Customer Reviews

Criminal Justice in Action

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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

This is the book I requested, but not the book I received. I received the Teachers edition.