Cengage Advantage Books: The American System of Criminal Justice

by George F. Cole, Christopher E. Smith

Overview

Cole and Smith's classic best-seller examines criminal justice across several disciplines, and presents elements from criminology, sociology, law, history, psychology, and political science. Broad coverage of the facts, an interesting writing style, and compelling delivery of current events make THE AMERICAN SYSTEM OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE one of the best texts available for an in-depth introduction to the American criminal justice system.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780495600886
Publisher:	Cengage Learning
Publication date:	01/05/2009
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	720
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 10.80(h) x 1.00(d)

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 1: CRIME AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. 1. Crime and Justice in America. 2. Victimization and Criminal Behavior. 3. The Criminal Justice System. 4. Criminal Justice and the Rule of Law. Part 2: POLICE. 5. Police. 6. Police Officers and Law Enforcement Operations. 7. Policing: Contemporary Issues and Challenges. 8. Police and Constitutional Law. Part 3: COURTS. 9. Court and Pretrial Processes. 10. Prosecution and Defense. 11. Determination of Guilt: Plea Bargaining and Trials. 12. Punishment and Sentencing. Part 4: CORRECTIONS. 13. Corrections. 14. Community Corrections: Probation and Intermediate Sanctions. 15. Incarceration and Prison Society. 16. Reentry into the Community. Part 5: THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. 17. Juvenile Justice.

Editorial Reviews

"Students need to hit the ground running - this chapter (Chapter 3) has a positive blend of material that does just that! The coverage is well-balanced! This chapter serves as a "kick-off" to the remaining components of the system."

"This text is a true leader in the industry! It is updated, current, well organized and thought through!"

"…clearly promotes 'critical understanding' with the Close-Ups, New Directions, Doing Your Part, A Question of Ethics, What Americans Think, and landmark Comparative Perspectives!"

"In terms of organization, the text is well thought through! The chapter selection is state-of-the-art from start to finish!"

"The material is clear, accurate, interesting, on the appropriate level and most important, 'on the cutting edge' of the text's three major themes: 1. Criminal justice involves public policies 2. The concept of social system is an essential tool and 3. American values provide the foundation on which criminal justice is based."

From the Publisher