazione", up to and including par. 7).

SPECIAL CASES

Students who need 9 credits (diritto penale, Corso di laurea in Scienze giuridiche) have to study the following book: S. Canestrari, L. Cornacchia, G. De Simone, Manuale di diritto penale, Parte generale, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2017, (2nd ed.), (except chap. XXI "Nozione di antigiuridicità"); or, alternatively, G. Fiandaca, E. Musco, Diritto penale. Parte generale, Zanichelli, Bologna, last edition.

Students who need 9 credits (diritto penale, corso italo-francese) have to study the following book: S. Canestrari, L. Cornacchia, G. De Simone, Manuale di diritto penale, Parte generale, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2017, (2nd ed.), (except chap. XXI "Nozione di antigiuridicità" and chapp. XXXIII-XXXIX); or, alternatively, G. Fiandaca, E. Musco, Diritto penale. Parte generale, Zanichelli, Bologna, last edition (except parts VII and VIII).

Students who need 7 credits (attività integrative) have to study chapp. concerning crimes against the administration of justice, crimes against public order, crimes against life, crimes against personal safety, crimes against persons ("le altre ipotesi di tutela", except part III), crimes against property of the book AA.VV., Diritto penale. Lineamenti di parte speciale, Monduzzi, Bologna, seventh edition, 2016; furthermore, S. Canestrari, L. Cornacchia, G. De Simone (a cura di), Manuale di diritto penale, Parte speciale, Delitti contro la Pubblica Amministrazione, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2015: chapp. I-XIV. Alternatively, students can study the same topics in G. Fiandaca, E. Musco, Diritto penale. Parte speciale, Voll. I e II, Zanichelli, Bologna, last edition.

Students who need 7 credits (diritto penale II, Laurea specialistica) have to study chapp. concerning crimes against the administration of justice, crimes against public order, crimes against life, crimes against personal safety, crimes against persons ("le altre ipotesi di tutela", except part III), crimes against property of the book AA.VV., Diritto penale. Lineamenti di parte speciale, Monduzzi, Bologna, seventh edition, 2016; furthermore, S. Canestrari, L. Cornacchia, G. De Simone (a cura di), Manuale di diritto penale, Parte speciale, Delitti contro la Pubblica Amministrazione, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2015: chapp. I-XIV. If they follow the course, only chapp. concerning crimes against life, crimes against personal safety; furthermore, S. Canestrari, L. Cornacchia, G. De Simone (a cura di), Manuale di diritto penale, Parte speciale, Delitti contro la Pubblica Amministrazione, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2015: chapp. I-XIV. Alternatively, students can study the same topics in G. Fiandaca, E. Musco, Diritto penale. Parte speciale, Voll. I e II, Zanichelli, Bologna, last edition.

In other cases, students have to agree the program with the Professor.

Teaching methods

During the lessons various practical examples and cases will be illustrated.

Constitutional Law and Civil Law are propaedeutical subjects.

The exam of Institutes of Criminal Law can not be done after the exam of Criminal Law.

Assessment methods

The final test will be exclusively an oral exam.

The students’ knowledge is assessed through a discussion, to evaluate the actual achievement of the learning outcomes. The exam consists in an interview with the appointed commission on the topics included in the programme.

The assessment will take into account the knowledge of the relevant institutional framework, the ability to analyse doctrinal and jurisprudential opinions and, to single out connections between the relevant topics, to critical reasoning, as well as the clarity of presentation and critical thinking.

By way of example, the following criteria will be used to assign the final mark (that will be out of 30/30):

- knowledge of a very limited number of topics, extensive support by the interviewer to address and answer the questions, basic yet appropriate language à 18-19/30;

- knowledge of a limited number of topics, ability to autonomously address basic legal problems, use of appropriate language → 20-24/30;

- comprehensive knowledge of the programme, ability to autonomously and critically analyse legal problems, use of specific terminology → 25-29/30;

- extensive knowledge of the programme, ability to reason autonomously and critically analyse legal problems, make connections between the topics, ability to master the specific terminology and ability to present legal arguments. → 30-30L/30.

Graduate thesis

Only students who have a course plan turned on criminal subjects can request the graduate thesis on Criminal Law. It is also recommended to follow the Criminal law seminars.

Teaching tools

Some PowerPoint presentations might be used.

Students with D.S.A. can arrange with the Professor some adjustments.

Office hours

See the website of Stefano Canestrari

SDGs

Quality education Sustainable cities Peace, justice and strong institutions

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.