What is a good recent relevant subject to do a criminal law dissertation on?

Question

I am looking for some help in finding a good topic that is very up to date ie any recent or upcomming developments etc in criminal law thank

Answer 1

What about another question on here...is it legal for Bush to have secret CIA prisons for terrorists...

Answer 2

One of the more significant changes happened a couple of years ago regarding Caldwell recklessness. The rule in this was overturned by the court of appeal in R v G and another. We were 1st year law students when this change was made and half way through the crim law unit and guess what the assignment was on? Yes, Caldwell and Cunnigham recklessness. The development was considered quite significant because Caldwell recklessness was considered bad law and the law lords were waiting for an excuse to override it.

R v G and another involved two kids who set fier to some boxes, however the fire got out of control and caused £1 million pounds worth or damage to a factory building. The argument for the appeal court was "Is it reasonable for youngsters to be expected to forsee the possible consequences of their actions. The court of appeal said no.

Sorry, I don't have the citation for R v G and another, but....

Cunningham (Roy) [1957] 2 Q.B 396

Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis v Caldwell [1982] A.C 341

See also
Lawrence ( Stephen) [1982] A.C 510; [1981] 2 WLR 524 for defenition of recklessness

Hope this gives you some ideas

Answer 3

If UK, how about the system in general and how the sentencing guidelines are in need of reform, and at the moment only serve the defendant. I'm not sure if its enough to write a dissertation about, but its a recent, fairly hot topic, after that guy (was sweeney his name?) who raped a 3 month old baby and got an appauling short sentence.

Answer 4

In the case of English Law I would suggest the Criminal Justice Act 2003, the law relating to bad character evidence in particular, and how this has started to work in practice.

Answer 5

Q.why are there so many complaints against the police, that do not end up in a criminal or civil prosecution.
with the advent of so much new legislation on racial crimes ,how many coloured citizens have been reported for racial offences.
how many white racial offences, is there a correlation between the two.
how much influence does the government have upon securing or losing a case, the law of the land is the law and no one is above it.

that should keep you busy for a week or two. regards FL

Answer 6

The shooting of that Jean Charles blokey? Or wasn't there a change in the law following Tony Martin being released (the guy who shot a suspected burgler)

Answer 7

There has been some recent discussions about repealing the Miranda Warning.

There has also been a lot of discussion about racial/ethnic profiling for police stops.

And there has been some recent discussions about not needing search warrants for some searches (illegal search & siezure).

Finally, there has been a great deal of discussion on wiretapping and government use of phone records and Internet records without warrants.

Answer 8

Whether or not to resuscitate criminals like Ian Huntley when they try to commit suicide - there must be lots of legal questions in that topic, especially for the lawyers on both sides of the question.

Answer 9

Yep, terrorism is a hottie at the moment...my Swiss friend just did a thesis on it and got extra good marks for it, so it's not a taboo subject ^^

Answer 10

California vs. O J Simpson. All kinds of discussion and discovery.

Answer 11

If you are in the UK, why not look at the increasing use (over-use) of ASBOs and the proposal to allow Police Forces to issue them without the need to go to court.