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The American System of Criminal Justice, 16th Edition

George F. Cole, Christopher E. Smith, Christina DeJong

  • Copyright 2019
  • {{checkPublicationMessage('Published', '2018-01-01T00:00:00+0000')}}
Starting At $84.95 See pricing and ISBN options
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The American System of Criminal Justice 16th Edition by George F. Cole/Christopher E. Smith/Christina DeJong
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Overview

Help students discover the challenges of pursuing justice in our society and identify the roles individuals play in the criminal justice system with this classic best seller, commonly referred to as "The Eagle." Using an interdisciplinary lens, THE AMERICAN SYSTEM OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, 16th Edition, presents elements from criminology, sociology, law, history, psychology, and political science -- challenging students to ask questions and recognize contemporary problems as the means to understanding the system's workings as well as its human consequences and policy challenges. Cole, Smith, and DeJong offer solid scholarship, approachable writing, and compelling events and cases that hold students' attention, thereby preparing them to participate in the system as citizens and future criminal justice practitioners. The MindTap online option helps students master techniques and key concepts. Available with MindTap, the digital learning solution that powers students' mastery of key concepts while engaging them with video cases, career scenarios, visual summaries, and more.

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Meet the Authors

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George F. Cole

The late George F. Cole was professor emeritus of political science at the University of Connecticut. He was recognized for outstanding teaching and research and in 1995 was named a fellow of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. A specialist in the administration of criminal justice, Dr. Cole published extensively on such topics as prosecution, courts and corrections. He also developed and directed the graduate corrections program at the University of Connecticut and was a fellow at the National Institute of Justice (1988). Among his other accomplishments, Dr. Cole was granted two awards under the Fulbright-Hays Program to conduct criminal justice research in England and the former Yugoslavia.

Christopher E. Smith

Christopher E. Smith is Professor of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University (MSU). He earned degrees at Harvard University, the University of Bristol (England), the University of Tennessee, and the University of Connecticut. Trained as a lawyer and social scientist, he is the author of 25 books and more than 120 scholarly articles on law, courts, and criminal justice policy. He has been recognized as an outstanding teacher with MSU's "Teacher-Scholar Award" and "Social Science Alumni Association Outstanding Teaching Award." His other books with Cengage Learning include CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN AMERICA, 9th Edition, LAW AND CONTEMPORARY CORRECTIONS, CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS: MYTHS AND REALITIES, and CRIMINAL PROCEDURE.

Christina DeJong

Christina DeJong is an associate professor of criminal justice at Michigan State University. She earned her Ph.D. in criminal justice and criminology at the University of Maryland and her B.A. in sociology from the University of Texas at Austin. Her scholarly research on topics such as genocide, recidivism, domestic violence and police-community interactions has been published in numerous journals, including Criminology, Justice Quarterly, Feminist Criminology and The Journal of Family Violence. Dr. DeJong's current research focuses on gender and sexuality issues in criminology and criminal justice as well as violence against women in conflict and genocide. A member of the Michigan State University faculty since 1994, she has taught courses on research methods, statistical analysis, genocide and women and criminal justice. She is also a co-author of Cengage Learning’s THE AMERICAN SYSTEM OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

What's New

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  • A new feature in each chapter entitled "Criminal Justice and the Risk of Misinformation" illuminates contemporary issues concerning the spread of information on social media, politically motivated misstatements, and communication flaws within criminal justice agencies. This feature addresses a new reality -- that students, whether as citizens or future criminal justice professionals, need to develop a capacity to question and investigate the accuracy and sources of information that reaches them so easily via online and social media sources.
  • New to the sixteenth edition, "Evidence-Based Practice and Policy" features update and reemphasize the growing importance of evidence-based practices in criminal justice. The contemporary effort to apply systematic social science research to shape criminal justice policies and practices is highlighted through numerous examples. Topics include evidence-based practices relating to police officers and implicit bias, victims' services, mentally ill people who encounter police, suspect identification procedures, reentry and community supervision, and public surveillance technology.
  • The 16th Edition also includes enhanced discussion of such high-profile issues as the use of local justice systems to generate revenue; bail reform; drug policy (sentencing, opiate epidemic, legalization of marijuana, designer drugs); sex assault (especially on college campuses); police use of force; training of police on de-escalation and implicit bias; police community-relations; police acquisition of military equipment/tactics; “lone wolf” terrorism; police body cameras; police use of drones; prison/jail health and mental health; restorative justice; reentry; sentence reform; prison privatization; expanded use of pardon power.

Features

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  • The text's primary themes -- 1) criminal justice as a social system, including multiple subsystems, and 2) criminal justice as an interdisciplinary endeavor based on criminology, sociology, law, history, psychology, and political science -- broaden your students' perspectives on criminal justice.
  • The "Inside Today's Controversies" feature in each chapter discusses contemporary issues that pose problems, lead to emotional disagreements, and divide segments of society. Topics include racial profiling in stop-and-frisk, the use of military equipment and tactics by police, and proposals for police reform, including de-escalation training to reduce deaths and injuries from police use of force. These features help students develop an important ability -- to understand and discuss difficult issues that may challenge their assumptions about society and the justice system.
  • "Technology and Criminal Justice" features highlight important new technologies that affect the system today. The examples span the criminal justice system, including the challenges posed by transnational cybercrime, DNA databases, ransomware aimed at police department computers, crime prediction software, and electronic monitoring of probationers, parolees, and defendants released on bail.
  • "Evidence-Based Practice and Policy" features discuss examples of the important contemporary effort to apply systematic social science research to shape criminal justice policies and practices. Topics include evidence-based practices concerning police officers and implicit bias, victims' services, mentally-ill people who encounter police, suspect identification procedures, reentry and community supervision, approaches to police patrol, problem-solving courts, and public surveillance technology.
  • "Civic Engagement: Your Role in the System" expands on the civic engagement theme introduced in Chapter 1. This feature presents real-life examples, and then prompts students to apply what they are learning to a deeper exploration of the topic and compare their response to real-world results via the Internet. Similarly, the "Question of Ethics" feature at the end of each chapter draws from a real-world example to challenge students to consider the ethical problems that arise for various officials throughout the justice system.
  • "Close Up" boxes provide real-life examples from newspapers, court decisions, first-person accounts, and other current sources, illustrating how theory plays out in practice as well as the human implications of policies and procedures in criminal justice.
  • Each chapter includes several "Stop and Analyze" critical thinking features. These higher-order questions check students' understanding of what they have just read; some questions challenge students to develop arguments and conclusions about their own positions.
  • "Debating the Issue" sections within the text's boxed inserts can be used to spur classroom discussion or as writing assignments.

Table of Contents

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Part I: CRIME AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
1. Crime and Justice in America.
2. Victimization and Criminal Behavior.
3. The Criminal Justice System.
4. Criminal Justice and the Rule of Law.
Part II: POLICE.
5. Police.
6. Police Officers and Law Enforcement Operations.
7. Policing: Contemporary Issues and Challenges.
8. Police and Constitutional Law.
Part III: COURTS.
9. Courts and Pretrial Processes.
10. Prosecution and Defense.
11. Determination of Guilt: Plea Bargaining and Trials.
12. Punishment and Sentencing.
Part IV: CORRECTIONS.
13. Corrections.
14. Community Corrections: Probation and Intermediate Sanctions.
15. Incarceration and Prison Society.
16. Reentry Into the Community.
Part V: THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
17. Juvenile Justice.

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MindTap Options

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Each MindTap product offers the full, mobile-ready textbook combined with superior and proven learning tools at one affordable price. Students who purchase digital access can add a print option at any time when a print option is available for their course.

This Cengage solution can be seamlessly integrated into most Learning Management Systems (Blackboard, Brightspace by D2L, Canvas, Moodle, and more) but does require a different ISBN for access codes. Please work with your Cengage Learning Consultant to ensure the proper course set up and ordering information. For additional information, please visit the LMS Integration site.

Standalone Digital Access — Ultimate Value

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  • ISBN-10: 1337558966
  • ISBN-13: 9781337558969
  • RETAIL $84.95
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Textbook Only Options

Traditional eBook and Print Options

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  • ISBN-10: 0357694805
  • ISBN-13: 9780357694800
  • RETAIL $84.95

  • ISBN-10: 1337558907
  • ISBN-13: 9781337558907
  • RETAIL $269.95
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Supplements

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Cengage provides a range of supplements that are updated in coordination with the main title selection. For more information about these supplements, contact your Learning Consultant.

FOR STUDENTS

MindTap Criminal Justice, 1 term (6 months) Instant Access for Cole/Smith/Dejong's The American System of Criminal Justice

ISBN: 9781337558969
MindTap Criminal Justice for Cole/Smith/DeJong's The American System of Criminal Justice, 16th Edition is the digital learning solution that powers students from memorization to mastery. It gives you complete control of your course -- to provide engaging content, to challenge every individual, and to build their confidence. Empower students to accelerate their progress with MindTap. MindTap: Powered by You. MindTap Criminal Justice represents a new approach to a highly personalized, online learning platform. A fully online learning solution, MindTap combines all of a student's learning tools -- readings, multimedia, activities, and assessments -- into a learning path that guides the student through the curriculum. Instructors personalize the experience by customizing the presentation of these learning tools, seamlessly introducing their own content via "apps" that are integrated into the platform. MindTap works with major Learning Management Systems (LMS) and fosters partnerships with third-party educational application providers to deliver a collaborative and engaging learning experience.