The book's opening section defines such basic concepts as criminal liability, defense, punishment, and criminal jurisdiction. The second part discusses the balancing of constitutional rights against the need for public order and emphasizes the limits of free speech and social protest. Additional sections are devoted to a particular type of offense: (1) crimes against the person, (2) crimes against property, (3) sex crimes, and (4) other criminal conduct. Each of the 21 learning units is preceded by an analysis of the content and followed by a presentation of facts and laws. Wherever possible, cases and examples are used to illustrate the numerous factual situations confronting law enforcement officers and to emphasize the reasoning the philosophy behind the law. Charts, graphs, diagrams, and summaries further illustrate and summarize the material in each unit. At the end of many units, supplementary reading materials, study questions, and problems are offered. The multiple-choice questions can be graded through a matrix or machine, and all answers are included in the instructor's manual.