Fundamentals of Criminal Justice - Softcover

Barkan, Steven E.; Bryjak, George

9780205295180: Fundamentals of Criminal Justice

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0205295185 ISBN 13: 9780205295180

Publisher: Allyn & Bacon, 2003

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Breaking new ground in the study of criminal justice!

By incorporating three main concepts that are central to the success or failure of the system -the tension between public safety and civil liberties; the capacity of the criminal justice system to control criminal behavior and reduce crime; and the role played by race, class, and gender in the operation of the criminal justice system—the authors cast a realistic and constructive eye on the American criminal justice system

The format of this book is also unique. Fourteen core chapters offer concise, thorough, and easy-to-read coverage of all major topic areas, and seven “interchapters” that examine a high-interest topic in depth bring a broader scope to the book while still maintaining the brevity that makes it so easy to read.

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From the Back Cover:

Investigate an entirely new approach to an introductory criminal justice text.

Authors Steven Barkan and George Bryjak have written an introductory text that is brief, complete, and flexible. To accomplish this, they cover all the important topics in just the right amount of depth to be clear without being overwhelming. And, Barkan & Bryjak's innovative “Under Investigation” sections between chapters enable you to use as much or as little additional in-depth material as you wish. No other book gives you total control over the length and depth of your textbook!

What are criminal justice professors saying about this innovative new book?

“The Fundamentals of Criminal Justice lucidly covers standard material for an introductory course, while maintaining a multicultural, comparative edge. This is the first introductory book I have seen which systematically includes issues pertinent to women and minorities, such as racial profiling in policing, stalking, jury nullification, hate crimes, female gang participation, habitual offender statutes, the family structure debate and elaborate details about incarceration trends and what this means to the average citizen. I find it extremely enlightening and refreshing.” -Jana Bufkin, Drury University

“"Students would respond favorably to this text. This is probably the one text that would pry me away from my current textbook. It is very well organized and the material is organized in an interesting and useful manner. Finally, an intro text that covers the essentials with exceptional analysis and practical examples. Nicely done!“ - Tod W. Burke, Radford University

“The overall approach of the text is simple, yet effective. Unlike other introductory texts, this text does not bog the material down with too much information; yet, it accents the material with 'Focus' boxes and the 'Under Investigation' sections.” -Angela M. Nickoli, Ball State University

“I believe that the students will find the text stimulating yet comprehensive.” -Robert Neville, College of Siskiyous

“There is a certain set of topics that needs to be covered in all introductory criminal justice courses. This text hits the right spots. I was especially pleased to see jury nullification getting special attention... Perhaps its best quality is that, as opposed to their competitors, the authors actually demonstrate a bit of courage. You can actually find critical evaluations of the system and our knowledge of it. When the textbooks we use provide few examples of critical thinking, it should be no surprise that our students don't either.” -L. Edward Day, Pennsylvania State University, Altoona

About the Author:

Steven E. Barkan is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Maine, where he has taught Introduction to Sociology and many other courses since 1979. His teaching and research interests include criminology, research methods, sociology of law, and social movements. Among his professional activities, he has served as a member of the Advisory Board of the American Sociological Association's Honors Program and the Board of Directors of the Society for the Study of Social Problems. He has served as the chair of SSSP's Law and Society Division and as an advisory editor of its journal, Social Problems. His previous books include: CRIMINOLOGY: A SOCIOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING (third edition); FUNDAMENTALS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE (with George Bryjak); COLLECTIVE VIOLENCE (with Lynne Snowden); and PROTESTORS ON TRIAL: CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN THE SOUTHERN CIVIL RIGHTS AND VIETNAM ANTIWAR MOVEMENTS. Professor Barkan has also written numerous journal articles dealing with topics such as death penalty attitudes, political trials, feminist activism, and race and political participation, which have appeared in the American Sociological Review, Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, Social Forces, Social Problems, Sociological Forum, Sociological Inquiry, Race and Society, and other journals.

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