An assessment of new criminal justice technologies and their impact. Includes: electronic surveillance, computerized data matching, DNA typing, automated fingerprint identification, biometric security systems, electronic monitoring, drug therapy, hormone manipulation, due process and the right to privacy. Illustrated.

Introduction to Criminal Justice, Tenth Edition, offers a student-friendly description of the criminal justice process—outlining the decisions, practices, people, and issues involved. It provides a solid introduction to the mechanisms of the criminal justice system, with balanced coverage of the issues presented by each facet of the process, including a thorough review of practices and controversies in law enforcement, the criminal courts, and corrections. In this revision, Edwards updates the statistics and research findings throughout. New sections include the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the recent shift to NIBRS crime reporting, and the increasing attacks on the legitimacy of the criminal justice system. This edition has also expanded coverage of police use of force and technological improvements. Selected chapters now include a case study box to demonstrate how certain laws, programs, and technologies have been used in particular situations. Appropriate for all U.S. criminal justice programs, this text offers great value for students and instructors.

This student-friendly introductory core text describes the criminal justice process in the United States — outlining the decisions, practices, people and issues involved. It provides a solid introduction to the mechanisms of the criminal justice system, with balanced coverage of the issues presented by each facet of the process, including a thorough review of practices and controversies in law enforcement, the criminal courts and corrections. Each chapter is enhanced by important terms, boxes, photos, and review questions. Includes a glossary.

The social construction of crime is often out of proportion to the threat posed. The media and advocacy groups shine a spotlight on some crimes and ignore others. Street crime is highlighted as putting everyone at risk of victimization, while the greater social harms from corporate malfeasance receive far less attention. Social arrangements dictate what is defined as crime and the punishments for those who engage in the proscribed behavior. Interest groups promote their agendas by appealing to public fears. Justifications often have no basis in fact, but the public accepts the exaggerations and blames the targeted offenders. The net-widening effect of more laws and more punishment catches those least able to defend themselves. This innovative alternative to traditional textbooks provides insightful observations of myths and trends in criminal justice. Fourteen chapters challenge misconceptions about specific crimes or aspects of the criminal justice system. Kappeler and Potter dissect popular images of crimes and criminals in a cogent, compelling, and engaging manner. They trace the social construction of each issue and identify the misleading statistics and fears that form the basis of myths—and the collateral damage of basing policies on mythical beliefs. The authors encourage skepticism about commonly accepted beliefs, offer readers a fresh perspective, and urge them to analyze important issues from novel vantage points.

“The text is logically organized and easy to read and understand. Students will find the text intriguing as they move through the coverage of the controversies from the text.” —Michelle L. Foster, Kent State University Updated with new content and current controversies that facilitate critical thinking, debate, and application of the concepts, Stacy L. Mallicoat’s Crime and Criminal Justice, Second Edition, provides you with accessible and concise coverage of all relevant aspects of the criminal justice system, as well as unique chapters on victims and criminal justice policy. Using an innovative format designed to increase student engagement and critical thinking, each chapter is followed by two Current Controversy debates that dive into a critical issue in criminal justice. These features challenge misconceptions by providing a balanced debate of both the pros and the cons of each issue and are followed by probing questions to help you think critically about timely topics. With contemporary examples that you can easily apply and a broad range of effective learning tools, this practical text helps you go beyond the surface toward a deeper understanding of the criminal justice system. New to the Second Edition: Nearly 50% of the Current Controversy essays have been updated to expand your engagement and critical thinking skills by exploring the pros and cons of key issues in criminal justice, such as Is the Media a Credible Source on Crime?, Should the United States Increase Its Laws About Gun Control?, and Are Colleges and Universities the Best Place to Respond to Campus Sexual Assault? New Spotlight boxes provide additional examples to engage you and inform you about important topics, such as Sexual Harassment in Hollywood, Mandatory Arrest Policies, Lynching and Mass Incarceration, Michelle Carter, and The Boston Marathon Bombings. Some boxes include critical thinking questions that will help you apply the material and make important connections. New content enables you to explore crucial topics in today’s field, such as feminist criminology, the juvenile justice process, transnational crime, and the policies of the Trump administration. Updated statistics, graphs, and tables demonstrate to you the most recent data and trends in criminal justice.

Accountability, the idea that people, governments, and business should be held publicly accountable, is a central preoccupation of our time. Criminal justice, already a system for achieving public accountability for illegal and antisocial activities, is no exception to this preoccupation, and accountability for criminal justice therefore takes on a special significance. Seventeen original essays, most commissioned for this volume, have been collected to summarize and assess what has been happening in the area of accountability for criminal justice in English-speaking democracies with common-law traditions during the last fifteen years. Looking at the issue from a variety of disciplines, the authors' intent is to explore accountability with respect to all phases of the criminal justice system, from policing to parole.