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

Do you know what happens when you are accused of a crime? How you are charged? How plea bargains work? What happens in court? Anyone who needs answers to these questions -- people accused of a crime, victims of crime, their families and friends, witnesses and those who want to know how the system works -- can turn to a plain-English legal book for the information they need.The easy-to-follow, question-and-answer format covers: · arrests and booking · preliminary hearings · charges · bail · courts · arraignment · search and seizure · defenses · evidence · trials · plea bargains · sentencing · juveniles · "crimespeak," the language commonly used in criminal statutes The 7th edition covers all of the latest changes in criminal law and Supreme Court cases, including a new section on white-collar crime. It also includes new information about capital punishment, imprisonment data and bail.

Paul Bergman is a Professor of Law at the UCLA School of Law and a recipient of a University Distinguished Teaching Award. His recent books include Reel Justice: The Courtroom Goes to the Movies (Andrews & McMeel); Trial Advocacy: Inferences, Arguments, Techniques (with Moore and Binder, West Publishing Co.); and Represent Yourself In Court and The Criminal Law Handbook (both with Berman-Barrett, Nolo). He has also published numerous articles in law journals.

Sara J. Berman-Barrett is an attorney and bar review professor. She is the co-author of Represent Yourself in Court and The Criminal Law Handbook and the author of numerous articles and law course materials.