The Future of Criminal Law

Abstract

Welcome to the future of criminal law. But what does the future of the criminal law look like? Given the fracturing that has occurred across the criminal law field – from orthodox offences and defences to novel constructions with deeming provisions and reverse burdens – will criminal law remain a coherent field? If not, what will multiple domains of doctrine share, and what will limit the scope of the laws? With victim/survivors and advocates and others telling us what doesn’t work, is it possible that the criminal law will be reconstructed, and more circumscribed, than it is at present? Please join me in thinking broadly about the future of the criminal law. Organized around three themes - Technology and Justice, Legal Convergence and Legitimacy in Decision-Making and Knowledge Coordination - this workshop invites you to engage in a wide-ranging discussion about what the criminal law will be like in years to come.