The Criminal Law Handbook: Know Your Rights, Survive the System, Edition 17

Paul Bergman · Sara J. Berman

Jan 2022 · Nolo

About this ebook

The Criminal Law Handbook demystifies the criminal justice system. It explains—in plain English—how the system works, why police, lawyers, and judges do what they do, and what suspects, defendants, and prisoners can expect. This reference book covers the criminal process from stops on the street to arrest, bail, plea bargains, trials, sentencing, and appeals. Learn about defendants’ constitutional rights, common defenses, defense strategies, and more.

With this book, you can make sense of courtroom legalese (voir dire, ex parte, arraignment, indictment), unravel and understand criminal rules of procedure and evidence, and learn through everyday examples of the system at work. The authors provide useful and critical information in an easy-to-understand question-and-answer format. Whatever prompts your interest, the criminal justice system belongs to you and you have a right to know how it works.

About the author

Paul Bergman is a Professor of Law at the UCLA School of Law and a recipient of two University Distinguished Teaching Awards. His books include Nolo’s Deposition Handbook (with Moore, Nolo); Reel Justice: The Courtroom Goes to the Movies (with Asimow, Andrews McMeel); Trial Advocacy: Inferences, Arguments, Techniques (with Moore and Binder, West Publishing Co.) Trial Advocacy in a Nutshell (West Publishing Co.); Represent Yourself in Court: How to Prepare & Try a Winning Case (with Berman, Nolo); Depositions in a Nutshell (with Moore, Binder, and Light, West Publishing Co.); Lawyers as Counselors: A Client-Centered Approach (with Binder, Tremblay, and Weinstein, West Publishing Co); Evidence Law and Practice (with Friedland and Benham); Cracking the Case Method (with Goodman and Holm, West Academic Publishing); Evidence Law and Practice (with Friedland and Benham, Carolina Academic Press); and You Matter: Ten Spiritual Commitments for a Richer and More Meaningful Life (with Rabbi Mark Borovitz, AuthorHouse). Paul has also published numerous articles in law journals. And, using clips from law-related films, he regularly gives presentations to lawyers, judges, and community groups.

Sara Berman is a graduate of the UCLA School of Law. Sara currently serves as the Director of Academic and Bar Success Programs for the AccessLex Center for Legal Education Excellence. She has served for decades in faculty and administrative leadership roles in law schools in California and Florida, and is the author of numerous articles and books, including Pass the Bar Exam: A Practical Guide to Achieving Academic & Professional Goals and Bar Exam MPT Preparation & Experiential Learning For Law Students: Interactive Performance Test Training, both published by the American Bar Association. Sara is also the co-author along with Paul Bergman of Nolo’s Represent Yourself in Court: How to Prepare and Try a Winning Civil Case.