Full Description
Criminal Courtscomprehensive examination of the criminal court system, from basic pretrial procedures, to the trial process, to sentencing and appeals. It begins with a discussion of the law and its origins, compares the federal and state court systems, and examines the key courtroom personnel. This edition includes separate chapters on the juvenile justice system and juvenile courts, and a new chapter on diversion, alternative dispute resolution and specialty courts. Key cases, newspaper articles, and real court examples add practicality and provide a deeper understanding of the issues surrounding criminal courts today.
Contents
1. Law2. The Structure of American Courts3. The Prosecution4. The Defense Judges6. Juries7. Pre-Trial Procedures and the Trial Process8. Plea Bargaining and the Adversary System 9. Sentencing Goals and Structures 10. Judicial Sentencing Options, Sentencing Disparities, and Appeals11. The Juvenile Justice System: Juvenile Rights and Case Processing 12. Juvenile Courts: Adjudication and Disposition 13. Diversion, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Specialty Courts14. Courts, Media, and the Litigation Explosion
