Full Description
For all courses in courts and criminal justice.
A balanced, modern introduction to America's court system
Courts and Criminal Justice in America is a collaboration of the most popular criminal justice authors of the century. Presupposing no previous knowledge of the courts or how they operate, this comprehensive text examines the basic structure of the court system and court process, as well as all sides of today's most controversial issues. Cases illustrate the power of the court system to regulate citizens' lives, shape what's acceptable, and strike a balance between rights and liberties. Extensively revised throughout, the 3rd edition update features new chapter-opening stories and Courts in the News boxes challenging readers to think critically and draw their own conclusions.
Courts and Criminal Justice in America, 3rd Edition, is also available via Revel®, an interactive learning environment that enables students to read, practice, and study in one continuous experience.
Contents
PART I: FOUNDATIONS
1. Legal Foundations
2. Who Controls the Courts?
PART II: TYPES OF COURTS
3. Federal Courts
4. State Courts
5. Juvenile Courts
6. Specialized Courts
PART III: THE PEOPLE INVOLVED
7. Judges
8. Prosecutors
9. Defense Attorneys
10. Defendants and Victims: Their Roles and Rights
PART IV: THE COURT PROCESS
11. Pretrial Procedures
12. Plea Bargaining and Guilty Pleas
13. The Jury and the Trial
14. Sentencing, Appeals, and Habeas Corpus
PART V: CURRENT ISSUES AND THE FUTURE OF COURTS
15. Differential Treatment and Wrongful Convictions
16. Technology, Alternatives, and the Future
