Criminal Justice A Very Short Introduction

Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring The criminal justice system is diverse and complex and raises questions about the use of imprisonment, the effects of capital punishment, the purposes of sentencing, and the role of the victim. In this Very Short Introduction, Julian V. Roberts discusses all stages of the criminal justice system, from crime to courthouse and from prison to parole. He focuses on the adversarial model of justice and provides a critical examination of our modern justice system and its status and function in society. The book also includes important developments such as the evolution of AI, the widespread recognition of the differential impact of criminal justice on visible and ethnic minorities, and international legal disputes. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

1 - The origins and key features of criminal justice
2 - Between the crime and the court
3 - Inside the criminal courts
4 - Why punish . . . and how?
5 - In and out of prison
6 - The future of criminal justice

Julian Roberts is Emeritus Professor of at the University of Oxford. In 2022 he was appointed Kings Counsel (Honoris Causa). In 2021 he was awarded the American Society of Criminology Sellin-Glueck Award for comparative scholarship. Julian was a member of the English Sentencing Council (2010-2018). As a Foreign Advisor, his research fed into the American Law Institute's Model Sentencing Code (2017). Julian has authored, co-authored, or edited 22 books on criminal justice. A festschrift volume in his honour was published by OUP in 2025: Sentencing, Public Opinion, and Criminal Justice: Essays in Honour of Julian V Roberts.