NCJ Number
130870
Date Published
1991
Length
430 pages
Annotation
Featuring U.S. Supreme Court cases from 1988-1990, this book presents an up-to-date description and analysis of criminal court procedures in the United States.
Abstract
An overview of criminal justice in America profiles the adversarial system of justice, outlines steps in a criminal prosecution, and presents a diagram of the felony case process. Subsequent chapters parallel the steps outlined in a criminal prosecution. These are arrest, prosecution or diversion, first appearance on the charge, preliminary hearing, indictment or information, arraignment in the court of trial, suppression hearings, trial, hearings after trial, and appeals and habeas corpus. A chapter on special problems encompasses the location of trial and double jeopardy. A discussion of miscellaneous proceedings encompasses juvenile justice procedures, misdemeanor trials, damage suits against police, and prisoner rights. The concluding chapter defends the adversarial system of justice and delineates the responsibilities of advocates, police officers, and judges if such a system is to work properly. The need for reform of the system is also considered. Appended Bill of Rights and criminal-procedure amendments to the U.S. Constitution as well as a subject index and chapter footnotes