A Layperson's Guide to Criminal Law - by Raneta Lawson Mack (Hardcover)

About the Book

Mack explains criminal law in an easy-to-read format, complete with numerous examples that clarify some of the more difficult concepts. It is designed for anyone interested in exploring the basics of criminal law for personal, academic, or professional reasons.

High-profile criminal trials have placed criminal law in the national spotlight. While these trials may contain straightforward factual circumstances, often the legal issues surrounding the criminal charges and defenses are complex and confusing. This book explains the basics of criminal law in an easy-to-understand format designed especially for the nonlawyer who has an interest in criminal law. The book approaches criminal law by discussing basic crimes and their elements to help readers understand the necessary requirements for charging and prosecuting crimes. To aid in understanding many of the concepts, the book includes numerous hypothetical situations that place some of the more difficult concepts in an everyday context, thereby making them more understandable. Criminal law defenses are also explored, in order to give readers an awareness of how and why some of the more popular defenses are presented in the criminal justice system. The book also provides an overview of the criminal trial process, from the arrest to the final verdict. Mack succeeds in demystifying criminal law by presenting it in an understandable format designed for the nonlegal scholar.

Book Synopsis

Mack explains criminal law in an easy-to-read format, complete with numerous examples that clarify some of the more difficult concepts. It is designed for anyone interested in exploring the basics of criminal law for personal, academic, or professional reasons.

High-profile criminal trials have placed criminal law in the national spotlight. While these trials may contain straightforward factual circumstances, often the legal issues surrounding the criminal charges and defenses are complex and confusing. This book explains the basics of criminal law in an easy-to-understand format designed especially for the nonlawyer who has an interest in criminal law. The book approaches criminal law by discussing basic crimes and their elements to help readers understand the necessary requirements for charging and prosecuting crimes. To aid in understanding many of the concepts, the book includes numerous hypothetical situations that place some of the more difficult concepts in an everyday context, thereby making them more understandable. Criminal law defenses are also explored, in order to give readers an awareness of how and why some of the more popular defenses are presented in the criminal justice system. The book also provides an overview of the criminal trial process, from the arrest to the final verdict. Mack succeeds in demystifying criminal law by presenting it in an understandable format designed for the nonlegal scholar.

Review Quotes

"...explains criminal law in an easy-to-read format, complete with numerous examples that clarify some of the more difficult concepts...for anyone interested in exploring the basics of criminal law for personal, academic, or professional reasons." --Crime & Justice International

"Mack...has produced a straightforward, well-written, and comprehensive guide to criminal law for the nonlawyer....Academic, public, and law libraries...will want to purchase Mack's guide for the layperson." --American Reference Books Annual

"Raneta Mack's ^ILayperson's Guide to Criminal Law^R shines a light on the many facets of criminal law. This highly readable book covers crimes, concepts, and defenses...This book is recommended for public and academic libraries. Law libraries that serve the public will also find it useful. General readers who are primarily interested in newsworthy cases." --Reference & User Services Quarterly

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