Book on Criminal Law in Transition

About the Book

“Criminal Law in Transition – Foundations, Challenges, and Futures” is a study of how criminal law has evolved and continues to adapt in response to social change, technological innovation, and global pressures.

It begins with the foundations of criminal liability, exploring philosophical theories of punishment, principles of responsibility, and the historical development of criminal codes. This grounding sets the stage for understanding how law reflects shifting moral boundaries and societal values.

The book then moves into substantive and procedural areas, examining crimes against persons, property, and the state, alongside corporate and white-collar offenses. It highlights pressing issues such as digital property theft, environmental crimes, and the criminalization of dissent, while also addressing procedural safeguards, comparative systems, and international cooperation.

By weaving in perspectives from sociology, media studies, and technology, the book shows how criminal law is not just a set of rules but a living system shaped by politics, culture, and ethics.

Theme & Sub themes

Justice, Crime, and Change.

Including but not limiting to:

• Foundations of Criminal Law
  Philosophical theories of punishment (retribution, deterrence, rehabilitation, restorative justice).
  Principles of liability (actus reus, mens rea, causation, concurrence).
  Historical evolution of criminal codes and doctrines.
  Sources of criminal law (statutes, precedents, international conventions).
  Criminal law and morality: shifting boundaries of what society deems criminal.
• Crimes Against Persons
  Homicide and assisted suicide debates.
  Sexual offenses and evolving definitions of consent.
  Domestic violence and family-related crimes.
  Crimes against vulnerable groups (children, elderly, disabled).
  Emerging issues: online harassment, stalking, revenge porn.
• Crimes Against Property
  Theft, fraud, and embezzlement.
  Digital property crimes (identity theft, crypto fraud).
  Intellectual property violations (piracy, plagiarism, AI misuse).
  Property crimes in cyberspace (NFT theft, digital asset fraud).
  Cultural property crimes (illegal antiquities trade, heritage destruction).
• Crimes Against the State
  Terrorism, sedition, and national security laws.
  Espionage, whistleblowing, and state secrecy.
  Criminalization of protest and dissent.
  Political corruption and abuse of power.
  State surveillance and its criminal law implications.
• Corporate and White-Collar Crime
  Financial crimes (corruption, insider trading, money laundering).
  Environmental crimes (ecocide, illegal dumping, corporate liability).
  Corporate accountability in AI and automation.
  Cross-border corporate crime (tax evasion, offshore fraud).
  Corporate complicity in human rights violations.
• Procedural Criminal Law
  Investigation and evidence (surveillance, admissibility of digital data).
  Trial process (jury bias, plea bargaining, presumption of innocence).
  Rights of the accused (fair trial, counsel, protection against self-incrimination).
  Appeals and post-conviction remedies.
  Wrongful convictions and innocence projects.
• Comparative and International Criminal Law
  Common law vs. civil law approaches.
  International crimes (genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity).
  Transnational crime (human trafficking, drug cartels, cyber networks).
  Role of international institutions (ICC, UN tribunals, Interpol).
  Comparative sentencing practices across jurisdictions.
• Criminal Justice Policy and Reform
  Sentencing debates (mandatory minimums, capital punishment).
  Prison reform (overcrowding, alternatives to incarceration).
  Juvenile justice and diversion programs.
  Community policing and restorative justice initiatives.
  Decriminalization and legalization movements (drugs, sex work).
• Criminal Law in the Digital Age
  AI and criminal liability (autonomous systems, algorithmic bias).
  Cybercrime evolution (deepfake fraud, ransomware, crypto-crime).
  Virtual reality and immersive environment crimes.
  Digital surveillance and privacy concerns.
  Cybersecurity and state responsibility.
• Media, Ethics, and Criminal Law
  Trial by media and its influence on judicial independence.
  Photojournalism and crime reporting (authenticity, victim dignity).
  Social media vigilantism and misinformation.
  Celebrity trials and public opinion shaping legal discourse.
  Media ethics in reporting juvenile or sensitive cases.
• Human Rights and Criminal Law
  Balancing security and liberty in anti-terror laws.
  Rights of vulnerable groups (juveniles, refugees, indigenous peoples).
  Death penalty debates and wrongful convictions.
  Prison conditions and human rights concerns.
  Gender and criminal justice (sexual violence, discrimination).
  Criminal law and migration: detention, deportation, asylum seekers.
• Future Directions in Criminal Law
  Predictive policing and ethical dilemmas.
  Neuro-criminology (brain science, free will, criminal responsibility).
  Decriminalization trends (drugs, sex work, euthanasia).
  Space crime and jurisdiction in outer space.
  Emerging moral debates (bio-crimes, genetic manipulation).
  Climate change and criminal liability (ecocide as a future crime).

Submission Guidelines

• The Manuscript should not exceed a 3500-word limit.
• The abstract should be initially submitted with a word limit of 250-300 words.
• Author(s) should not mention their personal details at any place in the Abstract. Personal Details and Institutional Affiliations should be mentioned in a separate cover letter.
• All headings in the manuscripts should be properly formatted.
• The main body text in the manuscript must be in Times New Roman in a font size of 12, 1.5 line spacing, and in justified alignment. For footnotes, maintain Times New Roman Style with a font size of 10 and 1.0 line spacing. For Headings, Times New Roman style must be followed with a font size of 14 and must be Bold and Underlined.
• Footnotes should conform to JILI Citation Format.
• Abstracts are to be submitted in .doc. No other format would be accepted.
• A maximum of 3 authors is allowed.
• Plagiarism of more than 20% shall not be acceptable by any means. The Manuscript should also be free from grammatical, spelling, and other errors.
• Authors are required to initially submit the abstract only. Upon acceptance of the abstract, the authors shall be required to submit the Full Manuscript.

How to Submit?

• Authors should email their original and unpublished abstract in.doc or.docx format.
• “Name of the Author(s)_Title of the Abstract” shall be the subject line of the email.
• Please enclose the cover letter along with the Abstract.
• Submissions shall be made at: jcpcriminallaw@gmail.com.

Important dates

• Last date for submission of the Abstract: 26th March, 2026
• Notification of Acceptance/ Rejection of the Abstract: 27th March, 2026
• Last Date for the Submission of Full Manuscript: 17th April, 2026
• Notification of Acceptance/ Rejection of Full Manuscript: 19th April, 2026

Contact

For any queries, reach out to us via email at: jcpcriminallaw@gmail.com or through WhatsApp at: +91-8252343482.

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