A Practical Guide to Criminal Justice: Curated Introductory Readings provides students with a collection of articles that detail the inner workings of the criminal justice system, highlight firsthand experiences within it, present key definitions in the field, and pose challenging questions to help them develop critical thought.

The opening chapter introduces readers to essential definitions of crime, sources used to collect data on crimes committed, various perceptions on crime, and how other countries' crime rates compare to those of the United States. Additional readings...