James Acker / JoAnne Malatesta
Introduction to Law and Criminal Justice, 2d ed. examines core legal concepts central to the criminal justice system, focusing on three areas: substantive criminal law, constitutional issues balancing individual liberties with government authority, and constitutional criminal procedure. The book’s case method approach presents edited judicial decisions alongside explanatory commentary, a framework that supports the development of analytical skills and demonstrates how legal doctrines adapt to different factual scenarios.The book provides analysis of high-profile and newsworthy cases-such as parental responsibility for crimes committed by their children, medical aid-in-dying, gay rights, free speech and the internet, and search and seizure in the age of technology -demonstrating the evolving tensions between personal liberty and state power. A new chapter, 'The Right to Keep and Bear Arms,' offers an in-depth review of the Second Amendment, highlights key Supreme Court decisions, and explores contemporary debates about firearms regulation and public safety as well as the evolving judicial approach to interpreting constitutional rights.Introduction to Law and Criminal Justice is intended for undergraduate courses in criminal justice, pre-law, and legal studies, as well as for introductory graduate coursework covering fundamental legal concepts for criminal justice studies.
