NCJ Number
58550
Date Published
1979
Length
545 pages
Annotation
THIS INTRODUCTORY TEXT TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CRIMINAL LAW AS A MEANS OF SOCIAL CONTROL IS WRITTEN FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, CRIMINOLOGY AND CORRECTIONS, AND SOCIOLOGY STUDENTS AND IS A SECOND EDITION OF A 1972 TEXT.
Abstract
EMPHASIS IS ON THOSE AREAS OF SUBSTANTIVE CRIMINAL LAW THAT HAVE CHANGED SINCE A MAJORITY OF STATES HAVE ADOPTED VERSIONS OF THE MODEL PENAL CODE. FOR EXAMPLE, NOVEL SENTENCING PROCEDURES AND STRUCTURES HAVE EVOLVED SINCE THE MOVE TO DETERMINATE SENTENCING; STATE LEGISLATURES HAVE BEEN ACTIVE IN SUCH AREAS AS BAIL AND SPEEDY TRIAL; AND LEAA FUNDING HAS BROUGHT ABOUT A PROLIFERATION OF NEW PROGRAMS SUCH AS PRETRIAL DIVERSION, SPECIAL RELEASE ON RECOGNIZANCE, AND SPECIAL PROBATION PROGRAMS. THE TEXT BEGINS WITH A DISCUSSION OF THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND EXPLAINS WHAT LAW IS, THE CLASSIFICATION OF LAWS, AND THE SPECIAL ROLE OF THE COURTS. NEXT, IT EXAMINES THE NATURE OF CRIME AND CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND THE ELEMENTS OF A CRIME, INCLUDING CRIMES AGAINST THE PERSON AND AGAINST PROPERTY, AND PRESENTS AN OVERVIEW OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS. BASIC CONCEPTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS ARE EXPLAINED ; I.E., THE ELEMENTS OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS, ACCUSATIONS, ADJUDICATION, SENTENCING AND CORRECTIONS, AND THE JUVENILE COURT PROCESS AND IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THE POLICE, LEGAL AND JUDICIAL PROFESSIONALS, THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICER, DISCUSSING THEIR AGENCIES, THEIR SELECTION AND TRAINING, AND THEIR ROLES AND RELATIONSHIPS TO OTHER PROFESSIONALS. APPENDIXES CONTAIN A GLOSSARY OF LEGAL TERMS, SELECTED SECTIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION RELATED TO THE TEXT, AND A GUIDE ON HOW TO FIND AND CITE THE LAW. A TABLE OF CASES AND AN INDEX ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)