NCJ Number
126623
Date Published
1991
Length
993 pages
Annotation
Beginning with the development of the Constitution and the history of the Bill of Rights, this text presents an up-to-date analysis of critical constitutional issues, with special emphasis on areas that impact criminal justice personnel.
Abstract
Criminal justice employees have traditionally been subjected to extensive restrictions on personal liberty, restrictions that other employees do not face. These restrictions extend to height, weight, grooming, outside employment, and other seemingly private matters. Following a discussion of the Constitution and the history of the Bill of Rights, the first part of the text details the substantive content of the first eight amendments and corresponding State provisions, with emphasis on recent court interpretations and trends. Consideration is given to freedom of speech and press, authority to detain and arrest, search and seizure, wiretapping and eavesdropping, interrogations and confessions, self-incrimination, right to counsel, double jeopardy, fair and just trials and humane punishment, civil rights, and personnel regulations and the Constitution. The second part of the text examines leading decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court to help the reader understand what the law says and processes used by the Supreme Court in reaching its conclusions. The third and final part includes the text of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights as an appendix. A table of cases cited in the first part of the text, an index, and footnotes are provided.