The Criminal Law Handbook: Know Your Rights, Survive the System (Criminal Law Handbook) (Paperback)

by Paul Bergman (Author), Sara J. Berman-Barrett (Author) "The overbearing police interrogation designed to wrench a confession from a quivering suspect is an enduring dramatic image..." (more)
Key Phrases: intake prosecutor, bail bond seller, interviewing prosecution witnesses, Supreme Court, Fourth Amendment, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
A well written, helpful guide for laypersons interested in their legal rights--straightforward, non-intimidating and informative. -- Laurie Levenson, Associate Dean, Loyola School of Law

An excellent and balanced guide to the state court criminal justice process... -- Library Journal

This easy-to-understand book contains everything you need to know about criminal law. -- Roger Cossack, co-host of CNN's

Review
"Quite simply, this volume should be on everybody's bookshelf... Bergman and Berman have created a guided tour of the criminal justice system -- intended both for the curious and for those who find themselves caught up in it." --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 608 pages
• Publisher: Nolo.com; 5th edition (March 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873379284
• ISBN-13: 978-0873379281
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #695,292 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well structured and indexed and funny, May 14, 2004

By	Paul A. Chernoch (Stoneham, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The law can be a dry and dull read, but these authors have introduced just enough humour to make the effort worthwhile. The names of almost every party in the numerous cases sprinkled throughout the book are puns or double entendres, and some of them are a little tricky to figure out, making for a nice diversion when the subject might otherwise have been tedious.

The whole arrangement of the book is meant to reflect the entire legal process and is extremely logical and accessible. It is excellently cross-referenced and makes frequent reference to the relevant sections of state and federal laws. The writing style is conversational and quite readable.

The authors take great pains to comment on those aspects of law that vary from state to state, which I found helpful considering how I was raised in one state and now live in another and took certain things for granted.

All the legal terms that are introduced are carefully explained, and facsimiles of the various legal documents, such as search and arrest warrants, are included at the end of each chapter.

One unusual feature that shows the depth of the authors' treatment is how they comment on the emotional state that defendants, victims and court personnel are typically in at various stages of the proceedings. They use this to explain how that may influence people's behavior and argue for or against certain courses of action, such as talking to police alone or waiting for a lawyer to arrive, etc.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensible., December 12, 2005

By	P. Arzooman "A Writer" (New York City) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm currently busy writing my second mystery novel and can't say how much this book has helped me as a simple guide to getting things right when it comes to police procedure or the court system. It may be a lay persons guide but it either answers my questions or puts me on the right track in finding more in depth information when warranted. The digital edition is especially handy when I'm sitting at my computer because I can keep it open while I'm using my word processing program and refer to it with a simple keystroke.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding resource, February 26, 2004

By	Kenneth Robinson (USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book provides an excellent overview of criminal law for the layperson. The authors provide a sound overview of complex topics without getting bogged down in the endless minutia inherent to criminal law.

It is also refreshing that the authors do not waste the reader's time by interjecting ideological and social policy opinions into the book.

Whether your interest in criminal law arises from intellectual curiousity or from finding yourself "in the system", I don't believe you will find a better introductory book than this.