Subjects:

Legal Manuals

Contents:

PART 1 INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL LITIGATION

1. Introduction

2. An introduction to the law of criminal evidence and advocacy

PART 2 INVESTIGATION AND CHARGE

3. The powers to stop, search and arrest

4. Detention and interrogation

5. The right to silence at a police station

6. Unlawfully and unfairly obtained evidence

7. Confession evidence

8. Obtaining identification evidence

9. Advising at the police station: practical steps

10. The decision to prosecute

PART 3 FROM CHARGE TO TRIAL

11. Public funding and early stages of the criminal justice process

12. The law and practice relating to bail in criminal proceedings

13. Prosecuting an either way offence

14. Pre-trial disclosure of evidence

15. Summary proceedings

16. Crown Court proceedings pre-trial

17. Trial before the Crown Court

PART 4 PROVING THE CASE: THE RULES OF CRIMINAL EVIDENCE

18. The burden of proof

19. Witness evidence - the preliminary issues

20. The rules relating to witness testimony

21. Corroboration, the Turnbull Guidelines and opinion evidence

22. Hearsay evidence

23. The rules of evidence and the accused at trial

24. Private privilege

PART 5 POST CONVICTION SENTENCING AND APPEALS

25. General principles of sentencing

26. Sentencing options

27. Sentencing in road traffic cases

28. Sentencing in practice

29. Appeals

PART 6 YOUTH JUSTICE

30. Youth justice

31. Prosecuting and sentencing offenders under the age of 18

The Criminal Litigation Handbook offers a comprehensive and practical guide to the areas of criminal litigation covered on the Legal Practice Course. Making effective use of realistic case studies which are backed up by documentation online, the text combines theory with practical considerations and encourages students to focus on putting their knowledge into a practical context.

Written in an informal and accessible style, the text covers all procedural and evidential issues that arise in criminal cases. The more complex areas of criminal litigation are examined using numerous diagrams, flowcharts, and examples while potential changes in the law are highlighted by specially designed 'Looking Ahead' boxes.

Each chapter ends with a key point summary and self-test questions, enabling students to quickly sum up what they have read and test their own knowledge.