The American Dictionary of Criminal Justice: Key Terms and Major Court Cases
Written by a criminal justice professor at Texas A&M; University, this resource defines or identifies key terms and persons in criminology and the justice system and summarizes the most recent and pertinent U.S. Supreme Court cases. The goal is to bring together in an updated single work information that undergraduate students need in their research. The publisher notes that 5,000 terms, concepts, and names are included in this edition as well as 125 new Court cases.The first part of the volume is the "Dictionary of Terms." Entries are short, and the writing is clear and succinct. Included are a number of separate entries on gangs and juveniles and many national justice organizations.Community policingis defined, andZylonprotective armor is identified along with the modern technology ofGeographical profilingand the nonlethalTASERweapon. Individuals ranging from criminologists like Eleanor and Sheldon Glueck to criminals like Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski are included. It is not clear why some non-American terms, such asCut-purse,are defined.The second part of the work, "U.S. Supreme Court Cases," covers mainly the past few decades in anA-Zformat by case name. The author's objectivity when writing on controversial cases is notable. Cross-references from entries in this section to entries in the dictionary enable users to move easily to short definitions of pertinent terms.The helpful indexes and appendixes include an index of cases by topic, a list of doctoral programs in criminal justice, a topical listing of Internet sites, and addresses of probation and parole agencies.This is a fine, current, reasonably priced resource, accomplishing what it sets out to do. Although it will be especially useful in academic libraries, public libraries needing a one-volume work on criminal justice will also find it valuable.Arthur MeyersCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.