Criminal Law Today brings criminal law to life through real headlines, actual court cases and coverage of today’s most pressing legal issues. Viewing law as a vital policymaking tool, the authors explore the challenges of continually adapting the law to a rapidly changing society. Real-world context helps you grasp the fundamental nature of law, general legal principles and how the law functions in society.

The 8th Edition has been updated to reflect recent events, including Derek Chauvin’s trial, the Menendez case reconsideration, emerging digital crimes and more. Updated Criminal Law in the News boxes in each chapter highlight recent issues that illustrate the variety of legal perspectives found at federal, state and local levels.