UCL - Criminal Law

[DROI1224]

[60h + 12h] 6 credits

This course is taught in the 1st semester.

Teacher(s): Geneviève Schamps

Language: French

Level: First

Aims
Main themes
Content and teaching methods
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Aims

At the end of this course, students will know the rules of Belgian criminal law and will be able to apply them to concrete cases. They will have developed a critical and reflective approach to the questions that arise in society and the answers given by the criminal law. They will have a knowledge of human rights and will be familiar with the relationships between criminal law and other branches of law. They will also have some knowledge of comparative law.

Main themes

The course first analyses the definitions and processes of criminal law, and its relations with other branches of law (at national, international and European level). The emphasis is put on the sources of criminal law, their interpretation, and the application of criminal statutes in space and time. The course also covers the classifications of offences, their conditions (legal element, actus reus, mens rea) and the agents. The foundations, characteristics, objectives, types and delivery of penalties are examined. Security measures and the civil consequences of offences are analysed. An introduction to armed conflict law and humanitarian law is also given. Possible reforms and relevant aspects of comparative law are considered.

The course consists of lectures completed, where necessary, by other teaching methods. The syllabus should be available to the students at the beginning of the term.
Compulsory sessions of practical training (12 hours) provide the students with the opportunity to develop a practical approach of the subjects taught. These sessions are prepared by the students, whose performances are evaluated by an assistant.
Together with the head of the department, the teacher sees that the practical training and the lectures are coherent and well connected, including with respect to the evaluation.

Content and teaching methods

Since the teaching is intended for hundreds of students, it consists of lectures illustrated with many examples. It is adapted to current events and to fundamental questions that arise in society and media. It is supplemented by a compilation of texts. Some classes utilise a more active pedagogy, within the framework of discussions about case law relating to particular aspects of criminal law or lawsuits. Students may take the floor during class and ask questions. They are also invited to take part in debates after lectures given by experts or foreign tutors. It is also possible for students to improve their knowledge of legal Dutch since, in the compilation of texts, Dutch legal decisions are available.
To reach the objectives, the course uses a case study and question methodology. At the beginning of the course students are be provided with a book of criminal law (syllabus). PowerPoint software is used to illustrate the structure of the course and its fundamental data. If some students want, they can prepare a presentation on a specifics theme, to determinate with the teacher.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Evaluation is by oral exam. The student draws lots a case law which is not necessarily in the textbook. He prepares a comment of the case law during fifteen minutes. Then, the student presents his/her comment before the professor or one of her assistants. The student is also questioned on others parts of the course. If the student fails before an assistant, he/she can ask to present another question before the professor.