The text focuses on a systems perspective and the conflict between due process and crime control concerns that are central to understanding American criminal justice. It sets the context for studying and understanding criminal justice; analyzes the justice process, including the juvenile justice system; and looks at the future. The style and vocabulary are keyed to the reading level of the typical college freshman. Three new topics have been woven into the book's basic coverage: the increasing attention being paid to the social context of criminal justice, the increasingly important role of the Federal Government in local justice issues, and a growing emphasis on the crime prevention role of the justice system. The book includes chapters on counting crimes and criminals, police and policing, law enforcement in the criminal justice system, the criminal courts, sentencing, incarceration, probation, parole, and community corrections, and discharge and developments. An accompanying study guide provides a chapter-by-chapter overview of material in the text and identifies important concepts and issues. A study guide provides summaries of each chapter in the text, teaching tips, and a computer diskette containing presentation slides for classroom use. Tables, figures, references, glossary, indexes, resources