Criminal Justice in Action (Casebound, with InfoTrac and CD-ROM) [Hardcover]

Larry K. Gaines (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 053457243X | ISBN-13: 978-0534572433 | Publication Date: March 1, 2002 | Edition: 2

In its second edition, this innovative text continues to focus on professor and student needs. Gaines and Miller have written a book that provides everything the introductory level student needs to know using a framework of up-to-the-minute examples of policy and applications from today's news. This applied approach is visible in the coverage of contemporary topics, such as Cyber Crime, an increased focus on careers, as well as the complete integration of technology into the text. With a new Student Guide, students have a full menu of the tools necessary to enrich their learning experiences and maximize their study time.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This text's most important strength is its use of call-out material to help students relate the content of the chapter to real-world application."

"The Gaines & Miller Criminal Justice in Action text provides a well-rounded and insightful look at the Criminal Justice System. It's treatment of the system is thoroughly descriptive, while providing some reflection on current and controversial issues surrounding criminal justice in America. In addition, a variety of text and on-line supplements make the text easily accessible to most undergraduate students."

"The text is a superb treatment of the material as is. I believe one of its strengths is the timeliness of its example and clarifying material."

"This is an up to date, comprehensive text with excellent classroom resources. The students will find it easy to read and comprehend." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Larry K. Gaines received his Ph.D. from Sam Houston State University. He is currently Professor and Criminal Justice Department Chair at California State University, San Bernardino. Dr. Gaines has co-authored several books on policing. His research interests include Police Administration and Operations, Community Policing, and Drugs and the Criminal Justice System.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 704 pages
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing; 2 edition (March 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 053457243X
• ISBN-13: 978-0534572433
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #290,974 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lots of info, but spare me the victim's rights lectures, September 30, 2005

By 

Reader-Student "Leon" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Criminal Justice in Action (with CD-ROM and InfoTrac) (Hardcover)

For a first semester course in criminal justice, this is a very comprehensive textbook. Lots of information, and you can learn a lot. I didn't use any of the on-line features, so can't say anything for them.
But in every chapter, once you get past the important subject matter, you get beat over the head, repeatedly, with a lecture about how everyone outside of the criminal justice system is oppressed. Hispanics are oppressed, women are oppressed, urban blacks are oppressed, EVERYONE is a poor sad victim of THE MAN. Statistical data to back up the claims are as shoddy as I've ever seen. Over and over I filled the margins of my text with comments on how these errors are used to blatently skew the arguments. This is so overbearing that our instructor wouldn't even discuss these pages during our lectures.
A consistant pattern is to present supporting opinions as being from "experts," (often unnamed), while opposing opinions are "controversial," despite that these positions are devisive across the country. You have to read carefully to recognize these biases, and not let them take root.
One early chapter spends pages discussing the inherent racism in the criminal justice system, only to imbed in a short paragraph that criminologists are by no means of one mind regarding its existence.
Then you have the partial statistics: "...nearly sixty times more Americans are arrested than are sent to prison each year." But no mention is made of the percentage of misdemeanors vs. felonies, or how many went to jail vs. prison.
Weak support for statistics abounds throughout this book.
If you can get past that and concentrate on the basic concepts, you can find plenty to learn. Just remember, as presented by these authors, the white man is bad, especially the white policeman. Diversity, understanding, lowering of standards, and a great big Kumbaya will heal us all.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not in advertised condition, August 22, 2010

By 

mj - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Criminal Justice in Action, 5th Edition (Paperback)

Although the book arrived within the amount of time allotted and it was a good price, the product was NOT in "good" condition. The spine was completely detached from areas of the book (with pages about to fall out), the cover was tearing off, and even others noted that the book looked to be falling apart. Overall, the book will serve its purpose, but the seller did not accurately advertise the product.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, October 2, 2009

By 

Ryan Orbe-ryan "R2" (Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Criminal Justice in Action (Hardcover)

Book was shipped as stated in brand new condition. The way time was very short even with expedited shipping...