Voices from Criminal Justice : Insider Perspectives, Outsider Experiences

Voices from Criminal Justice, Second Edition, gives students rich insight into the criminal justice system from the point of view of practitioners, as well as outsiders—citizens, clients, jurors, probationers, or inmates. These qualitative and teachable articles cover all three components of the criminal justice system, ensuring students will be better informed about the daily realities of criminal justice professionals in law enforcement, courts, and corrections. At the same time, the juxtaposition of insider and outsider views allows students to look beyond the actual content of the articles and develop their own views about the functions and flaws of the criminal justice system on a societal level.

This innovative reader, now with seven new articles designed to stimulate discussions and promote critical thought, is perfect for undergraduate criminal justice courses in the United States, and has proven to be an effective companion or alternative to traditional introductory textbooks. Voices from Criminal Justice, Second Edition, also offers a framework for more advanced students in special issues or capstone courses to synthesize information from earlier courses and develop their own view of American justice.

Voices from Criminal Justice, Second Edition, gives students rich insights into what it is like to work within the system as a practitioner, as well as to experience criminal justice as outsiders—as citizens, clients, jurors, probationers, or inmates. These qualitative and teachable articles cover all three components of the criminal justice system, ensuring students will be better informed about the realities of the day-to-day job of criminal justice professionals in law enforcement, courts, and corrections. At the same time, the juxtaposition of insider and outsider views allows students to look beyond the actual content of the articles and develop their own views about the functions and flaws of the criminal justice system on a broader societal level.

Seven new articles have been added in this second edition, based on topical relevance, recent publication, and ability to stimulate discussions and critical thought. They range from examinations of job stress for police officers and the gendered nature of job assignments to discussions of reentry after incarceration or the value of work-release programs. Each article has been carefully edited for readability. In addition, the authors have revised chapter-end questions with an eye toward stimulating thoughtful analysis and discussion. To ensure students have read the articles, fact-based questions keyed to the critical-thinking activities have been added at the end of the chapters.

This innovative text/reader for undergraduate criminal justice courses in the United States has proven to be an effective companion or alternative to traditional introductory textbooks. In addition, instead of providing a catalog of information, this book offers a framework for more advanced students in special issues or capstone courses to synthesize information from earlier courses and develop their own view of American justice.