Synopses & Reviews
Open this book and step into America's court system! With Neubauer and Fradella's best seller, you will see for yourself what it is like to be a judge, a prosecutor, a defense attorney, and more. This fascinating and well-researched book gives you a realistic sense of being in the courthouse, enabling you to quickly gain an understanding of what it is like to work in and be a part of the American criminal justice system. The book's approach, which focuses on the courthouse "players," makes it easy to understand each person's important role in bringing a case through the court process. Throughout the book, the authors highlight not only the pivotal role of the criminal courts but also the court's importance and impact on society as a whole.
About the Author
David William Neubauer has taught at the University of Florida, at Washington University in St. Louis, and most recently at the University of New Orleans. In addition to this best-selling text, he is the author of DEBATING CRIME: RHETORIC AND REALITY, and BATTLE SUPREME: THE CONFIRMATION OF CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS AND THE FUTURE OF THE SUPREME COURT, both from Wadsworth. His articles have appeared in a wide array of scholarly journals, including Law and Society Review, Judicature, Policy Studies Journal, and Law and Policy Quarterly. Dr. Neubauer's current research interests include nominations to the Supreme Court and religion in public life. Henry F. Fradella is a Professor of Law, Criminal Justice, and Forensic Studies at California State University, Long Beach. He earned a B.A. in psychology from Clark University, both a master's in forensic science and J.D. from The George Washington University, and a Ph.D. in interdisciplinary justice studies from Arizona State University. In addition to having published over 65 scholarly articles, comments, and reviews, Dr. Fradella is also the author of five other books, including three published by Wadsworth: CRIMINAL PROCEDURE FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROFESSIONAL; KEY CASES, COMMENTS, AND QUESTIONS ON SUBSTANTIVE CRIMINAL LAW; and FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY: THE USE OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE IN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. Dr. Fradella has served as a guest editor of the Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice two times and as the Legal Literature editor of West's Criminal Law Bulletin for four terms (Volumes 41-44). He teaches a variety of courses, including criminal law, criminal procedure, courts and judicial processes, and forensic psychology.
Table of Contents
1. Courts, Crime, and Controversy. 2. Law and Crime. 3. Federal Courts. 4. State Courts. 5. The Dynamics of Courthouse Justice. 6. Prosecutors. 7. Defense Attorneys. 8. Judges. 9. Defendants and Victims. 10. From Arrest and Bail to Arraignment. 11. Disclosing and Suppressing Evidence. 12. Negotiated Justice and the Plea of Guilty. 13. Trials and Juries. 14. Sentencing Options. 15. Sentencing Decisions. 16. Appellate and Habeas Corpus Review. 17. Juvenile Courts.