In this work for students and general readers, Falk (sociology, the State University of New York-Buffalo) looks at the shortcomings of the US criminal justice system and provides suggestions for making it more equitable and more attuned to the needs of citizens in the 21st century. He reviews the history of the US criminal justice system and the 'prison industrial complex,' and gives background on some of the most important changes in the administration of criminal justice, such as efforts to abolish the death penalty. Other subjects explored are the police, prosecuting violent crime, prosecuting white-collar crime, defending the accused, and the American jury. The bibliography cites books, journals and magazines, newspapers, and documents. The author has written 19 other books. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)