The book emphasizes the themes of law on the books, law in action and law in controversy. In addition, it incorporates many current issues, including: (1) military courts; (2) tribal courts; (3) drunk-driving prosecutions; (4) victims' rights amendment; (5) drug courts; (6) rural justice; (7) racial disparities in cocaine sentencing; (8) gender biases in the courtroom; (9) teen courts; (10) community prosecution; (11) judicial independence; (12) prosecutorial misconduct; (13) limits on habeas corpus filings; (14) preventive detention; (15) discrimination in sentencing; and (16) Supreme Court policy making on criminal justice. The video disc included with the textbook allows the viewer to assume the role of the judge charged with imposing sentences on convicted felons in six separate cases. Figures, references, bibliographies, glossary, tables, index