Constitutional Law Today serves as an introductory text for those students contemplating careers as law enforcement or corrections officers, prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, or other criminal justice professionals. In fourteen highly readable and relatable chapters, the authors focus on the aspects of constitutional law that most impact the day-to-day operations of the criminal justice system. They encourage readers to develop a deep understanding of how and why the Constitution, and the judicial decisions that interpret it, apply to police officers and others working in the justice system. The authors provide pedagogically rich materials such as recurring boxes that examine important events, both historic and modern, including The Constitution and Social Justice and Focus on Law Enforcement. This book is intended primarily for constitutional law courses in criminal justice programs at two- and four-year institutions.

Thoroughly updated and featuring 75 new entries, this monumental four-volume work illuminates past and present events associated with civil rights and civil liberties in the United States. This revised and expanded four-volume encyclopedia is unequaled for both the depth and breadth of its coverage. Some 650 entries address the full range of civil rights and liberties in America from the Colonial Era to the present. In addition to many updates of material from the first edition, the work offers 75 new entries about recent issues and events; among them, dozens of topics that are the subject of close scrutiny and heated debate in America today. There is coverage of controversial issues such as voter ID laws, the use of drones, transgender issues, immigration, human rights, and government surveillance. There is also expanded coverage of women's rights, gay rights/gay marriage, and Native American rights. Entries are enhanced by 42 primary documents that have shaped modern understanding of the extent and limitations of civil liberties in the United States, including landmark statutes, speeches, essays, court decisions, and founding documents of influential civil rights organizations. Designed as an up-to-date reference for students, scholars, and others interested in the expansive array of topics covered, the work will broaden readers' understanding of-and appreciation for-the people and events that secured civil rights guarantees and concepts in this country. At the same time, it will help readers better grasp the reasoning behind and ramifications of 21st-century developments like changing applications of Miranda Rights and government access to private Internet data. Maintaining an impartial stance throughout, the entries objectively explain the varied perspectives on these hot-button issues, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions. Offers 686 alphabetically arranged entries, ranging from thoroughly updated entries from the first edition to 75 new entries that cover dramatic changes in civil rights and liberties in the last decade Covers the latest events and controversies surrounding civil liberties issues in America Fully explores the scope and limitations of Constitutional rights, a perennially hot topic in American politics and society Includes primary documents with contextual headnotes to enhance understanding of the full importance of the featured document Provides sources for further reading with each entry to help users engage in additional research