In CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN AMERICA, Seventh Edition, George Cole, Christopher Smith, and new coauthor Christina DeJong have accomplished much within a brief format. They provide discussion of today's hottest careers, international comparisons, writing challenges, and real-world applications--all within a unique interdisciplinary framework. This concise introductory criminal justice text shows students the field's real-world opportunities while giving them a broad understanding of how and why public policy impacts criminal justice as it is practiced today. Created as an alternative to more expensive, encyclopedic introductory texts, this reader-friendly best seller incorporates ideas, themes, and theories from criminology, sociology, law, history, psychology, and political science. In addition to a strong interdisciplinary emphasis, CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN AMERICA teaches students to become better citizens by helping them think critically about what justice means in our society and how individuals can play a role in defining that meaning.