An Introduction to Comparative Legal Models of Criminal Justice

Updated to reflect changes in the criminal justice systems in several countries, the second edition of this textbook explores and illustrates the idea that a country’s legal model influences the character of its police, corrections, and legal system. Each chapter is designed as an independent unit of study and includes new pedagogical features such as a list of learning objectives, classroom exercises, and a summary. Covering the different major legal models in the world in a concise and thorough manner, it is ideal for a one-semester course.

Updated to reflect changes in the criminal justice systems in several countries, An Introduction to Comparative Legal Models of Criminal Justice, Second Edition explores and illustrates the idea that a country’s legal model determines the character of its police, corrections, and legal system. It focuses on how law shapes policing, including how it causes police to act as though they are above the law.

Each chapter is designed as an independent unit of study. Along with updates to each chapter, other new additions to the second edition include:

• A list of learning objectives at the beginning of each chapter
• A summary at the end of each chapter
• Classroom exercises
• A threefold increase to the number of photographs
• An expanded discussion of the oldest known legal systems
• An extensive discussion on the rule of law
• A discussion of United Nations actions to improve juvenile justice
• Increased attention to the role of the Organization of American States

Thorough and concise, An Introduction to Comparative Legal Models of Criminal Justice, Second Edition provides a text covering the different major legal models in the world that is ideal for a one-semester course.