CRIMINAL JUSTICE: Volume 1 Foundations, Crime, Law, and Law Enforcement

What is justice, who defines crime, and how does the American criminal justice system exercise its enormous power?Criminal Justice, Volume I offers a comprehensive introduction to the ideas, laws, institutions, and social forces that shape crime and justice in the United States. Written for students, aspiring criminal justice professionals, and general readers, this volume explains not only how the system operates, but also why it developed as it did-and how power, inequality, constitutional rights, and public opinion influence its decisions.Beginning with the meaning of crime, justice, public safety, and social control, Dennis Henderson traces the historical development of American policing, criminal law, punishment, prisons, and constitutional protections. The book examines major theories of criminal behavior, social deviance, criminal psychology, race, class, gender, poverty, institutional authority, and the powerful role of news and entertainment media in shaping public fear.Volume I also provides an accessible examination of criminal law and constitutional justice, including: - The elements and classifications of criminal offenses- Homicide, assault, sexual offenses, kidnapping, theft, burglary, robbery, and fraud- Self-defense, insanity, necessity, duress, mistake, intoxication, and entrapment- Due process, equal protection, civil rights, and civil liberties- Search and seizure, warrants, probable cause, and electronic surveillance- Arrest, interrogation, confession, and the right to counsel- Evidence, the exclusionary rule, plea bargaining, trial, sentencing, and appeal- The history and organization of American law enforcementRather than presenting criminal justice as a simple contest between lawbreakers and authorities, this book reveals a complex system in which liberty, security, discretion, fairness, and governmental power continually collide.Volume I contains Chapters 1-25 of a continuous two-volume study. Volume II continues with Chapter 26 and examines policing, courts, corrections, specialized areas of justice, criminal justice policy, reform, and the future of the system.