This accessible text enables criminology and criminal justice students to understand and critically evaluate criminal law in the context of criminal justice and wider social issues. The book explains criminal law comprehensively, covering both general principles and specific types of criminal offences. It examines criminal law in its social context, as well as considering how it is used by the criminal justice processes and agencies which enforce it in practice. Covering all the different theoretical approaches that the student of criminology and criminal justice will need to understand, the book provides learning tools such as: -chapter objectives - making the structure of the book easy to follow for students -questions for discussion and student exercises - helping students to think critically about the ideas and concepts in each chapter, and to undertake further independent and reflective study -′definition boxes′ explaining key concepts - helping students who are not familiar with specialist criminal law terminology to understand what the key basic concepts in criminal law really mean in practice -a companion Website which incorporates a range of resources for lecturers and students.
"Criminal Law for the Criminal Justice Professional, fifth edition, presents a complete basic introduction to the substance of those rules and laws that comprise the fabric of he criminal justice system in the United States. This book, like the fourth edition, describes the structure of the system, the theories underlying criminal responsibility, and the lements of specific crimes. The general principles that motivate the lawmakers have not changed since the development of Anglo-American criminal law, although legislative etail and focus have varied"--
Providing a complete view of U.S. legal principles, this book addresses distinct issues as well as the overlays and connections between them. It presents as a cohesive whole the interrelationships between constitutional principles, statutory criminal laws, procedural law, and common-law evidentiary doctrines. This fully revised and updated new edition also includes discussion questions and hypothetical scenarios to check learning. Constitutional principles are the foundation upon which substantive criminal law, criminal procedure law, and evidence laws rely. The concepts of due process, legality, specificity, notice, equality, and fairness are intrinsic to these three disciplines, and a firm understanding of their implications is necessary for a thorough comprehension of the topic. This book examines the tensions produced by balancing the ideals of individual liberty embodied in the Constitution against society’s need to enforce criminal laws as a means of achieving social control, order, and safety. Relying on his first-hand experience as a law enforcement official and criminal defense attorney, the author presents issues that highlight the difficulties in applying constitutional principles to specific criminal justice situations. Each chapter of the text contains a realistic problem in the form of a fact pattern that focuses on one or more classic criminal justice issues to which readers can relate. These problems are presented from the points of view of citizens caught up in a police investigation and of police officers attempting to enforce the law within the framework of constitutional protections. This book is ideal for courses in criminal law and procedure that seek to focus on the philosophical underpinnings of the system.
A vital collection for reforming criminal justice After five decades of punitive expansion, the entire U.S. criminal justice system— mass incarceration, the War on Drugs, police practices, the treatment of juveniles and the mentally ill, glaring racial disparity, the death penalty and more — faces challenging questions. What exactly is criminal justice? How much of it is a system of law and how much is a collection of situational social practices? What roles do the Constitution and the Supreme Court play? How do race and gender shape outcomes? How does change happen, and what changes or adaptations should be pursued? The New Criminal Justice Thinking addresses the challenges of this historic moment by asking essential theoretical and practical questions about how the criminal system operates. In this thorough and thoughtful volume, scholars from across the disciplines of legal theory, sociology, criminology, Critical Race Theory, and organizational theory offer crucial insights into how the criminal system works in both theory and practice. By engaging both classic issues and new understandings, this volume offers a comprehensive framework for thinking about the modern justice system. For those interested in criminal law and justice, The New Criminal Justice Thinking offers a profound discussion of the complexities of our deeply flawed criminal justice system, complexities that neither legal theory nor social science can answer alone.
Over the past forty years, the criminal justice system in the United States has engaged in a very expensive policy failure, attempting to punish its way to public safety, with dismal results. So-called "tough on crime" policies have not only failed to effectively reduce crime, recidivism, and victimization but also created an incredibly inefficient system that routinely fails the public, taxpayers, crime victims, criminal offenders, their families, and their communities. Strategies that focus on behavior change are much more productive and cost effective for reducing crime than punishment, and in this book, William R. Kelly discusses the policy, process, and funding innovations and priorities that the United States needs to effectively reduce crime, recidivism, victimization, and cost. He recommends proactive, evidence-based interventions to address criminogenic behavior; collaborative decision making from a variety of professions and disciplines; and a focus on innovative alternatives to incarceration, such as problem-solving courts and probation. Students, professionals, and policy makers alike will find in this comprehensive text a bracing discussion of how our criminal justice system became broken and the best strategies by which to fix it.
Introduction to Law and Criminal Justice provides undergraduate students with a comprehensive overview of the foundational legal issues in criminal justice. Written in an easy-to-understand format, it examines the history and principles of law and will prepare students for further study of the criminal justice system. By carefully explaining judicial decisions, this text offers students an excellent introduction to legal analysis and the case method of study. Key Features: -Provides a student-friendly introduction to criminal justice -Presents carefully edited judicial decisions with accompanying explanation, to offer case material that is accessible to undergraduate introductory-level students. -Includes comprehensive coverage of three areas of law relevant to criminal justice--substantive criminal law, constitutional issues evoking tensions between governmental authority and individual liberties that relate generally to criminal justice, and constitutional criminal procedure. -Every new copy is packaged with full student access to the companion website featuring a variety of interactive study tools. Instructor Resources: -PowerPoint Lecture Outlines -Instructor's Manual -Test Bank -Sample Syllabi for an Introductory-level Criminal Justice course, Criminal Law, and Criminal Procedure undergraduate courses
Practitioner and Educator, Tina Fryling Presents a Pragmatic and Accessible Approach to Constitutional Law for Criminal Justice Students Constitutional Law in Criminal Justice, Third Edition presents the constitutional provisions most directly related to criminal law and procedure and demonstrates their daily impact on the attitudes, capabilities, events, and responses of legal professionals in policing, courtrooms, and federal agencies. The U.S. Constitution guides every facet of the investigation of crime and of threats to public safety and national security. To further readers’ understanding of the nature of these procedures, this book examines both the Constitution’s relevant provisions and the central developments in their interpretation by the Supreme Court and other U.S. courts. Vivid examples of the situations faced by practitioners on a daily basis bring the complexities of criminal law to life. New to the Third Edition: Expanded discussions of strict scrutiny, stop and frisk, cell phone privacy, the Strickland Test, and First Amendment protections in social media and campaign financing. New cases cover: the interpretation of the attempt to restrain an individual as a seizure (Torres v. Madrid) searches based on “common sense” and making a “logical inference” (Kansas v. Glover) hot pursuit and entry into a building (Lange v. California) the “community caretaking exception” to the Fourth Amendment (Caniglia v. Strom) the Establishment Clause and schools (Kennedy v. Bremerton School District and Carson v. Makin) the primacy of Second Amendment rights (New York State Rifle and Pistol Ass’n. v. Bruen) New scenarios for “You Be the Judge” and featured cases. Professors and students will benefit from: “You Be the Judge” feature encourages students to consider all sides of an issue and broaden their understanding of the complexities of constitutional law in the criminal justice context. Brief summaries of landmark Supreme Court cases provide essential information and insight. The relevant constitutional amendments are covered in terms of both their historical basis and their interpretation and application today. Clear writing speaks to a wide range of readers’ interests, perspectives, and preparation; the text is accessible to both majors and nonmajors in courses at all levels. Written by a practicing attorney who has litigated the issues, the text is authentic, current, approachable, and practical. Comprehensive information on the complexities of constitutional law relates to daily practice by courts, law enforcement, and other criminal justice professionals. The text is further enhanced by: A logical structure and conceptual focus Learning Objectives and key term lists in each chapter Stimulating questions in each chapter to test and assess student understanding
Rule of law has vanished in America’s criminal justice system. Prosecutors decide whom to punish; most accused never face a jury; policing is inconsistent; plea bargaining is rampant; and draconian sentencing fills prisons with mostly minority defendants. A leading criminal law scholar looks to history for the roots of these problems—and solutions.
Intended for an undergraduate criminal law course within a criminal justice program, A Brief Introduction to Criminal Law, Second Edition provides a gentle introduction to the subject ideal for students that do not intend to pursue law school. The principles of criminal law are explained step-by-step with a focus on the professional applications of legal principles within the criminal justice system. The second edition contains more and updated case studies, additional coverage of Consitutional law and terrorism, and enhanced figures and tables. Written in a conversational tone, A Brief Introduction to Criminal Law, Second Edition is the ideal resource for undergraduate students taking a criminal law course.
