Overview

This book will help you not simply memorize but understand criminal procedure and its important legal underpinnings. Best-selling author Joel Samaha includes carefully edited cases that illustrate how the principles of criminal procedure apply throughout the criminal justice process. The author guides you through the entire process-from encounters between individuals and police on the street and at the police station, to in-trial court proceedings before and during conviction and sentencing, to final review by appellate courts. This is a book you will want to keep as a valuable reference even after you graduate and begin your career in criminal justice and/or law. In this Seventh Edition, you'll find: Many fascinating case excerpts that reflect recent court decisions in such areas as search and seizure, interrogation, the right to a lawyer, and others. Information on how the "war on terror" affects criminal procedure, including coverage of the USA Patriot Act, surveillance, detention (Guantanamo Bay), interrogation and torture, and military tribunals. Study tools in every chapter that help you review and retain the laws of criminal procedure. Step-by-step guidance for reading and analyzing cases so you can get the most out of your reading.

Synopsis

This straightforward introduction to criminal procedure combines case excerpts with clear, detailed legal discussion and analysis to equip readers with a solid understanding of the field. Widely acclaimed author Dr. Joel Samaha is known for his unique ability to help readers grasp the complexities of law by clearly and carefully presenting all sides of an issue. The exciting new Eighth Edition addresses the entire criminal procedure process—from search and seizure to post-conviction sentencing and review by appellate courts—while providing new or expanded coverage of such key issues as terrorism/homeland security, the USA-PATRIOT Act, searches and seizures, military tribunals, recent changes to sentencing guidelines, and more.

Booknews

In this new edition of a standard text, Samaha (U. of Minnesota) discusses the structure, process, and constitutional provisions governing both the law and practice of criminal proceedings; the steps in formal criminal process; constitutional provisions of criminal procedure as they occur in real life; searches and seizures; police interrogation, confessions, and procedures; remedies against the government when constitutional rights are violated; court proceedings before, during, and after trial; and sentencing guidelines and post-conviction review. Extended excerpts of actual court opinions are presented. The included CD-ROM explores careers in criminal justice. The publisher has packaged this text in two ways: ISBN 0-534-55010-X includes a four-month subscription to Infotrac, while ISBN 0-534-55014-2 does include Infotrac. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

About the Author, Joel Samaha

Joel Samaha is Professor of History and Sociology at the University of Minnesota, where he teaches Introduction to Criminal Justice, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, The Supreme Court and the Constitution, and 'Is there a Wartime Exception to the Bill of Rights'?-a special joint Sociology/History Department topics course. He received his B.A., J.D., and Ph.D. from Northwestern University and studied under the late Sir Geoffrey Elton at Cambridge University, England. Professor Samaha was admitted to the Illinois Bar, briefly practiced law in Chicago, and then taught at UCLA. In 1971, he joined the University of Minnesota, where he served as Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice Studies for four years, taught both television and radio courses in criminal justice, co-taught a National Endowment for the Humanities seminar in legal and constitutional history, and was named Distinguished Teacher in 1974. A proven author, Professor Samaha's works have appeared in HISTORICAL JOURNAL, AMERICAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL HISTORY, MINNESOTA LAW REVIEW, WILLIAM MITCHELL LAW REVIEW, and JOURNAL OF SOCIAL HISTORY.