Explaining Criminal Justice

Written by Lab, Williams, Holcomb, King, and Buerger, Explaining Criminal Justice is the first brief survey text designed for students entering the field of criminal justice who lack a criminal justice background.
This primer's helpful shorthand presentation will be useful to students in a variety of ways:
* Defines key terminology and issues in an easily understood format.
* Offers a basic understanding of the component parts of the criminal justice system and how they interrelate.
* Provides coverage of all major issues--plus a realistic overview of the criminal justice system.
Each chapter features a list of key terms, brief discussions of the important issues under each topic, discussions of emerging issues and concerns in the field, references for all key topics, a brief bibliography, and appropriate website listings.

Chapter 1: Crime and the Criminal Justice System; Introduction: What Is Crime?; Measuring Crime: ; The Philosophies of the Criminal Justice System; Retribution: ; Deterrence: ; Rehabilitation: ; A System of Checks and Balances; The Four C's of the Criminal Justice System (Citizens, Cops, Courts, and Corrections); Recent Trends in Criminal Justice; Suggested Readings; Chapter 2: Theories/Explanations of Crime; Introduction; Theoretical Schools of Thought; The Classical School: ; The Positivist School: ; Neoclassicism: ; Biological Explanations; Physical Appearance Theories: ; Genetics and Inheritance Explanations: ; Biosocial Approaches: ; Psychological Explanations; Psychoanalytic Approaches: ; Developmental Explanations: ; Learning Theories: ; Personality Traits: ; Sociological Explanations; The Ecological Perspective: ; Sociological Learning Theories: ; Subcultural Approaches: ; Routine Activities and Rational Choice: ; Social Control Theories: ; Strain Theories: ; The Labeling Perspective: ; Conflict Theories: ; Theory Integration; Suggested Readings; Chapter 3: Policing and Law Enforcement; Introduction; Law Enforcement: ; Order Maintenance: ; Service: ; Structure; Local: ; Sheriff: ; State: ; Federal: ; Special Police: ; Tribal: ; Organization; Sworn vs. Civilian: ; Geography: ; Time: ; Police Work and Career Paths; The Hiring Process: ; Field Training: ; Promotion: ; Specialties: ; Historical Background; The American Experience; Political Era: ; Professional Era: ; Community Policing Era: ; Enduring Elements and Issues; Police Subculture: ; Police Corruption: ; Harassment: ; Improper Use of Force: ; The Blue Wall: ; Who Will Guard the Guardians?: ; Future Issues; Suggested Readings; Chapter 4: Courts and Legal Issues; Introduction; Common Law: ; Sources of Law: ; Criminal vs. Civil Law: ; Adversarial System: ; Due Process vs. Crime Control: ; The Court System: ; Dual Court System: ; Jurisdiction: ; Assembly-Line Justice: ; Courtroom Workgroup: ; Attrition and Plea Bargaining: ; Federal Court System; State Court Systems; Court Actors; Prosecutors: ; Defense Attorneys: ; Judges: ; Movement of Cases Through the Court System; Current Issues; Suggested Readings; Chapter 5: Corrections; Introduction; Contemporary Corrections; Punishment in Contemporary America; Sentencing and Sanctions; Sentencing Models: ; Available Sanctions; Community Supervision and Intermediate Sanctions: ; Jails: ; Prisons and Correctional Institutions: ; Prison Life, Release, and Reintegration: ; Future Issues Facing Corrections; Suggested Readings; Chapter 6: The Juvenile Justice System; Introduction; Defining Delinquency; The Development of the Juvenile Justice System; The Philosophy of the System; The Police and Juveniles; The Juvenile Court; Detention: ; The Intake Decision: ; The Transfer (or Waiver) Decision: ; Adjudication: ; Disposition: ; Due Process for Juveniles; Juvenile Corrections; Diversion: ; Institutional and Residential Interventions: ; Community Interventions: ; Special Topics; Gangs: ; Drugs and Delinquency: ; Capital Punishment and Juveniles: ; Calls to Eliminate the Juvenile System: ; Suggested Readings