Synopses & Reviews
Film and television interpretations of the legal system have captured the imagination of the American public, but how does the law
really work? More specifically, how does it shape other social institutions and interact with other academic disciplines? Blending legal studies with social science,
Law, Justice, and Society: A Sociolegal Introduction, Second Edition, addresses these issues from a distinctive sociological point of view.
Renowned scholars Anthony Walsh and Craig Hemmens cover many important subjects including the origins of the law, the history and development of the American legal system, the sociology of law, court structure, and the difference between civil and criminal law. Updating coverage for the second edition, the authors also discuss many new topics (legal realism, distributive and procedural justice, the politics of law and the legislative process, restorative justice, and gay marriage and the Defense of Marriage Act).
An accessible, lively, and affordable overview of the law, its eventful history, and its sociological implications, Law, Justice, and Society, Second Edition, is ideal for introductory law and society courses in political science, sociology, and criminal justice and legal studies departments.
FEATURES OF THE NEW EDITION
* Presents a brand-new chapter on the limits of social control and the law (Chapter 10)
* Covers gender, race, and comparative law (the only text in this market to cover all three)
* Integrates enhanced pedagogical features throughout (a detailed table of contents; chapter outlines; lists of key terms; lists of relevant websites; and new tables, charts, and graphics)
* Adds coverage of many new topics:
-- John Rawls's theory of justice (Chapter 1: Law: Its Function and Purpose)
-- Environmental justice (Chapter 7: Civil and Administrative Law)
-- Punishment philosophies (Chapter 9: The Law and Social Control)
-- Social movements (Chapter 11: The Law and Social Change)
* Incorporates discussion of the Obama administration into Chapter 13: Racial Minorities and the Law
* Supplemented by a comprehensive Instructor's Resource CD (available to adopting instructors), which contains a Test Bank and PowerPoint-based lecture slides
Synopsis
This is an introductory law & society test, intended for and used in departments of Political Science; Sociology; Criminal Justice and Legal Studies. It blends coverage of law & legal studies with a sociological perspective. The courses it is used in vary in title and topical coverage, but are generally organized around introducing students to the law and to the larger concept of justice from a social sciences perspective. Course names include Intro to Law; Justice & Society; Perspective on Justice Studies; Introduction to the Legal Process; Introduction to Justice Studies; Law & Society; and Law & Culture.
About the Author
Anthony Walsh is Professor of Criminal Justice at Boise State University.
Craig Hemmens is Department Head and Professor, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Missouri State University.
Table of Contents
PrefaceAcknowledgments
Chapter 1. Law: Its Function and Purpose
Chapter 2. Justice and the Law
Chapter 3. Making Law
Chapter 4. Federal and State Courts
Chapter 5. Crime and Criminal Law
Chapter 6. Criminal Procedure
Chapter 7. Civil and Administrative Law
Chapter 8. Juvenile Justice
Chapter 9. The Law and Social Control
Chapter 10. The Limits of Social Control: Policing Vice
Chapter 11. The Law and Social Change
Chapter 12. Women and the Law (By Mary K. Stohr)
Chapter 13. Racial Minorities and the Law
Chapter 14. Comparative Law: Law in Other Cultures
Appendixes
Glossary
Table of Cases
Index