THIS BOOK IS DIVIDED INTO THREE MAJOR PARTS--PERSPECTIVES, PRINCIPLES, AND PROBLEMS. FOCUSING ON PERSPECTIVES, THE BOOK IS DESIGNED TO EXPLAIN THE ROLE OF LAW AS A MEANS OF SOCIAL CONTROL, TRACE THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIFFERENT LEGAL SYSTEMS, DISCUSS THE MAJOR TYPES AND CAUSES OF CRIME, DEMONSTRATE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DUE PROCESS IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY, AND ANALYZE THE VARIOUS PHASES OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE. THE TEXT IDENTIFIES THE PRIMARY CLASSES AND PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH PUNISHMENT, DEFINES MENS REA, DEFINES THE CRIMINAL ACT, OUTLINES BASIC DEFENSES TO PROSECUTION, AND DISTINGUISHES CONSPIRACY, ATTEMPT, AND THE VARIOUS PARTIES TO CRIME. THE ELEMENTS OF MAJOR OFFENSES AGAINST PROPERTY ARE LISTED, THE IMPACT OF MORAL CONCEPTS IN RESTRICTING PERSONAL CONDUCT IS EVALUATED, AND THE SCOPE AND EXTENT OF VIOLATIONS AGAINST PUBLIC SAFETY ARE MEASURED. FINALLY, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE STATE AS BOTH VICTIM AND OFFENDER IS DELINEATED. EACH CHAPTER HAS REFERENCE NOTES. A GLOSSARY DEFINES COMMON LEGAL TERMS AND A CITATION NOTE APPENDED. THE BIBLIOGRAPHY PROVIDES SEPARATE LISTINGS FOR CASES, ARTICLES AND READINGS, AND STATUTES. AN INDEX CONCLUDES THE BOOK. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--PRG)