Thorough, mainstream introduction to the criminal justice system that explores both the formal (legal) and informal (behaviors, actions, judgements) dimensions of each part of the process. Covers the traditional core of the criminal justice system (police, courts, and corrections), focusing on the decision- making and evaluation of criminal justice policies and practices. Takes a provocative view of the CJ system to encourage critical thinking, providing a realistic look at problems as well as new programs which offer promise for the future. Dramatic scenarios and thought-provoking presentation of both sides of controversial criminal justice issues inject slices of Samaha's award-winning teaching style into the text. You Decide boxes and other real-life scenarios make the data, cases, and concepts more relevant for students. Unique Historical Notes compare and contrast opinions, issues, conclusions, and recommendations from the past with modern criminal justice policies.
Joel Samaha is Professor of History and Sociology at the University of Minnesota, where he teaches Introduction to Criminal Justice, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, The Supreme Court and the Constitution, and a special joint Sociology/History Department topics course titled "Is there a Wartime Exception to the Bill of Rights?" He received his B.A., J.D., and Ph.D. from Northwestern University and studied under the late Sir Geoffrey Elton at Cambridge University, England. Professor Samaha was admitted to the Illinois Bar, briefly practiced law in Chicago, and then taught at UCLA before coming in 1971 to the University of Minnesota, where he served as Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice Studies for four years, taught both television and radio courses in criminal justice, and co-taught a National Endowment for the Humanities seminar in legal and constitutional history. He was named Distinguished Teacher at the University of Minnesota in 1974. Professor Samaha's numerous publications include articles on the history of criminal justice published in professional history journals and law reviews, a book on LAW AND ORDER IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE, and the highly successful CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, now in its Seventh Edition (Wadsworth).
