No one's above the law, but nearly everyone breaks it at some point or another. Whether it's flashing lights pulling you over to the side or an auditor looking grimly through your tax receipts, there may come a time when you'll want to know more, in a personal sort of way, about arraignments and voir dire, habeas corpus, and just how bail works. Lawyers Bergman and Berman-Barrett cover it all in a straightforward, uncomplicated manner. Addressing police questioning and the law of search and seizure, criminal defense options and common defense strategies, acceptable courtroom behavior, basic criminal trial rules, and a walk through the trial process to parole, this is a strikingly accessible tome of information one hopes to never need. But in the event that you do, it's here and available in the kind of language you can understand and the wealth of detail and example you can use. --Stephanie Gold


From Library Journal
An excellent and balanced guide to the state court criminal justice process, this book does not detail the differences of being charged in federal court, such as federal sentencing guidelines. Authors Bergman (Reel Justice, LJ 6/1/96) and Berman-Barrett, also a criminal attorney, use a question-and-answer format to cover cases from police investigations through appeals. The book is not intended to replace legal advice, and the authors stress the importance of obtaining representation, unlike Michael Saeger in Defend Yourself Against Criminal Charges (LJ 10/1/97), a recent, inferior guide. A worthy addition to all libraries that will instruct those interested in the criminal justice system.?Harry Charles, St. LouisCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Independent Publisher
The criminal justice system sore vexes anyone caught up in it-as enforcers, victims, or accused. Most people view criminal law only through the fantasy lens of the entertainment industry. The concept of accused individuals as throughput (to be arrested, arraigned, tried or pled guilty, sentenced and dispatched to the cashier, the probation officer, the jail, or in some cases back to "the street") is a most unwelcome one. This notion, distasteful in the abstract, becomes a horrific reality to anyone who finds themselves a victim, defendant, or close kin to either. Unfortunately, many otherwise law-abiding individuals are ensnared in the system for infractions that appear unimportant when they occur, but have major and unpleasant consequences. These include the drink that pushes blood alcohol over the legal limit; the marijuana cigarette left in the purse; or the 293 unpaid parking tickets stuffed into the glove compartment. The first thing the accused discovers is that the reasonable cop, the tough but truth-seeking prosecutor, and the kindly judge mostly exist on videotape. For anyone in the 'I can't believe this' stage, this book is vital. The authors take the "what happens when..." approach to criminal justice, and are thorough, comprehensive and lucid. The book delivers needed background, facts and examples in a pragmatic, no-nonsense way. The advice in Chapter 7, Section 1, "This section explains why it's almost always better to be represented by a lawyer in a criminal case," has value beyond price. Read it now, before that 2 a.m. phone call from your spouse, relative, or best friend.


Roger Cossack, co-host of CNN's
This easy-to-understand book contains everything you need to know about criminal law.


Laurie Levenson, Associate Dean, Loyola School of Law
A well written, helpful guide for laypersons interested in their legal rights--straightforward, non-intimidating and informative.


Library Journal
An excellent and balanced guide to the state court criminal justice process...


Book Description
Do you know what happens when you are accused of a crime? How you are charged? How plea bargains work? What happens in court? Anyone who needs answers to these questions -- people accused of a crime, victims of crime, their families and friends, witnesses and those who want to know how the system works -- can turn to a plain-English legal book for the information they need. With The Criminal Law Handbook, you can learn exactly what goes on in a criminal case. The easy-to-follow, question-and-answer format covers: *arrests *booking *preliminary hearings *charges *bail *courts *arraignment *search and seizure *defenses *evidence *trials *plea bargains *sentencing *juveniles *"crimespeak," the language commonly used in criminal statutes *and much more The 6th edition provides the latest in the law and court findings. Find out if police can use high-tech devices to search for evidence in your house, whether school officials can search students without warrants, and how the post-9/11 Patriot Act expands the power of federal agents.


Download Description
"Do you know: what happens when you are accused of a crime? how you are charged? how plea bargains work? what happens in court? Now everyone who needs answers to these questions -- people accused of a crime, victims of crime, their families and friends, witnesses and those who want to know how the system works -- has a place to turn for the information they need. With The Criminal Law Handbook you can learn exactly what goes on in a criminal case. The easy-to-follow, question-and-answer format covers: arrests booking preliminary hearings charges bail courts arraignment search and seizure defenses evidence trials plea bargains sentencing juveniles ""crimespeak,"" the language commonly used in criminal statutes and much more The 4th edition, completely revised and updated, provides a new chapter on prisoners rights, including paroles and pardons. It also includes information about recent Supreme Court cases, covering police roadblocks, heat-monitoring devices in searches, the legality of arrest for petty offenses and more. "


About the Author
Paul Bergman is a Professor of Law at the UCLA School of Law and a recipient of a University Distinguished Teaching Award. His recent books include Reel Justice: The Courtroom Goes to the Movies (Andrews & McMeel); Trial Advocacy: Inferences, Arguments, Techniques (with Moore and Binder, West Publishing Co.); and Represent Yourself In Court and The Criminal Law Handbook (both with Berman-Barrett, Nolo). He has also published numerous articles in law journals. Sara J. Berman-Barrett is an attorney and bar review professor. She is the co-author of Represent Yourself in Court and The Criminal Law Handbook and the author of numerous articles and law course materials.

ANNOTATION

An excellent and balanced guide to the state court criminal justice process, this book does not detail the differences of being charged in federal court, such as federal sentencing guidelines. Authors Bergman (Reel Justice, LJ 6/1/96) and Berman-Barrett, also a criminal attorney, use a question-and-answer format to cover cases from police investigations through appeals. The book is not intended to replace legal advice, and the authors stress the importance of obtaining representation, unlike Michael Saeger in Defend Yourself Against Criminal Charges (LJ 10/1/97), a recent, inferior guide. A worthy addition to all libraries that will instruct those interested in the criminal justice system.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The criminal justice system is a complex maze of rules and procedures. The police and criminal courts confuse and intimidate people. And the media features plenty of conflicting images about what to expect if you're the victim of -- or accused of committing -- a crime.

Fortunately, there's one place to turn for complete, no-holds-barred answers. The Criminal Law Handbook provides everything you've ever wanted to know about how the system works and why police, lawyers and judges do what they do. The 5th edition is completely revised and updated, providing the latest law and court findings. Find out if police can use high-tech devices to search for evidence of criminal activity in your house, whether school officials can search students without warrants, and how the post-9/11 Patriot Act expands the power of federal agents.

SYNOPSIS

Do you know what happens when you are accused of a crime? How you are charged? How plea bargains work? What happens in court? Anyone who needs answers to these questions￯﾿ﾽpeople accused of a crime, victims of crime, their families and friends, witnesses and those who want to know how the system works￯﾿ﾽcan turn to a plain-English legal book for the information they need. With The Criminal Law Handbook, you can learn exactly what goes on in a criminal case. The easy-to-follow, question-and-answer format covers: *arrests *booking *preliminary hearings *charges *bail *courts *arraignment *search and seizure *defenses *evidence *trials *plea bargains *sentencing *juveniles *￯﾿ﾽcrimespeak,￯﾿ﾽ the language commonly used in criminal statutes *and much more  

The 6th edition provides the latest in the law and court findings. Find out if police can use high-tech devices to search for evidence in your house, whether school officials can search students without warrants, and how the post-9/11 Patriot Act expands the power of federal agents.

FROM THE CRITICS

Roger Cossack

This easy-to-understand book contains everything you need to know about criminal law. Indispensable for anyone who wants to understand exactly what goes on in a criminal case.—co-host of CNN's Burden of Proof

Laurie Levenson

A well written, helpful guide for laypersons interested in their legal rights--straightforward, non-intimidating and informative.—Associate Dean, Loyola School of Law

Roger Cossack

This easy-to-understand book contains everything you need to know about criminal law. Indispensable for anyone who wants to understand exactly what goes on in a criminal case.

Laurie Levenson

A well written, helpful guide for laypersons interested in their legal rights—straightforward, non-intimidating and informative.

California Law Center on Long Term Care