To determine the appropriate punishment for a crime, a society creates rules, or laws, to ensure that the perpetrators are disciplined and the order of society is upheld. This new title is an explanation of the principles of criminal law and how they have been applied in the United States. First, the book defines the law; discusses how and why laws are made and enacted; looks at local, state, and federal laws and how they interact; and then discusses crime as a political issue. Case studies highlight how laws have developed to respond to emerging types of crime and other issues, such as the differences in how the law is applied to juveniles and adults. Chapters include: The Nature of Criminal Law The History of Criminal Law The Process of Legislation  The Elements of Criminal Law  The Juvenile Court System.