Crime, Law, and Justice provides students with a comprehensive introduction to the field of criminal justice and the criminal justice system. Based on both criminological research and theoretical analysis, the anthology addresses crime in society, victimization, criminological theories, policing and law enforcement, and more.

Students read articles on the politics of criminological research, historical and contemporary perspectives on policing, and criminal prosecution. Specific chapters address the due process of law, plea bargaining, juvenile justice, and the current scale of imprisonment in the United States. The second edition features new readings on probation, parole, and community corrections; plea bargaining; criminal profiling; bail; and the politics of victimization.

Crime, Law, and Justice asks critical questions about the criminal justice system, encouraging students to consider why it functions as it does and if there are ways to improve it. The text is suitable for introductory courses in criminology and criminal justice. It is also a valuable tool for classes in sociology, police administration, and criminal or constitutional law.