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Introduction to Criminal Justice
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Introduction to Criminal Justice
Systems, Diversity, and Change

Fourth Edition
Available with:


January 2021 | 408 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
Introduction to Criminal Justice: Systems, Diversity, and Change, Fourth Edition, offers students a brief, yet thorough, introduction to criminal justice with up-to-date coverage of all aspects of the system in succinct and engaging chapters. Authors Callie Marie Rennison and Mary Dodge weave four true criminal case studies throughout the book, capturing students’ attention with memorable stories that illustrate the real-life pathways and outcomes of criminal behavior and victimization. Designed to show the connectedness of the criminal justice system, each case study brings the chapter concepts to life. Providing students with a more inclusive overview of criminal justice, important and timely topics such as ethics, policy, gender, diversity, and victimization are emphasized throughout.

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  • SAGE Lecture Spark: Designed to save you time and ignite student engagement, these free weekly lecture launchers focus on current event topics tied to key concepts in Criminal Justice. Access this week’s topic.

 
Preface
 
Thank You
 
About the Authors
 
Part I: Foundations
 
Chapter 1. An Introduction to Crime and the Criminal Justice System
Introduction: Making Our Way Through the Criminal Justice System

 
What Is the Criminal Justice System?

 
How Does the Criminal Justice System Work?

 
What Is Crime?

 
Crime Definitions Change Over Time

 
The Criminal Justice System: Purpose and Perspectives

 
Criminal Justice and Public Policy

 
Crime and the Media

 
Criminal Justice Versus Criminology

 
Chapter Wrap-Up

 
Key Points

 
Key Terms

 
Review Questions

 
Critical Thinking Matters

 
 
Chapter 2. The Nature and Extent of Crime
Introduction: Why and How Is Crime Measured?

 
FBI Measurement of Crime

 
Bureau of Justice Statistics Measurement of Crime

 
Violent and Property Crime Rates and Trends

 
Measuring Cybercrime, Terrorism, and White-Collar Crime

 
Fear and Risk of Victimization

 
Theory in Criminal Justice

 
Chapter Wrap-Up

 
Key Points

 
Key Terms

 
Review Questions

 
Critical Thinking Matters

 
 
Chapter 3. Criminal Justice and the Law
Introduction: The Development of Law

 
History of Law

 
The Role and Purpose of Law

 
Sources of Criminal Law

 
Types of Law

 
Legal Definitions

 
Criminal Defenses

 
Evolving Standards and Practices

 
The Rights of Victims

 
Chapter Wrap-Up

 
Key Points

 
Key Terms

 
Review Questions

 
Critical Thinking Matters

 
 
Part II: Law Enforcement
 
Chapter 4. The History of Policing
Introduction: Policing as a Dynamic Entity

 
Early English Policing

 
Colonial America and Policing

 
Advancing Professionalism in Policing: 20th-Century Reform

 
Diversity in Policing

 
Unrest in Policing (1960s and 1970s)

 
Chapter Wrap-Up

 
Key Points

 
Key Terms

 
Review Questions

 
Critical Thinking Matters

 
 
Chapter 5. On the Streets: Organization, Responsibilities, and Challenges
Introduction: Contemporary Policing

 
The Police Organization

 
The Police Role

 
Who Are the Police?

 
Community Policing

 
Intelligence-Led/Evidence-Based Policing

 
21st-Century Policing

 
Controversial Issues in Policing

 
Chapter Wrap-Up

 
Key Points

 
Key Terms

 
Review Questions

 
Critical Thinking Matters

 
 
Chapter 6. Police and the Rule of Law
Introduction: The Importance of Justice, Law, and Order

 
Police and the Courts

 
Due Process and Police Activities

 
Technology

 
Warrant Requirements and Serving Warrants

 
Custodial Interrogation

 
Chapter Wrap-Up

 
Key Points

 
Key Terms

 
Review Questions

 
Critical Thinking Matters

 
 
Part III: Courts
 
Chapter 7. The Courts and Judiciary
Introduction: The Court Process

 
Federal and State Court Systems

 
Court Congestion and the Consequences

 
Specialized and Problem-Solving Courts

 
The Judiciary

 
Diversity in the Judiciary

 
Court Administration and Management

 
Chapter Wrap-Up

 
Key Points

 
Key Terms

 
Review Questions

 
Critical Thinking Matters

 
 
Chapter 8. The Prosecution, Defense, and Pretrial Activities
Introduction: Actors and Procedures in the Courtroom

 
The Prosecutor

 
The Defense Attorney

 
After the Arrest: Charging the Defendant

 
Bail and Pretrial Events

 
Plea Bargains

 
Discovery, Motions, and Scheduling

 
Jury Selection

 
Diversity and Pretrial Events

 
Technology in the Courtroom

 
Chapter Wrap-Up

 
Key Points

 
Key Terms

 
Review Questions

 
Critical Thinking Matters

 
 
Chapter 9. The Criminal Trial and Sentencing
Introduction: The Criminal Trial and Sentencing

 
Reaching a Verdict

 
Sentencing

 
A Special Criminal Trial: Capital Cases

 
Victims of Crime and the Criminal Trial

 
Chapter Wrap-Up

 
Key Points

 
Key Terms

 
Review Questions

 
Critical Thinking Matters

 
 
Part IV: Corrections
 
Chapter 10. Correctional Responses in the Community
Introduction: Corrections in the Community

 
The History of Corrections in the Community in the United States

 
Contemporary Use of Corrections in the Community

 
Goals of Correctional Responses in the Community

 
Types of Correctional Responses in the Community

 
Effectiveness of Corrections in the Community

 
Probation Officers

 
Diversity in Community Corrections

 
Technology and Community Corrections

 
Chapter Wrap-Up

 
Key Points

 
Key Terms

 
Review Questions

 
Critical Thinking Matters

 
 
Chapter 11. Institutional Corrections
Introduction: Institutional Corrections

 
Historical Perspectives in Institutional Corrections

 
Current Perspectives in Institutional Corrections

 
Contemporary Jails and Lockups

 
Contemporary Prisons

 
Diversity in Jails and Prisons

 
Technology and Institutional Corrections

 
Chapter Wrap-Up

 
Key Points

 
Key Terms

 
Review Questions

 
Critical Thinking Matters

 
 
Chapter 12. Prison Life and Life After Prison
Introduction: Living in Prison

 
Classification Systems and Solitary Confinement

 
Prison Violence

 
Prison Challenges

 
Life After Prison: Parole and Reentry

 
Chapter Wrap-Up

 
Key Points

 
Key Terms

 
Review Questions

 
Critical Thinking Matters

 
 
Part V: Beyond The Basics
 
Chapter 13. The Juvenile Justice System
Introduction: The Juvenile Justice System

 
Juvenile Justice: A Brief History

 
Establishing Juvenile Rights

 
The Contemporary Juvenile Justice System

 
Steps in the Juvenile Justice System

 
Chapter Wrap-Up

 
Key Points

 
Key Terms

 
Review Questions

 
Critical Thinking Matters

 
 
Chapter 14. Exploring Specialized and Topical Issues
Introduction: Overview of Specialized and Topical Issues

 
Terrorism and Homeland Security

 
Domestic Human and Sex Trafficking

 
The #MeToo Movement

 
Hate Crimes and Bias-Motivated Crimes

 
Violence Against College Students

 
Forensic Science

 
CSI Effect

 
Chapter Wrap-Up

 
Key Points

 
Key Terms

 
Review Questions

 
Critical Thinking Matters

 
 
Appendix: The Bill of Rights
 
Glossary
 
Notes
 
Index

Supplements

Student Study Site
edge.sagepub.com/rennison4e

The open-access Student Study Site makes it easy for students to maximize their study time, anywhere, anytime. It offers flashcards that strengthen understanding of key terms and concepts, as well as learning objectives that reinforce the most important material.
Instructor Resource Site

edge.sagepub.com/rennison4e

For additional information, custom options, or to request a personalized walkthrough of these resources, please contact your sales representative.

LMS cartridge included with this title for use in Blackboard, Canvas, Brightspace by Desire2Learn (D2L), and Moodle

The LMS cartridge makes it easy to import this title’s instructor resources into your learning management system (LMS). These resources include:

  • Test banks
  • Editable chapter-specific PowerPoint® slides
  • Sample course syllabi
  • Lecture notes
  • All tables and figures from the textbook 
Don’t use an LMS platform?

You can still access all of the same online resources for this title via the password-protected Instructor Resource Site.

The open-access Student Study Site makes it easy for students to maximize their study time, anywhere, anytime. It offers flashcards that strengthen understanding of key terms and concepts, as well as learning objectives that reinforce the most important material.

have used this book twice before. I like the information for teaching, I am dissapointed that it has no instructor resources but I have created most of what I need.

Patricia Feese
Criminal Justice, Briar Cliff University
February 15, 2023

The text book covers just about everything one needs in an Introductory class.

Mr Donald Showalter
Law Enforcement, Vincennes University
May 12, 2023

quality of content for price

Ms Stephanie Harlow
Criminal Justice, Washington State Cmty College
August 2, 2022
Key features

NEW TO THIS EDITION:

  • The new edition is available as a digital option through SAGE Vantage, an intuitive digital platform that offers auto-graded assignments and interactive multimedia tools—including video—all designed to enable students to better prepare for class.
  • A new case study introduces Esther Lucero and follows her arrest, plea bargains, and her experiences with prison, parole, and reentry.  
  • An emphasis on changes in policy and law that have occurred in the criminal justice system under the Trump administration illustrate adopted policies that are in stark contrast with established practices, including the use of private prisons, perspectives on recreational marijuana, the role of police, the shift in immigration policies, and even constitutional rights previously agreed upon.
  • Discussions of the social changes that have impacted the criminal justice system encourage classroom discussion around recent movements that have led to record high numbers of men and women speaking up about sexual victimization as well as more women and people of color are running for elected office than previously documented.
  • More examples of Asians, American Indians, and members of the LGBTQ community, as well as expanded discussions of diversity are seen throughout the book to help students understand why diversity matters, with attention to changes in immigration and how that is related to the criminal justice system.
  • Updated statistics and estimates on crime, victimization, and elements of the criminal justice system, using the most recent data available, give students a more accurate picture of the current climate.
  • Updated full-page infographics illustrate the story of an issue in criminal justice through data. These infographics encourage critical thinking and help students drawn data-informed conclusions.
  • Current issues connected to key concepts in the book keep students engaged with the content by featuring new material on controversial issues, such as:
    • Black Lives Matter movement
    • Fatal shootings by police
    • The decriminalization and legalization of marijuana
    • Social media evidence in the courts and how emojis might influence a trial
    • Parameters of prison and effects of solitary confinement
KEY FEATURES:
  • Diversity is emphasized in all aspects of the criminal justice system including offenders, victims, employees, and sentencing, to help students understand the importance of openly discussing these critical issues.
  • Four true-crime criminal justice cases progress from chapter to chapter, showing students the interplay and connectedness of the criminal justice system to help make the material easier to remember and understand.
  • Common Misconceptions boxes bring clarity to often misunderstood topics and help students understand the realities of the criminal justice system.   
  • Policy Issues boxes serve as a foundation for students to consider the complexities of policy and think critically about the impact it has on the criminal justice system.  
  • Ethical Issues boxes integrated into each chapter provide students with the opportunity to apply the material and consider how to respond ethically to common situations in criminal justice.
  • Considering Careers boxes engage students’ interests in a variety of fields in criminal justice by introducing them to skills, responsibilities, salaries, and work environments, as well as the personality characteristics that make for an ideal candidate.
Vantage Reference: 
Introduction to Criminal Justice - Vantage Learning Platform

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