This book investigates the fundamental legitimacy and moral implications of strict liability within criminal law systems. The author, A. P. Simester, compiles a series of original essays that examine the tension between public welfare objectives and the traditional requirement of mens rea. By analyzing the potential for convicting blameless individuals, the text provides a rigorous framework for evaluating how legal systems balance efficiency against the necessity of proving fault.

Legal scholars and practitioners recognize this collection as a foundational text for understanding the complexities of strict liability. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which makes it a primary resource for advanced students and professionals in the field of jurisprudence.