NCJ Number
45541
Date Published
1978
Length
436 pages
Annotation
THIS INTRODUCTORY TEXTBOOK FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS DESCRIBES THE ORGANIZATION, MECHANICS, ROLES, AND AIMS OF EACH COMPONENT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND DEFINES AND EXPLORES ISSUES SURROUNDING EACH.
Abstract
THE PROBLEM OF CRIME IS FIRST VIEWED FROM A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE. THE VARIOUS SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT ON CRIME CAUSATION AND THE CLASSIFICATION OF CRIMES AND CRIMINALS ARE EXAMINED. THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE IS THEN PRESENTED IN TERMS OF PROCESS AND ISSUES. THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS -- THE ENACTMENT OF CRIMINAL CODES AND STATUTES -- IS DISCUSSED. THREE CHAPTERS ARE DEVOTED TO DESCRIPTIONS OF THE ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, JUDICIAL, AND CORRECTIONAL COMPONENTS OF THE SYSTEM. EACH IS FOLLOWED BY A CHAPTER PRESENTING CONTEMPORARY ISSUES RELATED TO EACH COMPONENT. THE JUVENILE JUSTICE PROCESS AND THE ISSUES SURROUNDING IT ARE ALSO CONSIDERED. CROSS-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES ARE PROVIDED, COMPARING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS OF THE UNITED STATES WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN SWEDEN, CANADA, AND FRANCE. THE TEXT CONCLUDES WITH AN EXPLORATION OF FUTURE TRENDS IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. EACH CHAPTER IS SUMMARIZED INDIVIDUALLY, A GLOSSARY OF SOCIOLOGICAL TERMS USED IN THE TEXT, A GLOSSARY OF COURT CASES CITED, A COPY OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, AND NAME AND SUBJECT INDEXES ARE APPENDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...VA