Barkan (U. of Maine) and Bryjak (U. of San Diego) introduce students to the fundamentals of the US criminal justice system and its role, controversies it raises, and its potential for addressing the crime problem in the US. Drawing on sociology and related disciplines, they focus on how the system is structured and works; the role played by race and ethnicity, class, and gender; the tension between public safety and civil liberties, especially after 9/11; and the capacity of the system to control criminal behavior and reduce crime. This edition incorporates new research, updates data, and discusses several recent events, including relevant Supreme Court decisions and notable crimes such as the mass murder at the Fort Hood army base. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)