Criminal Courts: Structure, Process, and Issues

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 book’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. Comparison of state and federal court systems. Explains the diverse court systems that exist on the state and local level and the more consistent organization of the federal level. Comprehensive examination of the trial process. Discusses the difference between “bench” and “jury” trials, where either the judge or the jury will decide on their case. Includes opening and closing arguments, examination and cross-examination, and other aspects of presentation of testimony and evidence. Discussion of the major sentencing systems. Explains the differences between indeterminate, determinate, mandatory, and guidelines-based or presumptive sentencing. Separate discussion of the juvenile court system. Examines the language that applies to juvenile processing and highlights similarities and differences between the juvenile and criminal justice systems. A chapter on the courts and the media. Shows how the Internet and television are used in the courtroom and examines the role it has played in the increase in litigation today. Key state and federal cases concerning court actions and defendant rights. Highlights important case law that has impacted the way courts process offenders. Law Enforcement professionals and those involved or interested in the criminal court system.