Forensic Sci.

Criminal Law2

Direito Penal

Course code:8059229

Paulo Sérgio Ferreira Gomes

Learning outcomes of the curricular unit:

Students should at the end of the course be able to subsume human behavior in legal types of crime, justifying through the verification / confirmation of the elements of the type of crime, the lack of grounds for exclusion of unlawfulness and guilt, and the application of any penalty or safety measures.

To provide the student with:

  1. The basic concepts of the legal science emphasising the Forensic and Criminal Sciences area
  2. The basic training for the monitoring of the courses other legal Curricular Units (hereinafter, CUs)
  3. The approach to processes and methods of interpretation of the law
  4. An overview of the Portuguese legal system, unveiling the concept of State, its functions and organization, aiming to frame the intervention of forensic scientists in public (administrative and judicial) and private activities
  5. Contact with a general theory of crime, with a special focus on crimes against persons, against property and against life in society
  6. Understanding the role of the court and the Judge in determining the prison sentence and security measure

With regard to the competences to be acquired with the Introduction to Law CU, the specific learning objectives (LO) are:

  1. Express the interpretation of results in a manner comprehensible to the intended recipient such as lawyers or a jury
  2. Demonstrate good oral and presentational skills that would enable the student to be understandable in a court of law
  3. Write comprehensive, comprehensible, rational and impartial reports
  4. Understand the requirements of continuity of evidence
Syllabus:
  1. Concept of criminal law
  2. Differences between the branch of the Criminal Law and the other branches of law
  3. Characteristics of Criminal Law
  4. Application of the Criminal Law in time and space
  5. Interpretation and integration of the Criminal Law
  6. Elements that fill the type of crime
  7. Reasons for exclusions of unlawfulness and guilt in criminal law
  8. Purpose of the application of penalties
Suggested Bibliography:
  • Beleza TP (1979-1985) Direito Penal - Parte Geral (Vols. 1-2), AAFDL
  • Carvalho AT (2011) Direito Penal. Parte Geral. Questões fundamentais – Teoria geral do crime, 2nd ed., Coimbra Editora
  • Dias JF (2012) Direito Penal. Parte Geral. Questões fundamentais da doutrina geral do crime, 2nd ed., Coimbra Editora
  • Ferreira MC (2010) Lições de Direito Penal. Parte Geral 1 e 2, Almedina
  • Silva GM (2011) Direito Penal Português, Teoria do Crime, Lisboa: Universidade Católica