Introduction to Criminal Justice

Introduction to Criminal Justice, Ninth Edition, offers a student-friendly description of the criminal justice process―outlining the decisions, practices, people, and issues involved. It provides a solid introduction to the mechanisms of the criminal justice system, with balanced coverage of the issues presented by each facet of the process, including a thorough review of practices and controversies in law enforcement, the criminal courts, and corrections.

In this revision, Edwards gives fresh sources of data, with over 600 citations of new research results. New sections include immigration policy, disparities in the justice system, Compstat and problem-oriented policing, victim services in the courts, and developments in drug policy. This edition also has expanded coverage of police use of force. Each chapter now includes a text box on a policy dilemma like cash bail or stop-and-frisk policies.

Appropriate for all U.S. Criminal Justice programs, this text offers great value for students and instructors.

Bradley D. Edwards is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology at East Tennessee State University. He has previously co-authored books and book chapters in the areas of policing, corrections, and corporate misconduct. Aside from this text, recent publications with Routledge include two chapters in Justice, Crime, and Ethics (2017) as well as a chapter in the Routledge Handbook on Offenders with Special Needs (2018).

Lawrence F. Travis III is Professor Emeritus of Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati. His primary research interests lie in policing, criminal justice policy reform, sentencing, and corrections.