Criminal Courts / Edition 3

by Craig T. Hemmens, David C. Brody, Cassia C. Spohn

Overview

Written by three nationally recognized experts in the field, Criminal Courts: A Contemporary Perspective explores all conventional topics (court structure, courtroom actors, and the trial and appeals process) as well as others seldom covered, such as specialty courts and the goals and functions of the law. Authors Craig Hemmens, David C. Brody, and Cassia Spohn take a comprehensive and accessible approach which allows instructors to cover all of the “standard” material and the option to add selections they consider interesting and relevant to their particular course. This text will provide students with an understanding of the foundational concepts and enable them to hold a detailed discussion about the criminal courts system and the participants involved.

Packed with contemporary examples and new pedagogical tools, the Third Edition has been thoroughly revised with the most up-to date content and resources to give students a more comprehensive understanding of the criminal courts system. Additional instructor resources and study tools can be found online at www.sagepub.com/hemmens2e.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781506306575
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	01/28/2016
Edition description:	Older Edition
Pages:	536
Sales rank:	261,890
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Craig Hemmens is a professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Washington State University. He holds a JD from North Carolina Central University School of Law and a Ph D in criminal justice from Sam Houston State University. He previously served as department head of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Missouri State University and as chair of the Department of Criminal Justice, director of the Paralegal Studies Program, and director of the Honors College at Boise State University. Professor Hemmens has published 20 books and more than 100 articles on a variety of criminal justice topics. He has served as the editor of the Journal of Criminal Justice Education.

David C. Brody is an associate professor and the Academic Director of the Criminal Justice Program at Washington State University. He received a JD from the University of Arizona College of Law and a Ph D in Criminal Justice from the State University of New York at Albany. He is the co-author of textbooks on criminal law and criminal procedure, and over twenty scholarly articles that have been published in such journals as the American Criminal Law Review, Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, Hastings Women's Law Journal, Crime and Delinquency, and Judicature.

Cassia C. Spohn is a Foundation Professor and Director of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Arizona State University. She is the author or coauthor of six books, including Policing and Prosecuting Sexual Assault: Inside the Criminal Justice System, which was published in 2013. Her research interests include prosecutorial and judicial decision making, the intersections of race, ethnicity, crime and justice, and sexual assault case processing decisions. In 2013 she received ASU’s Award for Leading Edge Research in the Social Sciences and was selected as a Fellow of the American Society of Criminology.

Table of Contents

Preface
Acknowledgments
SECTION I: The Purpose and Structure of American Courts
CHAPTER 1: Introduction: Law and the Judicial Function
Why Study Courts?
What Is Law?
The Code of Hammurabi
Two Opposing Perspectives: Consus and Conflict
What Is the Relationship of Law to Justice?
The Rule of Law
Justice, the Law, and Packer’s Models of Criminal Justice
Judicial Functions
How Judges “Make Law”
Development of the Common-Law System
The Role of Courts in the Criminal Justice System
CHAPTER 2: Sources of Law
Sources of Law
Sources of Individual Rights
Due Process and the 14th Amendment
Standard of Review
Incorporation of the Bill of Rights Into the 14th Amendment
CHAPTER 3: Types of Law
Types of Law: Criminal and Civil
CHAPTER 4: Court Organization and Structure
Jurisdiction
The Structure and Jurisdiction of U.S. Courts
A Brief Historical Overview
Federal Courts
State Courts
Court Actors
Overview of the Criminal Process
CHAPTER 5: Specialized Courts
Problem-Solving Courts
Drug Treatment Courts
Domestic Violence Courts
Other Problem-Solving Courts
Juvenile Courts
SECTION II: Courtroom Actors and the Courtroom Workgroup
CHAPTER 6: Prosecutors
Historical Evolution of the American Prosecutor
The Federal Prosecutor
State Prosecutors
The Prosecutor’s Duties
Assistant Prosecutors at Work
The Expansion of the Prosecutor’s Discretionary Power
Prosecutorial Ethics and Misconduct
Community Prosecution
CHAPTER 7: Defense Attorneys
Defense Attorney’s Role in the Criminal Justice System
Historical Development of the Right to Counsel
Indigent Defense Systems
Private Versus Appointed Counsel: Which Is Better?
Effective Assistance of Counsel
Ethics and Lawyer-Client Relationships
Realities of Being a Defense Attorney
CHAPTER 8: Judges
Roles and Duties of Judges
Judicial Selection
Judicial Socialization and Development
Judicial Accountability and Judicial Independence
Judicial Performance Evaluations
Accountability for Judicial Misconduct
CHAPTER 9: Criminal Defendants and Crime Victims
Criminal Defendants
Victims and the Criminal Courts
CHAPTER 10: The Jury
History of Jury Trials
The Role of the Jury
Limits on the Right to Trial by Jury
Jury Size and Unanimity Requirements
The Selection of Jurors
Reforms to the Jury System
Jury Nullification
SECTION III: Court Processes
CHAPTER 11: Pretrial Procedures
Arrest
Booking
The Charging Decision
Information
Indictment
Initial Appearance
Arraignment
Discovery
Pretrial Motions
Plea Bargaining
Jury Selection
CHAPTER 12: The Criminal Trial
Opening Statements
The Presentation of Evidence
Calling Witnesses
Evidence and Rules of Evidence
Closing Arguments
Instructing the Jury
Jury Deliberations and Verdict
CHAPTER 13: Sentencing
The Goals of Sentencing
The Judge’s Options at Sentencing
How Do Judges Decide? Modeling the Sentencing Process
CHAPTER 14: The Appellate Process
Appealing to a Higher Court
The Appellate Courts
The “Right” to Appeal
The Writ of Habeas Corpus
How Do Appellate Courts Decide?
Glossary
References/Future Reading
Case Index
General Index
About the Authors

Editorial Reviews

This book is very well written, informative, to the point, and discusses the courts from a general perspective…The authors are scholars in the field, and their work has been and will be respected for years to come. The ancillary resources are very helpful, detailed, and in abundance.”

Mai E. Naito

This text is both affordable for students and presents material in an easy to understand format. The boxes on research articles present students with summaries of research on court processing without overwhelming lower-level undergraduates with entire articles to read. The boxes with high profile cases help students apply the concepts covered in a chapter to real-life examples. Finally, the course site has excellent resources for both students and instructors.”

Danielle M. Romain

Material covered in a balanced way…Great pedagogical features and illustrations”

Elizabeth Perkins

This is a well written, well arranged, and a very informative book. It will definitely be an asset to students taking this course.”

Emil Moldovan