Synopses & Reviews
Less expensive, shorter, and more approachable than most introductory titles on the market today, this bestselling book examines criminal justice from an interdisciplinary perspective, combining elements of criminology, sociology, law, history, psychology, and political science. Cole and Smith encourage readers to become better citizens, to explore what justice means in our society, and to decide what role individuals can play in shaping that meaning. The authors challenge readers to consider both the mechanics of the criminal justice system and the human stories of people involved in the system. CRIMINALJUSTICE IN AMERICA, Sixth Edition, also includes a user-friendly and useful technology package, including a companion Web site.
Review
"I have used and continue to use this textbook for 'Introduction to Criminal Justice' classes. I feel that this text and the information contained within is the best in the book market at the present time as to easy to read, understand, and grasp."
Synopsis
With Cole and Smith's CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN AMERICA, Fifth Edition, you'll experience the field in real and exciting ways, AND excel in this course with the book's many effective study tools. You'll learn about the field's many new career opportunities. You'll read the true stories of offenders and their experiences within the system. You'll learn about the crucial role that public policy plays in understanding the workings of the criminal justice system. And you'll be exposed to the hot issues that are changing the face of criminal justice.
Synopsis
Cole and Smith's CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN AMERICA, Sixth Edition, lets you experience the real-world excitement of this dynamic field while helping you excel in your course with the support of proven, integrated study tools. In this engaging, reader-friendly text, you'll learn about new career opportunities in criminal justice and read true stories of offenders and their experiences within the system. You'll also learn about the crucial role that public policy plays in the criminal justice system and explore the hot issues that are changing the face of criminal justice today and shaping its future.
About the Author
George F. Cole is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Connecticut. He has been recognized for outstanding teaching and research and in 1995 was named a Fellow of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. A specialist in the administration of criminal justice, he has published extensively on such topics as prosecution, courts, and corrections. He developed and directed the graduate corrections program at the University of Connecticut and was a Fellow at the National Institute of Justice (1988). Among his other accomplishments, he has been granted two awards under the Fulbright-Hays Program to conduct criminal justice research in England and the former Yugoslavia. He is co-author of several other Wadsworth criminal justice titles, including THE AMERICAN SYSTEM OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, Thirteenth Edition (with Christopher Smith and Christina DeJong); AMERICAN CORRECTIONS, Tenth Edition (with Todd Clear and Michael Reisig); AMERICAN CORRECTIONS IN BRIEF (with Todd Clear, Michael Reisig, and Carolyn Petrosino); and THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: POLITICS AND POLICIES, Ninth Edition (with Marc Gertz and Amy Bunger). Christopher E. Smith is Professor of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University. Trained as a lawyer and social scientist, he is the author of twenty books and more than ninety scholarly articles on law, courts, and criminal justice policy. His other books with Wadsworth include CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN AMERICA, Seventh Edition (with George Cole) CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS: MYTHS AND REALITIES, and CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. He is also the co-author, with George Cole and Christina DeJong, of THE AMERICAN SYSTEM OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, Thirteenth Edition.
Table of Contents
Part I: CRIME AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. 1. The Criminal Justice System. 2. Crime and Justice in America. 3. Criminal Justice and the Rule of Law. Part II: POLICE. 4. Police. 5. Policing: Contemporary Issues and Challenges. 6. Police and the Law Part III: COURTS. 7. Courts and Adjudication. 8. Pretrial Procedures, Plea Bargaining, and the Criminal Trial. 9. Punishment and Sentencing. Part IV: CORRECTIONS. 10. Corrections. 11. Community Corrections: Probation and Intermediate Sanctions. 12. Incarceration and Prison Society. Part V: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE. 13. Reentry into the Community. 14. Technology and Criminal Justice. 15. Juvenile Justice. Appendix: Constitution of the United States: Criminal Justice Amendments. References. Glossary. Name Index. Subject Index. Photo Credits.