The opening chapter outlines the context and functions of the criminal law. Chapter 2 discusses decisions to criminalize and Chapter 3 identifies a number of key principles and policies. Chapters 4-6 examine the basic elements of culpability, excuse and justification. Chapters 7-9 deal with homicide, non-fatal physical violations (including sexual assaults) and offenses of dishonesty (theft, robbery, blackmail, burglary, handling stolen goods, deception, fraud, dishonesty, discretion and desert). The book concludes with chapters on complicity and inchoate offenses (including the concept of inchoate offense, justification for penalizing attempts at crimes, elements of criminal attempt, elements of criminal conspiracy, incitement and the relationship between substantive and inchoate crimes). Tables, notes, bibliography, index