COMPARATIVE PENAL LAW
Learning outcomes of the course unit
The main goal of the course is to provide the students with a knowledge of the general principles of Criminal Law in Common Law countries, in order to emphasize differences as well as similarities with the Civil Law ones.
Prerequisites
Good knowledge of Constitutional Law and of the general principles of Criminal Law.
Course contents summary
The course is focused on the differences between the Civil Law and the Common Law legal systems, with regards to the different genesis of the Criminal Law between countries belonging to the two different systems. The course will underline the peculiarities of the “italian model” Criminal Code, compared to other European criminal codes. Specific attention is given to the ongoing process for the establishment of a “European Criminal Law”, which is developed thanks to the contribution provided by the case law and jurisprudence of superior Courts, both on national and international ground.
Recommended readings
Students not attending the course have to study the following textbook:
A. Cadoppi, Tra storia e comparazione. Studi di diritto penale comparato, Cedam, 2014.
Students who will attend lectures will have a different program, which will be agreed during the course with the lecturer and based on documents and materials provided during the course.
Teaching methods
Standard lectures will be held on the contents of the textbook, along with lectures focused on some of the most current topics and issues of Italian and European Criminal Law. Students will be directly involved in the lectures, asking them to introduce and discuss during the classes some of those issues.
Assessment methods and criteria
During an oral exam students will be asked for the general contents of the textbook as well as (only for students who attended the course) of the extra contents discussed during the lectures.
