This course introduces the basic elements of the American criminal justice system, from its legal roots and history to its most current concerns. It analyzes the criminal justice process - from arrest to trial and disposition - emphasizing the function and structure of each component. It provides an understanding of how each component responds to crime and how the key question of individual rights and public safety is addressed. Attention is given to the elements of crime, the role of the police, courts, and corrections, and to the challenges facing this system in an increasingly diverse democratic society.