Two themes are evident throughout the book. First, criminal justice involves public policies that are developed within the political framework of the democratic process. Second, the concept of social system is an essential tool for explaining and analyzing how criminal justice is administered in practice. Part I, "The Criminal Justice Process," contains three chapters on crime and justice in America, the criminal justice system, and criminal law and procedures. The three chapters of Part II, “Police,” address policing in American society, police operations, and issues and trends in policing. Part III, which addresses the court system in America, describes the features and procedures of prosecution and defense, pretrial processes, the procedures of the criminal trial, and sentencing. The four chapters of Part IV focus on “Corrections.” One of these chapters considers the historical development of corrections, the organization of corrections in the United States, the trends and characteristics of prison populations, and the sentencing process. Other chapters discuss community corrections (probation and intermediate sanctions), incarceration and prison society, and release and community supervision. Part V focuses on the juvenile justice system. Issues discussed are youth crime in the United States, the development of juvenile justice, and juvenile justice operations. Each chapter provides an example of the issues discussed, a summary of the chapter, questions for review, and notes. Appended U.S. Constitution and criminal justice amendments, and an index/glossary