Florida Crime and Justice [Paperback]

James J. Vardalis (Author), Debbie J. Goodman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 2003 | ISBN-10: 0131132113 | ISBN-13: 978-0131132115 | Edition: 1st

Appropriate for courses in Law Enforcement in Police Academies as well as a supplementary text for Criminal Justice courses. This textbook presents a comprehensive overview of how all functions within the Florida justice system operate. It fully explains the interaction among the correctional system, the courts, and law enforcement. It chronicles the history of Florida law enforcement and discusses issues pertaining to crime victims and privatization, and emphasizes how the three cornerstones of the justice system function, operate, and interact.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Florida Crime and Justice is a must-read book for police and corrections recruits, officers, college degree-seeking students, criminal justice practitioners, as well as advanced high school students.

The book is written in an easy-to-read, no-nonsense style and covers state-specific issues relevant to criminal justice in Florida, including:

• Development and History of Police
• Community Policing
• Crime and Victims
• Prosecution and Defense
• Florida Courts
• Florida Corrections
• Juvenile Justice
• Future Considerations

Florida Crime and Justice is highly recommended for courses such as: Introduction to Criminal Justice, Introduction to Criminology, and Introduction to Law Enforcement. Academy recruits in police and corrections programs should read it as an introduction to the field.

About the Author

Dr. James J. Vardalis has experienced the criminal justice system from both academic and professional positions. Since earning his Master's degree in criminal justice and Ph.D. in public administration from Nova Southern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, he has attended numerous police management schools, including the University of Louisville and the Drug Enforcement Administration National Academy. Dr. Vardalis began his career as a correctional officer in a maximum security state prison assigned to the administration of inmates on death row, and for the next 15 years he served as a police officer. During his full-time law enforcement employment, Dr. Vardalis served in a number of supervisory/command assignments, including patrol, investigations of violent crimes, covert narcotics investigations, and community service programs. He has been state certified as a law enforcement officer in New Jersey, Texas, and Florida. His experience with the judicial system includes over 500 court and grand jury appearances. Additionally, Dr. Vardalis continues to provide consulting for many police agencies throughout the country in areas of promotional assessments, community policing implementation strategies, and police performing studies, and he has published extensively on a variety of justice issues. During his academic career at Florida International University, he taught numerous courses related to understanding crime and the criminal system. Dr. Vardalis is currently a city manager in South Florida.

Debbie Goodman is the Chairperson of the School of Justice at Miami-Dade Community College. She holds a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology from Florida State University. Ms. Goodman specializes in a wide range of criminal justice topics, including: report writing, ethics, communications, human behavior, juvenile delinquency, criminology, criminal justice, and leadership. She is the author of two national publications, Report It in Writing and Enforcing Ethics, as well as the originator and series editor of PACTS: Police and Corrections Training Series. Ms. Goodman was honored in 2002 by Who's Who Among America's Teachers as one of the nation's most talented college instructors. She is committed to providing quality education and training to police and corrections officers, as well as criminal justice students and practitioners. She resides in South Florida with her husband and son.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 1st edition (August 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0131132113
• ISBN-13: 978-0131132115
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,493,920 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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