Criminal Justice Today: An Introductory Text for the 21st Century, 16th edition

Published by Pearson (16 April 2020) © 2021

  • Frank Schmalleger Emeritus, University of North Carolina

Title overview

Criminal Justice Today introduces criminal justice through the lens of freedom and security. Focusing on the crime picture in the US, the authors present comprehensive coverage of the three traditional elements of the criminal justice system: police, courts and corrections. Built around the theme of tension between individual rights and public order, the text challenges you to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the American justice system.

The 16th Edition has been updated to reflect current issues. An expanded selection of Freedom or Safety boxes poses critical-thinking questions assessing whether and how the criminal justice system balances individual rights and public safety.

Table of contents

Brief Table of Contents

PART I: CRIME IN AMERICA

  1. What Is Criminal Justice?
  2. The Crime Picture
  3. The Search for Causes
  4. Criminal Law

PART II: POLICING

  1. Policing: History and Structure
  2. Policing: Purpose and Organization
  3. Policing: Legal Aspects
  4. Policing: Issues and Challenges

PART III: ADJUDICATION

  1. The Courts: Structure and Participants
  2. Pretrial Activities and the Criminal Trial
  3. Sentencing

PART IV: CORRECTIONS

  1. Probation, Parole, and Reentry
  2. Prisons and Jails
  3. Prison Life

PART V: SPECIAL ISSUES

  1. Juvenile Justice
  2. Drugs and Crime
  3. Terrorism, Multinational Criminal Justice, and Global Issues
  4. High-Technology Crimes

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