Alan Gershel

Increasing numbers of people with autism and other developmental disabilities are being convicted of sex offences, resulting in draconian and public punishment. Yet even when evidence shows that people with these conditions often pose little threat to society, or lack a core understanding as to why their actions break the law, the "sex offender legal regime" doesn't allow any room to take the disability into account. This ground-breaking book offers a multi-disciplinary examination of how unjust sex offense laws trap vulnerable groups such as those with developmental disabilities. Drawing on research, empirical evidence and including case studies, experts from the fields of law, ethics, psychology and sociology explore what steps should be taken in order to ensure that laws are just and take into consideration factors such as the vulnerability of the perpetrators. Investigating the consequences caused by public hysteria over sex offenses, this book highlights the judicial failure to protect defendants with developmental disabilities in the context of the unjust and hyper-punishment of all those charged with sex offenses. Proposing a new way forward based on research and evidence-based sentencing for sex offenses, and elimination of the sex offender registry, this book offers an informed and compassionate view that is essential for all professionals working in this field.

In writing Criminal Law: Cases, Statutes, and Problems, Professors Corbett, Bretz, and Gershel used their many years of experience both practicing and teaching criminal law to create a student-friendly text that empowers students to learn criminal law more efficiently and comprehensively, and prepares them to practice law as well. Organized in a clear and sensible manner, the textbook offers numerous statutes and Model Penal Code provisions to provide students with the opportunity to engage in some and#8220;practiceand#8221; statutory interpretation. Additionally, the book provides practice problems in many chapters, giving students the opportunity to apply the law. Moreover, because many of our students practice law in Michigan, the authors periodically include a case, statute, or note pertaining to Michigan law. The incorporated Michigan materials, however, will help students interested in practicing criminal law both within and outside of Michigan.