The development of America's criminal justice system is traced from the earliest recognition need through its roots in early England to its present form. The causes and scope of crime are addressed from historical and theoretical perspectives. The responsibilities and organization of law enforcement agencies at local, State, and Federal levels are examined. Also considered are the organization and operation of the courts at all levels, the causes and impact of this century's landmark cases in the U.S. Supreme Court, and the development of public attitudes and other recent changes in the court subsystem. The development of theory and practice in the corrections subsystem is discussed, while the concluding section explores present and projected levels of service in the system as well as efforts at improving its quality. Attention is given to the changing roles of minority and female members of the system. This edition includes a running glossary, 59 references and a subject index. The appendix covers the complete organization of the courts in each State; answers to the review questions following each chapter are included after the appendix.