American Criminal Law

Name: American Criminal Law
ISBN: 9787301030882

储槐植Peking University Press · ChinaAug 2025

4.0

Word count: 228K words
Chapters: 24
ISBN: 9787301030882

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Summary

First published in 1987, this book has been warmly received by readers and has made a considerable impact in academic circles. A second edition appeared in 1996, which has become a long-selling academic classic. Since the beginning of the 21st century, criminal law studies have seen new developments, and new issues have come into the research horizon. Building on the second edition, the author has added material reflecting the new developments in American criminal law, making the work fuller and more original. In the third edition, only a little content on bribery and treason has been added to the chapters on specific crimes; the main additions are in the general part: restorative justice and community corrections have been added to the punishment section; a section on terrorism has been added to the chapter on joint crimes; in the mens rea part, particular attention is given to recklessness, a form of culpability peculiar to Anglo-American criminal law; and in the constitution of crime, a comparison of the structures of crime has been added, showing the author's reflections in recent years.

Editor's review

As a classic law textbook from Peking University Press, this book has become an important reference for research and teaching in criminal law in China since its publication. Professor Chu Huaizhi's deep theoretical foundation combines with Professor Jiang Su's cutting-edge comparative-law perspective to construct a unique path for understanding the American criminal law system. Compared with similar works, the book's outstanding value lies in its balance between systematic exposition and interpretive depth: it systematically outlines the basic principles of American criminal law, the elements of crimes, and specific offenses, while also delving into the dynamic evolutionary logic of legal rules under the case-law tradition. For Chinese readers, the book not only provides a knowledge map but, more importantly, reveals how criminal-law thinking operates in the common-law system—a model that emphasizes procedure, follows precedent, and develops rules through individual cases, forming a sharp contrast with China's civil-law tradition. The comparative analysis of difficult issues such as self-defense, the insanity defense, and accomplice liability is particularly incisive and can effectively inspire readers to rethink fundamental theories of criminal law. It is worth noting that although this is an academic work, its language is clear and its cases are rich, combining professionalism with readability. It is not only essential reading for law students but also provides a useful foreign perspective for legal practitioners.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students at law schools, as a core reference for comparative criminal law or foreign criminal law courses
Lawyers, prosecutors, and judges engaged in criminal legal practice who wish to broaden their international perspective and approaches to defense or adjudication
Legal enthusiasts and researchers interested in the Anglo-American legal system, especially American legal culture and the judicial system
Corporate legal counsel and compliance personnel who need to handle foreign-related or cross-border criminal legal issues

Not a good fit for

General readers seeking only scattered knowledge points or quick introductions to American criminal law; this book is systematic and in-depth
Practitioners seeking a direct operational guide for specific American criminal cases; this book focuses on principles and institutional explanation, not a practical manual

Reading tips

It is recommended to first read through the first two chapters to grasp the sources and basic principles of American criminal law and the main systemic differences from Chinese criminal law, establishing a basic cognitive framework
While reading, use the names of classic cases cited in the book for further research, and understand the application scenarios of legal rules through the original case documents
Focus on the summary and commentary sections at the end of each chapter, which are the essence of the author's comparative-law thinking and help form a critical understanding

About the publisher

Peking University Press China · Founded in 1979

Peking University Press is a comprehensive university press whose publishing areas cover classical literature, popular science, social culture, world history, Western philosophy, and culture. Its catalogue contains 6,031 titles, with representative books including A Dream of Red Mansions, Relativity: The Special and General Theory (15th Edition) (with Einstein's classic papers on unified field theory and other topics), Elements, Conics, The Aristocratic Families of the Eastern Jin, The Philosophy of Mythology (Volume I), The Philosophy of Mythology (Volume II), and The Origin of Continents and Oceans. Representative authors include Cao Xueqin, Zhou Ruchang, Albert Einstein, Euclid, Apollonius, Tian Yuqing, Schelling, and Xian Gang. The press has developed distinctive strengths in classical Chinese literature and in the translation of Western philosophical classics, while also covering scientific classics and social and cultural studies. As public information is limited, this description is based only on the books in the catalogue and offers no further extrapolation.

版权信息
初版说明
美国刑法的价值基础——第二版代前言
全球背景下的犯罪形态发展与刑事制裁方式演变——第三版代前言
第一篇绪论
第一章刑法性质和犯罪分类
第二章美国刑法的渊源和限制
第二篇犯罪总论
第三章犯罪本体要件——刑事责任基础
第四章排除合法辩护——责任充足条件
第五章不完整罪
第六章共同犯罪
第三篇具体犯罪
第七章侵犯人身罪
第八章侵犯财产罪
第九章刑法典中的其他犯罪
第十章经济犯罪
第四篇刑罚及其执行
第十一章刑罚理由和刑罚种类
第十二章刑罚制度
主要参考书目
第二版后记
第三版后记
特别感谢

FAQ

Can I read this book without a legal background?

It will be somewhat challenging. The book assumes readers have basic legal knowledge, especially fundamental concepts of criminal law. Without such a foundation, it is advisable to first acquire introductory knowledge of Chinese criminal law or read a domestic criminal law textbook alongside this book.

Is the content too outdated to reflect the latest developments in American criminal law?

The book is based on mainstream American criminal law theory and cases from the time of its writing and lays a solid systematic foundation. Core principles of criminal law are relatively stable, but specific rules (such as in areas of white-collar crime and computer crime) have indeed evolved. It is recommended to use this book as a systematic map, follow the author's subsequent research, or supplement with the latest case developments through academic databases.

What is the difference between this book and reading an American criminal law textbook or casebook directly?

This book presents a 'guided reading' and 'analysis' digested, organized, and compared by a Chinese scholar. It saves time dealing with vast amounts of raw material and offers interpretation and comparison from a Chinese scholar's perspective—a 'foreign' gaze that is particularly valuable for understanding differences and reflecting on one's own system. However, in-depth researchers still need to consult primary sources.

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About the author

储槐植 Author

Public information about Chu Huaizhi is limited, and he is currently known only for one work, American Criminal Law, which is classified under law. This work indicates that his interest lies in foreign criminal law, particularly the criminal law of the United States. The title points directly to its subject, suggesting that the content deals with the institutions, provisions, or theories of American criminal law. It is a professional legal work aimed at readers interested in comparative criminal law or foreign criminal law. Because only this one work is available in the collection, his writing style, academic background, and specific views cannot be examined in detail, and no further inferences should be made. Overall, this bibliographic information presents an author who writes on American criminal law, with his contribution lying mainly in bringing knowledge of American criminal law into Chinese-language legal reading and providing reference for study and research in the field.