Criminal Law Handbook, The: Know Your Rights, Survive the System

by Paul Bergman J.D., Sara J. Berman J.D.

Overview

The criminal justice system is complicated. Understand it and your rights.

This book demystifies the complex rules and procedures of criminal law. It explains how the system works, why police, lawyers, and judges do what they do, and what suspects, defendants, and prisoners can expect. It also provides critical information on working with a lawyer.

In plain English, The Criminal Law Handbook covers:

• search and seizure
• arrest, booking, and bail
• Miranda rights
• arraignment
• plea bargains
• trials
• sentencing
• common defenses
• working with defense attorneys
• constitutional rights
• juvenile court
• legal terms and definitions
• appeals
• public defenders
• victims’ rights

This edition is completely updated, covering the latest in criminal law, including U.S. Supreme Court cases.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781413331479
Publisher:	NOLO
Publication date:	01/30/2024
Edition description:	Eighteenth
Pages:	656
Sales rank:	220,340
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 8.70(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

Paul Bergman is a Professor of Law at the UCLA School of Law and a recipient of two UniversityDistinguished Teaching Awards. His books include Nolo’s Deposition Handbook (with Moore, Nolo); Reel Justice: The Courtroom Goes to the Movies (with Asimow, Andrews McMeel); Trial Advocacy: Inferences, Arguments, Techniques (with Moore and Binder, West Publishing Co.) Trial Advocacy in a Nutshell (West Publishing Co.); Represent Yourself in Court: How to Prepare & Try a Winning Case (with Berman, Nolo); Depositions in a Nutshell (with Moore, Binder, and Light, West Publishing Co.); Lawyers as Counselors: A Client-Centered Approach (with Binder, Tremblay, and Weinstein, West Publishing Co); Evidence Law and Practice (with Friedland and Benham); Cracking the Case Method (with Goodman and Holm, West Academic Publishing); Evidence Law and Practice (with Friedland and Benham, Carolina Academic Press); and You Matter: Ten Spiritual Commitments for a Richer and More Meaningful Life (with Rabbi Mark Borovitz, AuthorHouse). Paul has also published numerous articles in law journals. And, using clips from law-related films, he regularly gives presentations to lawyers, judges, and community groups.

Sara Berman is a graduate of the UCLA School of Law. Sara currently serves as the Director of Academic and Bar Success Programs for the AccessLex Center for Legal Education Excellence. She has served for decades in faculty and administrative leadership roles in law schools in California and Florida, and is the author of numerous articles and books, including Pass the Bar Exam: A Practical Guide to Achieving Academic & Professional Goals and Bar Exam MPT Preparation & Experiential Learning For Law Students: Interactive Performance Test Training, both published by the American Bar Association. Sara is also the co-author along with Paul Bergman of Nolo’s Represent Yourself in Court: How to Prepare and Try a Winning Civil Case.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1. Talking to the Police 2. Search and Seizure 3. Arrest: When It Happens, What It Means 4. Eyewitness Identification: Psychology and Procedures 5. Booking and Bail: Checking In and Out of Jail 6. From Suspect to Defendant 7. Criminal Defense Lawyers 8. Understanding the Attorney-Client Relationship in a Criminal Case 9. A Walk Through Criminal Court 10. Arraignments 11. Developing the Defense Strategy 12. Crimespeak: Understanding the Language of Criminal Laws 13. Defensespeak: Common Defenses to Criminal Charges 14. Discovery: Exchanging Information With the Prosecution 15. Investigating the Facts 16. Preliminary Hearings 17. Fundamental Trial Rights of the Defense 18. Basic Evidence Rules in Criminal Trials 19. Motions and Their Role in Criminal Cases 20. Plea Bargains: How Most Criminal Cases End 21. The Trial Process 22. Sentencing 23. Appeals 24. How the Criminal Justice System Works 25. Juvenile Courts and Procedures 26. Prisoners' Rules 27. Looking Up the Law Glossary

Interviews

The Criminal Law Handbook is written in an easy-to-understand question-and-answer format. It explains the criminal justice system inside and outside the courtroom.

Whatever prompts your interest, the criminal justice system belongs to you. You have a right to know how it works. This book tells you what you never learned in high school civics: how the system really works.

Editorial Reviews

"An excellent and balanced guide to the state court criminal justice process..." Library Journal

"This easy-to-understand book contains everything you need to know about criminal law." Roger Cossack, Legal Analyst

"A well written, helpful guide for laypersons interested in their legal rights—straightforward, non-intimidating and informative." Laurie Levenson, Associate Dean, Loyola School of Law

Author Comments: The Criminal Law Handbook is written in an easy-to-understand question-and-answer format. It explains the criminal justice system inside and outside the courtroom. Whatever prompts your interest, the criminal justice system belongs to you. You have a right to know how it works. This book tells you what you never learned in high school civics: how the system really works.

From the Publisher