Introduction to Criminal Justice

Introduction to Criminal Justice: Practice and Process, 5th Edition introduces undergraduate students to the core institutions, procedures, and ethical dimensions of the American legal system. Authors Kenneth J. Peak and Tamara D. Herold ground the text in the definition and measurement of crime, theoretical frameworks of criminality, and professional standards across justice agencies.

The volume examines key sectors of the discipline, moving from police organization, patrolling, and investigative protocols to court systems and corrections. Dedicated modules explore constitutional rules governing arrest, search, and seizure, the roles of courtroom actors, sentencing structures, institutional facilities, community corrections, juvenile justice law, and modern policy challenges involving cyber threats, immigration, and mass murder.

With learn-by-doing activities positioned at the end of every chapter, the textbook reinforces concepts through active application. It fits lower-division college courses in criminology and criminal justice, preparing students for advanced study without assuming prior coursework.