Term | Definition |
How long has criminal activity been around and where is it a primary concern? | It has undoubtedly been with us since the dawn of history, and criminal control has long been a primary concern of politicians and government leaders worldwide. |
The American experience with crime during the last... | Half of the century has been especially influential in shaping the criminal justice system of today. |
In the 1960's and 1970's... | We saw a burgeoning concern for the rights of ethnic and racial minorities, women, people with physical and mental challenges, and many other groups. |
By the mid-1980's... | Individual rights was accompanied by a dramatic increase in the sale and use of illicit drugs threatened the foundation of American society. |
In 1992... | The videotaped beating of Rodney King, an African-American motorist, at the hands of Los Angeles-area police officers splashed across TV series throughout the country. |
Police Brutality | Rodney King's case shifted the focus onto police brutality and the effective management of law enforcement personnel. |
USA Patriot Act | Enacted in 2001 as a legislative response to terrorism, the law, whose provisions were reauthorized by Congress with minor revisions in 2006. |
What does the USA Patriot Act stand for? | Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 |
September 11, 2001 | The well-coordinated terrorist attacks that occurred in New York City and Washington D.C. |
Enron Executives | In 2006, former Enron Executives Kenneth Lay and Jeff Skilling were convicted of conspiracy to commit securities and wire fraud in what some called "the biggest business scandal in U.S. history." |
Enron Executives (cont.) | The company's troubles resulted in the loss of billions of dollars of investors' money. |
What does the book represent? | It examines the American system of criminal justice and the agencies and processes that continue it. |
What does the book represent? (cont.) | It builds on theme that is especially valuable for studying criminal justice today: Individual Rights Versus Public Order |