This book provides a comprehensive, up to date and detailed introduction to the criminal justice system for students and practitioners needing to know about this. It assesses the main theories concerned with the causes of crime (including white collar and corporate crime), provides a detailed account and analysis of the response of the state to crime in England and Wales. It discusses the operation of all key agencies, including the police, probation and prison services, and the legal and youth justice systems. It also examines a number of contemporary issues affecting the criminal justice system, including the partnership approach to crime prevention, the implementation of the Macpherson report and the issue of race and crime more generally; and examines a number of important new areas within criminal justice, such as restorative justice. The book is an ideal text for students taking courses in criminal justice, or studying criminal justice as a component of a broader course in criminology or the social sciences more generally. It has a wide range of student friendly features, including questions and answers, case studies, chapter summaries, website resource guide, glossary of key terms, and is written in a highly accessible manner.