Dictionary of American Criminal Justice: Key Terms and Major Supreme Court Cases

By: Dean J. Champion

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Synopsis: First Published in 1999. The Dictionary of American Criminal Justice is divided into two extensive sections: Part One is a dictionary that applies an interdisciplinary approach to enhance its effectiveness as a one-stop resource in explaining the American criminal justice system. Terms are drawn from such disciplines as criminology, criminal justice, corrections, probation/parole, juvenile justice, and policing. Many definitions are accompanied by examples from the research literature, illustrating how the terms apply in particular contexts. Also included are listings of leading theorists of criminology, a synopsis of their major theoretical contributions, and extracts from their written works. Part Two, providing examples that demonstrate the concepts of the dictionary in action, includes the most recent and significant U.S. Supreme Court cases--an easy-to-read account of the events leading to each case, how the Supreme Court decided the case, and the rationale used in each decision. Students, researchers, and librarians can quickly and easily identify key cases across a broad spectrum of topics by using indexes that list by name and by category. For any researcher wishing to understand the American criminal justice system, the Dictionary of American Criminal Justice is a crucial reference text.