Introduction to Criminal Justice: Practice and Process

A practical and applied introduction to criminal justice

Introduction to Criminal Justice: Practice and Process shows students how to think practically about the criminal justice system by offering them a proven, problem-based approach to learning.  Bestselling authors Kenneth J. Peak and Tamara D. Madensen draw on their many years of combined practitioner and academic experience to explain the importance of criminal justice and show how key trends, emerging issues, historical background, and practical lessons can be applied in the field.

The Third Edition of this highly anticipated text continues to build on its success by discussing core topics―policing, corrections, criminal behavior, criminal law, and courts―as well as current issues―ethics, mental illness and crime, illegal immigration―to demonstrate how to solve common problems faced by practitioners in today’s criminal justice system. This student-friendly book offers a palpable, real-world flavor typically missing in other texts for the course.

INSTRUCTORS: Introduction to Criminal Justice is accompanied by a complete teaching and learning package! Contact your rep to request a demo.

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Also of Interest: Careers in Criminal Justice, Second Edition
Prepare students to plan, pursue, and realize their career goals! Save when you bundle Careers in Criminal Justice, 2e with the new edition by Peak. Order using bundle ISBN 978-1-5443-2186-8.

Kenneth J. Peak, Ph.D., is a professor emeritus and former chairman of the criminal justice department at the University of Nevada, Reno, where he was named “Teacher of the Year” by the UNR Honor Society and also served as acting director of public safety. He has authored or coauthored more than 40 books on community policing, introductory policing, justice administration, introduction to criminal justice, women in law enforcement, and police supervision and management; two historical books (on bootlegging and temperance); and more than 60 journal articles and additional book chapters on a wide range of justice-related subjects. He has served as chairman of the Police Section, Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences and a past president of the Western Association of Criminal Justice. Prior to coming to UNR, Dr. Peak held positions as a municipal police officer, nine-county criminal justice planner; and director of a four-state Technical Assistance Institute. He also served twice as a chief of university police and as an assistant professor at Wichita State University (five years). He received two gubernatorial appointments to statewide criminal justice committees while in Kansas and holds a doctorate from the University of Kansas.

Tamara D. Herold is an associate professor of criminal justice and graduate director at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). She holds a doctorate from the University of Cincinnati. Her research interests include crime opportunity structures, place management, and crowd violence. She is the recipient of UNLV’s Spanos Distinguished Teaching Award, Faculty Excellence Award, and Greenspun College of Urban Affairs Teaching Award. Her publications propose, extend, or test crime science theoretical models. They also help to translate research findings into practice and policy. Her work has appeared in various outlets, including Criminology and Justice Quarterly. She has published numerous practitioner-focused research papers, including two Problem-Oriented Policing Guides funded by the COPS Office and research monographs selected as Herman Goldstein Excellence in Problem-Oriented Policing Award finalists. Her book Preventing Crowd Violence (co-edited with Johannes Knutsson), has been translated into two foreign languages. Dr. Herold serves as director of UNLV’s Crowd Management Research Council, and conducts research and training for police agencies, major sports leagues, and private industries.