For courses in Criminal Courts, Court Process and Sentencing, and Courts and Sentencing Issues. 

Criminal Courts: Structure, Process, and Issues, 2e provides a comprehensive examination of the criminal court system, from the basic pretrial procedures, to the trial process, to the sentencing and appeals. Examining all angles, it begins with a discussion of the law and its origins, compares the federal and state court systems, and examines the key courtroom personnel. Separate chapters on the juvenile justice system and the courts and the media round out the text’s coverage. References to key cases, articles from local newspapers and examples of real courts in action add practicality and a deeper understanding of the structure, process and issues surrounding criminal courts today.