The first part consists of chapters covering general topics of crime, the criminal, and victims. Specific chapter subjects include law and discretion, criminal law and procedure, and informal criminal law. The second section deals with the police and covers formal and informal police functions, informal policing strategies, issues of police and the law, and police-specific issues, including minority hiring, recruitment, training, and police misconduct. The third section, on the courts, discusses courts and courtroom work groups, prosecution and pre-trial release, adjudication, guilty pleas, and sentencing. Corrections is the topic of the fourth section, which examines prison, jails, and prisoners; prison society; prisons and the law; community corrections; and capital punishment. The final section explores juvenile justice. Each chapter contains an outline, a list of key terms, review questions, historical notes, and questions that challenge students to consider pros and cons of various professional careers in criminal justice.