Goldberg, Anna E, Child, John J, Crombag, Hans S and Roef, David (2021) Prior-fault blame in England and Wales, Germany and the Netherlands. Journal of International and Comparative Law, 8 (1). pp. 53-86. ISSN 2313-3775

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Abstract

This article explores the contested legal conceptualisation and application of “prior-fault” rules in England and Wales, Germany and the Netherlands. Prior-fault rules operate as an exception to the traditional application of criminal offences and defences, allowing a defendant’s previous conduct outside of an offence or defence definition to directly affect his or her liability. The paradigm example of this is prior-fault intoxication, where an intoxicated defendant is found liable for an offence despite lacking mental fault at the time of causing harm; with the missing mental fault effectively substituted by their previous choice to become intoxicated. However, as we discuss, prior-fault is not necessarily limited to such examples and has the potential to operate across a broad range of criminal rules. Through the comparison of jurisdictions, each with varying doctrinal applications of prior-fault, the article seeks both to better understand the concept as well as to analyse the most effective and defensible methods for its application in practice.

Item Type:	Article
Schools and Departments:	School of Psychology > Psychology
SWORD Depositor:	Mx Elements Account
Depositing User:	Mx Elements Account
Date Deposited:	16 Apr 2021 07:03
Last Modified:	30 Sep 2021 11:08
URI:	http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/98461

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