Criminal Courts

Criminal Courts: Structure, Process, and Issues, 4th Edition, is a textbook that examines the structure and operation of criminal court systems in the United States. It presents a succinct overview of judicial administration and the legal process.

The text covers key courtroom actors, including judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys, alongside the processing of defendants from arrest and charging through sentencing and appeals. It analyzes institutional challenges through historical, philosophical, sociological, and psychological perspectives, comparing formal court ideals with actual daily practices.

Widely adopted across colleges and universities in the United States, the volume incorporates real-life practical applications and features evidence-based chapter openings designed to give context to the topics under discussion.