Criminal Justice

Introductory essays on criminal justice topics by experts and with sources for further reading.
* Volume 1: Crime & Criminal Law
* Volume 2: Law Enforcement & Courts
* Volume 3: Corrections & Special Issues

Concise overviews of definitions of crime, ways of measuring crime, & the major theories of crime.

The authors of these 20 chapters examine the historical contexts of each topic and offer arguments both for and against the ways in which legislators and courts have defined and responded to criminal behaviors, addressing the sometimes complex policy considerations involved.

A to Z entries by experts in the field that explore the scope of ethical decision making and behaviors within the spheres of criminal justice systems, including policing, corrections, courts, forensic science, & policy analysis and research.

Overviews the intersection of race and criminal justice including basic concepts and theories of criminal justice, the police, courts, corrections, juvenile justice, public policy, the media, specific groups and populations, & specific cases.

Essays on the key themes in research on punishment including theories of punishment, methods of punishment, & mass incarceration.

Topics, theories, and important people/organizations related to street crime described by experts and with citations for further reading.

Topics, theories, and important people/organizations related to corporate and white collar crime described by experts and with citations for further reading.

Plain English overviews of important criminal law concepts.

Covers a wide range of sharply contested topics, such as controversial topics like drug and gun control laws, as well as the ins and outs of the criminal justice system as encountered by arrested suspects, during the trial process, and during the sentencing phase.

A collection of essays covering more than 670 rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court and other federal and state courts. The appendix has a categorized list of court cases by legal concept.

Alphabetical short overviews of the key concepts, events, laws and legal doctrines, court decisions, and litigators and litigants related to the US Constitution's 4th Amendment against "unreasonable searches and seizures."

Examines many aspects of policing in society, including their common duties, legal regulations on those duties, problematic policing practices, and alternatives to traditional policing.

Overviews the development of, use, and abuses of police power in the United States.

Corrections looks at the correctional system and offers arguments for and against the practice of the laws and policies that comprise corrections, from parole and probation to imprisonment, to the application of the death penalty.

150 signed entries (each with Cross References and Further Readings) are organized in A-to-Z fashion to give easy access to the full range of topics in community corrections.

Expert authors examine issues related to various treatments, programs, punishments, placement, and more.

Articles on the history of crime and criminal justice in America with citations for further reading.