Learning outcomes

The teaching of criminal law and criminal procedure aims to equip students with a thorough understanding of the rules governing offenses and punishment in general, as well as those regulating criminal investigations, trials, and appeals.


In addition to legal knowledge, students also develop key soft skills such as analytical thinking, critical reflection, and both oral and written communication.

Goals

The objectives of the course are to provide foundational training in general criminal law and criminal procedure, with a strong emphasis on legal precision and rigor, while encouraging critical thinking.


The course also aims to develop the ability to find legal solutions to practical issues, based on legislation, case law, and legal doctrine.

Particular attention will be given to current events and the faculty’s thematic focus, which includes a dimension of sustainable development: “Re-enchanting the Earth.”

Content

The content of the 20 lessons is outlined as follows (subject to minor adjustments depending on the pace of the sessions):


  1. Monday 15/09 – In-person: Course introduction; the concept of criminal law (definition, purposes, subject matter, nature, autonomy, divisions, sources, influence of European criminal law, international criminal law, and international penal law)
  2. Thursday 18/09 – Teams: Legal qualification; distinction between aggravating factors and aggravating circumstances; sentencing levels; types of penalties (including new penalties under the Penal Code); referral to the sentence enforcement court and extended supervision
  3. Monday 22/09 – In-person: Interpretation; application of criminal law to persons, over time, and across territories; political and press-related offenses
  4. Monday 29/09 – In-person: Concept of criminal procedure (definition, purposes, guiding principles); distinction between public and civil actions (differences and interactions); public action (subjects, exercise, extinction, inadmissibility); civil action
  5. Monday 06/10 – Teams: Key actors, phases of the criminal trial, and jurisdictions
  6. Monday 13/10 – Teams: Investigative acts (information and judicial inquiry)
  7. Thursday 16/10 – In-person: Rights of parties during the investigation and inquiry; oversight of investigation and inquiry; conclusion of both phases
  8. Monday 20/10 – In-person: Seizures and confiscations (Etienne Gaublomme’s lecture); exercises on criminal procedure
  9. Thursday 23/10 – Teams: Preventive detention (including practice case studies)
  10. Monday 03/11 – Teams: Conduct of the criminal trial and avenues of appeal
  11. Tuesday 04/11 – In-person: Constitutive elements of offenses: the legal element and objective justification grounds
  12. Monday 10/11 – Teams: Constitutive elements of offenses (continued): the material element (including punishable attempts) and the mental element
  13. Thursday 13/11 – In-person: The concept of perpetrator and punishable participation; attribution of aggravating elements and factors
  14. Monday 17/11 – Teams: Criminal liability of legal entities; exercises and decision analysis practice
  15. Tuesday 18/11 – In-person: Mock trial HJ-HD
  16. Monday 24/11 – In-person: Grounds for exemption from guilt and moral non-imputability; internment and protective measures for society
  17. Tuesday 24/11 – Teams: Proof of the offense and exercises
  18. Monday 01/12 – In-person: Joinder of offenses and recidivism; simple declaration of guilt, suspension of judgment, and probation; excuses; mitigating circumstances
  19. Thursday 04/12 – Teams: Guilty plea procedure; promises to informants; restorative justice path; execution of sentences; impediments to execution; expungement; rehabilitation; amnesty; review; retraction; reopening of proceedings
  20. Monday 08/12 – In-person: Exam review and cross-topic exercises




Table of contents

A detailed table of contents is included in both course materials: the general criminal law textbook and the introductory book on criminal procedure.

Teaching methods

The course consists of 20 lessons, each lasting three hours. These lessons are delivered during the first semester and are divided between the two co-instructors: Nathalie Colette-Basecqz and Elise Delhaise.


The pedagogical approach is both analytical and critical, encouraging reflection on societal issues closely related to criminal law and criminal procedure.


Lessons are taught partly in lecture halls (with live streaming and recording) and partly via Teams (also recorded). The format (in-person or Teams) is communicated in advance along with the schedule. When appropriate, recorded capsules may be posted on Webcampus.


A PowerPoint presentation is uploaded to Webcampus before each lesson. Students are informed of the relevant sections in the two reference books: the General Criminal Law Manual and the Introduction to Criminal Procedure.


During lessons, instructors present the material while encouraging interaction with students. Wooclaps will be used to assess understanding and mastery of the content.


Students may be asked to prepare exercises individually or in teams—such as analyzing a court decision, exploring a current legal issue, or solving a case study—for presentation in a future lesson.


External speakers (notably from the judiciary or the bar) are invited to present specific issues related to criminal law or criminal procedure.


A mock trial linked to the faculty’s thematic focus (Fil rouge) will bring together students from both the evening and daytime schedules. This exercise will provide a concrete and nuanced exploration of several key concepts in criminal law and criminal procedure.

Assessment method

Exam Format and Schedule :

Except in exceptional cases, the exam is a written test lasting three hours. It is held in January for the first session and in August for the second session. Students must bring their code bac, which must not contain any annotations.


Exam Content :

The exam covers criminal law and criminal procedure, encompassing all material covered during the course.

Regarding criminal law, students must be familiar with both the current Penal Code and the new Penal Code (scheduled to come into force on April 8, 2026).


Structure of the Exam :

The exam consists of four questions, distributed as follows:

  • A true or false question requiring justification and reference to applicable legal provisions.
  • A cross-analysis of a court decision studied during the course (included in the General Criminal Law Manual or posted on Webcampus for more recent decisions). Sub-questions encourage connections with various issues discussed in class.
  • A comparative question between several concepts (related to criminal law and/or criminal procedure), or a question identifying legal issues based on a press excerpt.
  • A short case study to solve, assessing the ability to apply criminal law and procedure to concrete scenarios.


Grading :

The point distribution is indicated next to each question. The final grade is not purely arithmetic and depends on the overall assessment of the paper by the professors.


Preparation :

From the first classes, professors explain the exam format, emphasizing evaluation criteria and objectives. This allows students to study in alignment with these goals. During the final class before the exam, sample questions and preparation tips will be provided. Exercises will also be carried out during the class or as preparation for the class.


Evaluation Criteria :

  • Understanding and mastery of the subject matter
  • Ability to correctly solve concrete cases with appropriate legal solutions (adopting the perspective of a judge, lawyer, etc.)
  • Ability to identify relevant legal issues from case law decisions, press excerpts, etc.
  • Use of relevant legal sources
  • Rigor, clarity, precision, coherence, and structure in responses


Bonus Points :

Bonus points may be awarded to students who actively and successfully participate in activities such as mock trials or flipped classroom sessions.

Sources, references and any support material

The course materials consist, on the one hand, of a manual of general criminal law (N. COLETTE-BASECQZ and N. BLAISE, Manuel de droit pénal général, 4th ed, Limal, Anthémis, 2019) and, on the other hand, an introduction to criminal procedure (M.-A. BEERNAERT, N. COLETTE-BASECQZ, Ch. GUILLAIN, E. DELHAISE, M. GIACOMETTI, Ch. GUILLAIN, Ch. MACQ, O. NEDERLANDT and D. VANDERMEERSCH, Introduction à la procédure pénale, 10th ed, Brussels, La Charte, 2025). New legislation and case law from the course are made available to students on the webcampus, as well as Powerpoint slides and other materials to illustrate the subject.

Language of instruction

French
Training Study programme Block Credits Mandatory
Bachelor in Law (Evenings and Weekends Schedule) Standard 0 12
Bachelor in Law (Evenings and Weekends Schedule) Standard 2 12