Explores all aspects of the criminal justice system, from the crime itself to the courthouse, to prison and the victims of crime
Uses a number of cases to illustrate the important elements of criminal justice
Draws upon the latest research from around the world including new findings in the field of criminal justice, including the application of AI to assist police, lawyers and judges
Utilises the author's experiences working in prisons and testifying in courts in several countries, providing a dimension to the text not found in academics without such experience within the criminal justice system
The use of text boxes which challenge the reader to come to their own conclusions about key issues in criminal justice.

The criminal justice system is diverse and complex and raises questions about the use of imprisonment, the effects of capital punishment, the purposes of sentencing, and the role of the victim.

In this Very Short Introduction, Julian V. Roberts discusses all stages of the criminal justice system, from crime to courthouse and from prison to parole. He focuses on the adversarial model of justice and provides a critical examination of our modern justice system and its status and function in society. The book also includes important developments such as the evolution of AI, the widespread recognition of the differential impact of criminal justice on visible and ethnic minorities, and international legal disputes.