xix

PREFACE

An Introduction to Criminal Law aims to transmit sub-stantive law and its elemental components in a sim-plistic and practical manner. Criminal justice

students often express frustration concerning the generalpresentations of criminal law textbooks. Primarily writtenfor law school studies, most criminal law textbooks arerich in legalese and far surpass the fundamental underpin-nings required of criminal justice professionals. Theunfortunate result is that those most responsible for thelaw’s enforcement often become entrenched in a continu-ous struggle to decipher legalistic presentations.

Because most criminal law textbooks are authored byattorneys, they often fail to simplify the language andapproach of criminal law. Although their methods appearquite successful for preparing future lawyers, their peda-gogical “learn it on your own” approach tends to confuseand frustrate professionally oriented students attracted tocriminal justice programs. Criminal justice students,much like those of other occupations, learn best frompractical, hands-on exercises. Through the collaborationof two nonattorneys with an attorney, An Introduction to

Criminal Law abandons the case approach while retainingall comprehensive principles of substantive law. An Intro-duction to Criminal Law “holds the hand” of studentswhile walking them through a chronological and simplis-tic (yet detailed) dissection of the legal labyrinth.

An Introduction to Criminal Law is a gift to students whoaspire to master the complexities of substantive law. Legaljargon is unavoidable, but clarification is added when themeaning of language is evasive. Offering students theopportunity to test emerging knowledge of the law, eachchapter presents opportunities for critical thought andpractice test scenarios. With An Introduction to CriminalLaw, current and future employment duties related to sub-stantive law are made simple.

Ancillary MaterialsA comprehensive set of instructor’s materials, includingPowerPoint Presentations and a TestBank are availableonline.

55256_CH00_FM_i_xxii.pdf:55256_CH00_FM_i_xxii 12/18/09 1:55 PM Page xix

© Jones and Bartlett Publishers, LLC. NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION.