Critical Issues in Law Enforcement, Courts, & Corrections

Author(s): Amy Vanderford

Edition: 1

Copyright: 2023

Pages: 129

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$63.00

ISBN 9798765740590

Details Electronic Delivery EBOOK 180 days

Critical Issues in Law Enforcement, Courts, & Corrections provides students with the most current critical issues in criminal justice. Though not exhaustive, the text rather gives examples of large issues within, possibly some solutions, and provides major talking points on each critical issue. Though the topic chapters are short, the information given will spark concern and curiosity for students. The magnitude of the issues will become clearer the more students research and ask tough questions. 

Every attempt was made not to use research earlier than 2017, but there was information too relevant to overlook, so it was added. Some chapter issues have detailed history and how our justice system arrived at the state it is in now. This book can be used as a primer along with the websites provided and other research materials your students utilize or discover, or as a stand-alone text. 

For instructors who use this text for a critical thinking course, each chapter contains Section Question boxes, Did You Know boxes, and chapter questions that will require your students to communicate with those working in the criminal justice system. This reading, questioning, and research process will urge them to use their communication skills, be more involved in what is going on in this profession, and become more interested in seeking and understanding the changes that need to occur. A test bank can be provided upon request to Amy Vanderford.

Preface

Unit I Law Enforcement
1. Failure to Train
2. Leadership
3. Police Officer Mental Health
4. De-escalation Techniques
5. Rights and Privileges
6. Communications

Unit II Courts
7. Judicial and Prosecutorial Discretion
8. Incarceration History and Alternatives
9. Indigent Defense
10. Sentencing

Unit III Corrections
11. Overcrowding
12. Funding Issues for Public Safety
13. Detention Officer Retention
14. Mental Health in Corrections
15. Diseases in Corrections

Amy Vanderford

Dr. Vanderford graduated from Corinth High School and attended Northeast Community College from 1994-1996.  She transferred to the University of Mississippi in 1996 and graduated in 1998 with a Bachelor of Political Science.  She then pursued a career with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics in 1998 and attended the 16-week MBN Training Academy at Camp Shelby, Hattiesburg, MS. Dr. Vanderford earned several awards while with MBN.

In 2003, she was hired by the Mississippi Delta Community College as Director of the Law Enforcement Training Academy.  In 2005, she earned her Master of Criminal Justice from Delta State University.

The University of Mississippi brought Dr. Vanderford on in 2012 to be the adjunct criminal justice professor in Grenada, MS.   She currently teaches Sex Crimes and Offender, Colloquium, and Serial Murders and Criminal Profiling.  In 2015, she earned her Doctorate in Higher Education and Leadership from Delta State University. 

Dr. Vanderford also teaches for Columbia Southern University as an adjunct.  AT CSU she teaches Theory of Corrections, Victimology, Criminology, and Mental Illnesses and Crime.

In 2022, she wrote Critical Issues in Law Enforcement, Courts, and Corrections for professors who need a critical issues text and for students to have a better understanding of our system.  Writing about the issues started the process of another project.  She initiated a community/police project where law enforcement officers are encouraged to provide books to young kids.  This project not only helps with community relations but will hopefully assist in combatting the school-to-prison pipeline.

Critical Issues in Law Enforcement, Courts, & Corrections provides students with the most current critical issues in criminal justice. Though not exhaustive, the text rather gives examples of large issues within, possibly some solutions, and provides major talking points on each critical issue. Though the topic chapters are short, the information given will spark concern and curiosity for students. The magnitude of the issues will become clearer the more students research and ask tough questions. 

Every attempt was made not to use research earlier than 2017, but there was information too relevant to overlook, so it was added. Some chapter issues have detailed history and how our justice system arrived at the state it is in now. This book can be used as a primer along with the websites provided and other research materials your students utilize or discover, or as a stand-alone text. 

For instructors who use this text for a critical thinking course, each chapter contains Section Question boxes, Did You Know boxes, and chapter questions that will require your students to communicate with those working in the criminal justice system. This reading, questioning, and research process will urge them to use their communication skills, be more involved in what is going on in this profession, and become more interested in seeking and understanding the changes that need to occur. A test bank can be provided upon request to Amy Vanderford.

Preface

Unit I Law Enforcement
1. Failure to Train
2. Leadership
3. Police Officer Mental Health
4. De-escalation Techniques
5. Rights and Privileges
6. Communications

Unit II Courts
7. Judicial and Prosecutorial Discretion
8. Incarceration History and Alternatives
9. Indigent Defense
10. Sentencing

Unit III Corrections
11. Overcrowding
12. Funding Issues for Public Safety
13. Detention Officer Retention
14. Mental Health in Corrections
15. Diseases in Corrections

Amy Vanderford

Dr. Vanderford graduated from Corinth High School and attended Northeast Community College from 1994-1996.  She transferred to the University of Mississippi in 1996 and graduated in 1998 with a Bachelor of Political Science.  She then pursued a career with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics in 1998 and attended the 16-week MBN Training Academy at Camp Shelby, Hattiesburg, MS. Dr. Vanderford earned several awards while with MBN.

In 2003, she was hired by the Mississippi Delta Community College as Director of the Law Enforcement Training Academy.  In 2005, she earned her Master of Criminal Justice from Delta State University.

The University of Mississippi brought Dr. Vanderford on in 2012 to be the adjunct criminal justice professor in Grenada, MS.   She currently teaches Sex Crimes and Offender, Colloquium, and Serial Murders and Criminal Profiling.  In 2015, she earned her Doctorate in Higher Education and Leadership from Delta State University. 

Dr. Vanderford also teaches for Columbia Southern University as an adjunct.  AT CSU she teaches Theory of Corrections, Victimology, Criminology, and Mental Illnesses and Crime.

In 2022, she wrote Critical Issues in Law Enforcement, Courts, and Corrections for professors who need a critical issues text and for students to have a better understanding of our system.  Writing about the issues started the process of another project.  She initiated a community/police project where law enforcement officers are encouraged to provide books to young kids.  This project not only helps with community relations but will hopefully assist in combatting the school-to-prison pipeline.