Patty Hearst Reconsidered: Personal Identity in the Criminal Law

29 Pages Posted: 13 Sep 2018

See all articles by Kimberly Kessler Ferzan

Kimberly Kessler Ferzan

University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School

Date Written: August 31, 2018

Abstract

In this contribution to a symposium celebrating Joshua Dressler, I revisit the Dressler/Delgado debate over Patty Hearst through the prism of personal identity. After reviewing why personal identity presents a problem for punishment, I discuss how a "personal identity" defense would fit within the criminal law, including when it would undermine status responsibility, when it would undermine a voluntary act, and when it would serve as an excuse.

Keywords: personal identity, Patty Hearst, excuse, act requirement, brainwashing

Suggested Citation

Ferzan, Kimberly Kessler, Patty Hearst Reconsidered: Personal Identity in the Criminal Law (August 31, 2018). Ohio State Journal of Criminal Law, Vol. 15, 2018, Virginia Public Law and Legal Theory Research Paper No. 2018-54, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3242148

Kimberly Kessler Ferzan (Contact Author)

University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School ( email )

3501 Sansom Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
United States

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.law.upenn.edu/cf/faculty/kferzan/

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