Federal Criminal Law

The book "Federal Criminal Law and Its Enforcement" is a comprehensive textbook designed to teach federal criminal law courses and address key issues in this field. Here is a detailed overview of the book, including its key themes, content, and critical reception:

Key Themes and Content

1. Jurisdictional Basis and Prohibited Conduct:

   • The book examines the core components of federal criminal law, focusing on jurisdictional basis, prohibited conduct, and mental states.

2. Real-World Topics:

   • It includes material on timely, real-world topics such as recent college basketball recruiting scandals, the opioid crisis, obstruction of justice questions from the special counsel investigation, and enforcement of immigration crimes.

3. Interplay Between Branches of Government:

   • The book frames federal criminal law as a distinctive world created and shaped by the interplay between the three branches of the federal government. It provides an overview of basic doctrine while inviting students to explore the many difficult and unsettled questions that continue to perplex judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and policymakers.

4. Recent Case Studies and Legislation:

   • It addresses recent case studies such as the opioid crisis, shootings involving or akin to terrorism, and the latest criminal justice reform legislation, the First Step Act.

Critical Reception

While specific reviews are not provided in the search results, the book is widely regarded as a valuable resource for teaching federal criminal law. It is designed to fill a gap in law school curricula and is well-suited for teaching both broad-coverage federal criminal law courses and specialized white-collar crime offerings.

Editions and Availability

• Abrams, Beale, and Klein's Federal Criminal Law and Its Enforcement, 7th Edition: This edition includes free 14-day digital access immediately after purchase, making it accessible for both physical and digital study.

• Defining Federal Crimes, Second Edition: This edition frames federal criminal law as a distinctive world created by the interplay between the three branches of the federal government. It is published by Wolters Kluwer and is available in 948 pages, providing a comprehensive overview of federal criminal law.

In summary, "Federal Criminal Law and Its Enforcement" is a detailed textbook that covers the core components of federal criminal law, including jurisdictional basis, prohibited conduct, and mental states. It also addresses real-world topics and the interplay between the three branches of the federal government, making it a valuable resource for both students and practitioners in the field.