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Introduction to Law and Criminal Justice provides a comprehensive overview of the foundational legal issues in criminal justice.  Written in an easy-to-understand format, it focuses on three areas of law relevant to criminal justice: substantive criminal law; constitutional issues that demand balancing individual liberties and governmental authority; and constitutional criminal procedure. This thorough introduction relies on edited judicial decisions with explanatory text, thus allowing readers to hone their analytical and critical thinking skills as they interpret the judicial decisions. This case method of study encourages students to examine both the majority and dissenting rationales and offers insight into the changing nature of precedent and how legal principles are adapted and applied under different factual circumstances. With its careful explanation of judicial decisions, this text offers students an excellent introduction to legal analysis and will prepare them for further study of law, social values, and criminal justice.