Criminal Justice: A Very Short Introduction

Very Short Introductions #441

by Julian V. Roberts

The criminal justice system is wide ranging; from the crimes themselves and policing to the sentencing of offenders and prisons. In this Very Short Introduction Julian V. Roberts draws upon the latest research and current practices from a number of different countries around the world. Focusing on the adversarial model of justice found in common law countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, he discusses topics such as theuses of imprisonment, the effects of capital punishment, and the purposes of sentencing. Considering the role of the victim throughout the criminal justice system, as well as public knowledge and attitudes towards criminal justice, Roberts critically assesses the way in which the system functions and itsimportance around the world.ABOUT THE The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Genres: Nonfiction, Law, Crime

160 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2015

Reviews

[Mayze · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good overview, but at times unbalanced. I wish the author had articulated some of the downsides to developments in policing (for instance, his praise of electronic monitoring was very one sided) and alternate explanations for some trends (high rates of recidivism are typically not for reoffending, as the author would have you believe, but rather for technical parole and probation violations). Still, a helpful introduction for someone without much knowledge in the field.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

The British criminologist Julian V. Roberts published Criminal Justice: A Very Short Introduction in 2015. The book is focused on the systems that are based on British common law such as the United States, Canada, or Australia. Roberts writes “Even within the common law world, criminal justice looks very different when comparing, for example, California and Cardiff '' in Wales (Roberts xv). I read the book on my Kindle. The book has illustrations. The book has a section on “further readings” (Roberts 130-132) and an index. The book has an appendix. The book has an appendix of a case where a mother who murdered her son in England or Wales after her son was injured in a car accident. The case had more details than that. Roberts is curious whether the reader agrees with the decision of the court in England or Wales to sentence her to life in prison. In England and Wales, life in prison is a mandatory sentence for murder (Roberts 80-81). Roberts is a personality in the book. As Roberts writes “scholarship on criminal justice is infused with ideology and opinion” (Roberts xv). I found more or less appreciated his opinion throughout his book. I thought Roberts’ introduction to Criminal Justice was a well-done introduction to the field.