Criminal Justice: Books

American Prison by Shane Bauer New York Times Book Review10 Best Books of 2018 A New York Times Notable Book A ground-breaking and brave inside reckoning with the nexus of prison and profit in America- in one Louisiana prison and over the course of our country's history. In 2014, Shane Bauer was hired for $9 an hour to work as an entry-level prison guard at a private prison in Winnfield, Louisiana. An award-winning investigative journalist, he used his real name; there was no meaningful background check. Four months later, his employment came to an abrupt end. But he had seen enough, and in short order he wrote an expose about his experiences that won a National Magazine Award and became the most-read feature in the history of the magazine Mother Jones. Still, there was much more that he needed to say. In American Prison, Bauer weaves a much deeper reckoning with his experiences together with a thoroughly researched history of for-profit prisons in America from their origins in the decades before the Civil War. For, as he soon realized, we can't understand the cruelty of our current system and its place in the larger story of mass incarceration without understanding where it came from. Private prisons became entrenched in the South as part of a systemic effort to keep the African-American labor force in place in the aftermath of slavery, and the echoes of these shameful origins are with us still. The private prison system is deliberately unaccountable to public scrutiny. Private prisons are not incentivized to tend to the health of their inmates, or to feed them well, or to attract and retain a highly-trained prison staff. Though Bauer befriends some of his colleagues and sympathizes with their plight, the chronic dysfunction of their lives only adds to the prison's sense of chaos. To his horror, Bauer finds himself becoming crueler and more aggressive the longer he works in the prison, and he is far from alone. A blistering indictment of the private prison system, and the powerful forces that drive it, American Prison is a necessary human document about the true face of justice in America.

Charged by Emily Bazelon NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * A renowned journalist and legal commentator exposes the unchecked power of the prosecutor as a driving force in America's mass incarceration crisis--and charts a way out. "An important, thoughtful, and thorough examination of criminal justice in America that speaks directly to how we reduce mass incarceration."--Bryan Stevenson, author of Just Mercy "This harrowing, often enraging book is a hopeful one, as well, profiling innovative new approaches and the frontline advocates who champion them."--Matthew Desmond, author of Evicted FINALIST FOR THE LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK PRIZE * SHORTLISTED FOR THE J. ANTHONY LUKAS BOOK PRIZE * NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR * The New York Public Library * Library Journal * Publishers Weekly * Kirkus Reviews The American criminal justice system is supposed to be a contest between two equal adversaries, the prosecution and the defense, with judges ensuring a fair fight. That image of the law does not match the reality in the courtroom, however. Much of the time, it is prosecutors more than judges who control the outcome of a case, from choosing the charge to setting bail to determining the plea bargain. They often decide who goes free and who goes to prison, even who lives and who dies. In Charged, Emily Bazelon reveals how this kind of unchecked power is the underreported cause of enormous injustice--and the missing piece in the mass incarceration puzzle. Charged follows the story of two young people caught up in the criminal justice system: Kevin, a twenty-year-old in Brooklyn who picked up his friend's gun as the cops burst in and was charged with a serious violent felony, and Noura, a teenage girl in Memphis indicted for the murder of her mother. Bazelon tracks both cases--from arrest and charging to trial and sentencing--and, with her trademark blend of deeply reported narrative, legal analysis, and investigative journalism, illustrates just how criminal prosecutions can go wrong and, more important, why they don't have to. Bazelon also details the second chances they prosecutors can extend, if they choose, to Kevin and Noura and so many others. She follows a wave of reform-minded D.A.s who have been elected in some of our biggest cities, as well as in rural areas in every region of the country, put in office to do nothing less than reinvent how their job is done. If they succeed, they can point the country toward a different and profoundly better future.

The Collapse of American Criminal Justice by William J. Stuntz

Don't Shoot by David M. Kennedy Gang- and drug-related inner-city violence, with its attendant epidemic of incarceration, is the defining crime problem in our country. In some neighborhoods in America, one out of every two hundred young black men is shot to death every year, and few initiatives of government and law enforcement have made much difference. But when David Kennedy, a self-taught and then-unknown criminologist, engineered the Boston Miracle in the mid-1990s, he pointed the way toward what few had imagined- a solution. Don't Shoot tells the story of Kennedy's long journey. Riding with beat cops, hanging with gang members, and stoop-sitting with grandmothers, Kennedy found that all parties misunderstood each other, caught in a spiral of racialized anger and distrust. He envisioned an approach in which everyone-gang members, cops, and community members-comes together in what is essentially a huge intervention. Offenders are told that the violence must stop, that even the cops want them to stay alive and out of prison, and that even their families support swift law enforcement if the violence continues. In city after city, the same miracle has followed- violence plummets, drug markets dry up, and the relationship between the police and the community is reset. This is a landmark book, chronicling a paradigm shift in how we address one of America's most shameful social problems. A riveting, page-turning read, it combines the street v.rit. of The Wire, the social science of Gang Leader for a Day, and the moral urgency and personal journey of Fist Stick Knife Gun. But unlike anybody else, Kennedy shows that there could be an end in sight.

Forty Studies That Changed Criminal Justice by Amy B. Thistlethwaite; John D. Wooldredge This book is more than a collection of original published articles-it is a summary of studies that have shaped the criminal justice system. Carefully chosen based on their impact on the discipline or their capacity to spark controversy, the studies offer a historical look into the field of policing, courts and corrections. Each summary includes: a complete citation; background information; a description of methodology; a summary of results; an evaluation of the research; and suggestions for further reading. Throughout the book, readers are shown a variety of research designs and evidence of research influencing the operation of the criminal justice system.

Gangs, Outlaw Bikers, Organized Crime and Extremists by Philip J. Swift Arm yourself with valuable Intelligence on some of the MOST dangerous groups you may ever encounter

History in Blue by Allan T. Duffin In 1893, Chicago’s mayor gave Marie Owens the title of “patrolman,” even though she had no authority to walk a beat. She did “women’s work” and was a patrolman in name only. Throughout her 30 years of service, she was never allowed to wear a uniform. It would take nearly a century for women to be able to join the police ranks as full-fledged officers. Even today, women comprise just 15 percent of the nation’s nearly one million law enforcement officers. Spanning 160 years,History in Blueis the first book to tell the riveting story of the uphill struggle for respect and recognition sustained by women in the modern police force. Featuring rare photographs and original interviews with pioneering female officers, this fascinating book chronicles the ongoing fight for equality in the world of law enforcement. In this vivid and remarkable history, Allan T. Duffin tells of the extraordinary women who broke down the barriers of gender so that they—and many generations of successors—could do the work they loved most.

Managing Police Organizations by Paul M. Whisenand Now in its seventh edition, "Managing Police Organizations "sets the standard for police leadership and management by exploring the relationship between leadership, management, and results. Written for a broad audience, the book focuses on developing one's character and one's leadership competencies. Using case studies and structured learning exercises, it seeks to chip away at constricting operational levels and barriers within the organization itself and the community it serves. This edition features a three-part format, two new chapters, and ideas and methods police managers can use to successfully lead their agencies toward quality and excellence of service.

Multicultural Law Enforcement by Robert M. Shusta; Deena R. Levine; Philip R. Harris; Herbert Z. Wong; Aaron T. Olson MULTICULTURAL LAW ENFORCEMENT: STRATEGIES FOR PEACEKEEPING IN A DIVERSE SOCIETY, 5/e explains how the influences of culture, race, and ethnicity impact law enforcement and the communities they serve. Known for its breadth of coverage, this classic text addresses a variety of populations and includes new material on the mentally ill, the homeless, gangs, immigrants, Native Americans, multiracial groups, and cross-cultural communications styles. Using cases, guidelines, and protocols, it focuses on the contact police officers and civilian employees have with the community and stresses the importance of cultural awareness, understanding and respect.

The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander Despite the triumphant dismantling of the Jim Crow Laws, the system that once forced African Americans into a segregated second-class citizenship still haunts America, the US criminal justice system still unfairly targets black men and an entire segment of the population is deprived of their basic rights. Outside of prisons, a web of laws and regulations discriminates against these wrongly convicted ex-offenders in voting, housing, employment and education. Alexander here offers an urgent call for justice.

Painless Police Report Writing: an English Guide for Criminal Justice Professionals by Barbara Frazee; Joseph N. Davis

Police Photography by Larry S. Miller; Norman Marin; Richard T. McEvoy This text teaches the fundamentals of photography and their application to police work. It offers clear explanations of the basic elements of photography that are used in investigative police work. Special situations involving homicide, traffic accidents, arson and questioned documents are also covered.

Spanish for Law Enforcement Personnel by William C. Harvey This book was designed to help English-speaking police officers, court officers, public safety workers, parole officers, and other law-related personnel who work among Hispanics but who have little or no command of spoken Spanish. It will also prove helpful to firefighters, and social workers whose duties take them into Spanish-speaking communities. Rather than concentrating on rules of grammar and memorization of verb forms and other such details, the author concentrates on useful vocabulary and phrases for making oneself understood in Spanish, and for understanding others when dealing with accidents and accident reports, crime investigations, public gatherings, court and legal procedures, and other aspects of law enforcement and public safety. The book contains dialogues that simulate such scenes.

Written and Interpersonal Communication by Harvey Wallace; Cliff Roberson Written and Interpersonal Communication Methods for Law Enforcement, now in its fourth edition, teaches students the methods and approaches that are crucial to successful communication. The text focuses on the key aspects of both oral and written communication, such as dealing with witnesses, interviewing suspects, writing reports, and other interactions that influence law enforcement operations. The text also concentrates on helping readers to improve their English skills through Rules for Improvement exercises.   Effective communication is essential for police work, particularly for leadership roles within a police organization. By improving their communication skills through the use of this text, students can prepare themselves for successful careers in law enforcement

American Law Yearbook 2020 : a Guide to the Year's Major Legal Cases and Developments by Michael J. Tyrkus Annual supplement to the Gale Encyclopedia of American Law that updates and expands the content with new topics, updates, biographies of prominent figures and government appointees, and other features. Each year's edition contains the full U.S. Supreme Court docket in addition to the non-Supreme Court cases.

Complicated Lives by Vera Lopez Complicated Lives focuses on the lives of sixty-five drug-using girls in the juvenile justice system (living in group homes, a residential treatment center, and a youth correctional facility) who grew up in families characterized by parental drug use, violence, and child maltreatment. Vera Lopez situates girls' relationships with parents who fail to live up to idealized parenting norms and examines how these relationships change over time, and ultimately contribute to the girls' future drug use and involvement in the justice system.     While Lopez's subjects express concerns and doubt in their chances for success, Lopez provides an optimistic prescription for reform and improvement of the lives of these young women and presents a number of suggestions ranging from enhanced cultural competency training for all juvenile justice professionals to developing stronger collaborations between youth and adult serving systems and agencies.  

Digital Audio Forensics Fundamentals by James Zjalic Digital Audio Forensics Fundamentals offers an accessible introduction to both the theory and practical skills behind this emerging field of forensic science. Beginning with an overview of the history of the discipline, the reader is guided through forensic principles and key audio concepts, before being introduced to practical areas such as audio enhancement, audio authentication, and the presentation of reports. Covering all aspects of audio forensics from the capture to the courtroom, this book is pivotal reading for beginners entering the field, as well as experienced professionals looking to develop their knowledge of the practice.

Doing Justice by Preet Bharara *A New York Times Bestseller* An important overview of the way our justice system works, and why the rule of law is essential to our survival as a society--from the one-time federal prosecutor for the Southern District of New York, and host of the Doing Justice podcast. Preet Bharara has spent much of his life examining our legal system, pushing to make it better, and prosecuting those looking to subvert it. Bharara believes in our system and knows it must be protected, but to do so, he argues, we must also acknowledge and allow for flaws both in our justice system and in human nature. Bharara uses the many illustrative anecdotes and case histories from his storied, formidable career--the successes as well as the failures--to shed light on the realities of the legal system and the consequences of taking action. Inspiring and inspiringly written, Doing Justice gives us hope that rational and objective fact-based thinking, combined with compassion, can help us achieve truth and justice in our daily lives. Sometimes poignant and sometimes controversial, Bharara's expose is a thought-provoking, entertaining book about the need to find the humanity in our legal system as well as in our society.

Essential Criminology by Mark M. Lanier; Stuart Henry; Desire' J. M. Anastasia In the fourth edition of Essential Criminology, authors Mark M. Lanier, Stuart Henry, and Desire .M. Anastasia build upon this best-selling critical review of criminology, which has become essential reading for students of criminology in the 21st century. Designed as an alternative to overly comprehensive, lengthy, and expensive introductory texts, Essential Criminology is, as its title implies, a concise overview of the field. The book guides students through the various definitions of crime and the different ways crime is measured. It then covers the major theories of crime, from individual-level, classical, and rational choice to biological, psychological, social learning, social control, and interactionist perspectives. In this latest edition, the authors explore the kind of criminology that is needed for the globally interdependent twenty-first century. With cutting-edge updates, illustrative real-world examples, and new study tools for students, this text is a necessity for both undergraduate and graduate courses in criminology.

Exception : A Texas County's Dream for Realizing Juvenile Justice by Greg Sumpter Introduction : Juvenile justice: a dream unrealized? -- Juvenile justice history, national and state -- Juvenile justice history : Tarrant County -- The foundation : building something worthwhile -- The anchors -- The bench -- The juvenile justice code -- Continuity -- If it aint broke, it's still worth fixing -- A difference maker -- Conclusion: A model for the pursuit of the dream?

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson A powerful true story about the potential for mercy to redeem us, and a clarion call to fix our broken system of justice--from one of the most brilliant and influential lawyers of our time. "[Bryan Stevenson's] dedication to fighting for justice and equality has inspired me and many others and made a lasting impact on our country."--John Legend NAMED ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL BOOKS OF THE DECADE BY CNN * Named One of the Best Books of the Year by The New York Times * The Washington Post * The Boston Globe * The Seattle Times * Esquire * Time Bryan Stevenson was a young lawyer when he founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a legal practice dedicated to defending those most desperate and in need: the poor, the wrongly condemned, and women and children trapped in the farthest reaches of our criminal justice system. One of his first cases was that of Walter McMillian, a young man who was sentenced to die for a notorious murder he insisted he didn't commit. The case drew Bryan into a tangle of conspiracy, political machination, and legal brinksmanship--and transformed his understanding of mercy and justice forever. Just Mercy is at once an unforgettable account of an idealistic, gifted young lawyer's coming of age, a moving window into the lives of those he has defended, and an inspiring argument for compassion in the pursuit of true justice. Winner of the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction * Winner of the NAACP Image Award for Nonfiction * Winner of a Books for a Better Life Award * Finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize * Finalist for the Kirkus Reviews Prize * An American Library Association Notable Book "Every bit as moving as To Kill a Mockingbird, and in some ways more so . . . a searing indictment of American criminal justice and a stirring testament to the salvation that fighting for the vulnerable sometimes yields."--David Cole, The New York Review of Books "Searing, moving . . . Bryan Stevenson may, indeed, be America's Mandela."--Nicholas Kristof, The New York Times "You don't have to read too long to start cheering for this man. . . . The message of this book . . . is that evil can be overcome, a difference can be made. Just Mercy will make you upset and it will make you hopeful."--Ted Conover, The New York Times Book Review "Inspiring . . . a work of style, substance and clarity . . . Stevenson is not only a great lawyer, he's also a gifted writer and storyteller."--The Washington Post "As deeply moving, poignant and powerful a book as has been, and maybe ever can be, written about the death penalty."--The Financial Times "Brilliant."--The Philadelphia Inquirer

Juvenile Crime by Greenhaven Press Editors; Louise I. Gerdes (Editor) Through a balanced collection of articles from a variety of sources, this book explores many aspects of juvenile crime in the United States. Topics covered include the seriousness of the juvenile crime problem, the causes of juvenile crime and violence, the treatment of juvenile offenders by the criminal justice system, and policies that may help reduce juvenile crime. Essay sources include the Campaign for Youth Justice, National Juvenile Justice Network, Ted Nugent, Carmela Lomonaco, Tia Kim, and Lori Ottaviano.

A Knock at Midnight by Brittany K. Barnett NAACP IMAGE AWARD FINALIST * A "powerful and devastating" (The Washington Post) call to free those buried alive by America's legal system, and an inspiring true story about unwavering belief in humanity--from a gifted young lawyer and important new voice in the movement to transform the system. "An essential book for our time . . . Brittany K. Barnett is a star."--Van Jones, CEO of REFORM Alliance, CNN Host, and New York Times bestselling author  Brittany K. Barnett was only a law student when she came across the case that would change her life forever--that of Sharanda Jones, single mother, business owner, and, like Brittany, Black daughter of the rural South. A victim of America's devastating war on drugs, Sharanda had been torn away from her young daughter and was serving a life sentence without parole--for a first-time drug offense. In Sharanda, Brittany saw haunting echoes of her own life, as the daughter of a formerly incarcerated mother. As she studied this case, a system came into focus in which widespread racial injustice forms the core of America's addiction to incarceration. Moved by Sharanda's plight, Brittany set to work to gain her freedom.   This had never been the plan. Bright and ambitious, Brittany was a successful accountant on her way to a high-powered future in corporate law. But Sharanda's case opened the door to a harrowing journey through the criminal justice system. By day she moved billion-dollar deals, and by night she worked pro bono to free clients in near hopeless legal battles. Ultimately, her path transformed her understanding of injustice in the courts, of genius languishing behind bars, and the very definition of freedom itself. Brittany's riveting memoir is at once a coming-of-age story and a powerful evocation of what it takes to bring hope and justice to a system built to resist them both. NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY KIRKUS REVIEWS