NCJ Number
198721
Date Published
2002
Length
668 pages
Annotation
This textbook details the operation of America's criminal justice system, identifies the most recent criminal justice trends and policies, analyzes the effectiveness of criminal justice efforts to control crime, and describes efforts to improve the criminal justice system's efficiency.
Abstract
The four chapters of Part 1 provide a basic introduction to crime, law, and justice. One chapter discusses the major perspectives on justice and how they have influenced the "war on drugs." Other chapters address the nature of crime and victimization, along with the substance and procedure of criminal law. Part 2 presents an overview of the law-enforcement field. Its four chapters cover the history and development of criminal justice organizations, the functions of police in modern society, issues in policing, and police and the rule of law. The discussion features community policing and community crime prevention, private security, and other current issues. Part 3 profiles the adjudication process, from pretrial indictment to sentencing. Chapters explain the organization of the court system and analyze the prosecution and defense functions, pretrial procedures, the criminal trial, and sentencing. Part 4 focuses on the correctional system, including probation and the intermediate sanctions of house arrest, intensive supervision, and electronic monitoring. The traditional correctional mechanisms of jails, prisons, community-based corrections, and parole are also discussed. Part 5 describes and analyzes the juvenile justice system. Information is provided on parental preventive detention of youth, waiving youths to the adult courts, and the death penalty for children. This ninth edition has been revised and updated, with attention to recent court decisions, legislative changes, and theoretical concepts that reflect the changing orientation of the criminal justice field. Various new learning tools have been provided, including the linking of students to specific questions in the "Study Guide" and to chapter-related Web resources. Chapter notes, glossary, table of cases, name and subject indexes, and appended careers in criminal justice and a copy of the U.S. Constitution