For introductory courses in criminal justice. Best-selling introduction to criminal justice Criminal Justice Today: An Introductory Text for the 21st Century leads the field as the gold standard for introductory criminal justice texts. Its comprehensive coverage focuses on the crime picture in the US and the three traditional elements of the criminal justice system: police, courts, and corrections. Drawing on a theme of individual freedom versus public order, Schmalleger challenges students to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the American justice system. The 15th edition narrows in on race and justice, police use of force, and civil rights -- viewed through the lens of recent police shootings and the ensuing "war on police" that together continue to threaten national unity. Criminal Justice Today: An Introductory Text for the 21st Century , 15th Edition , is also available via Revel(tm) , an interactive learning environment that enables students to read, practice, and study in one continuous experience.