Law changes as new developments affect society. The dawn of a new century provides a marking point for the evaluation of trends in law and policy. This book examines emerging issues that will shape society’s rules and legal processes in the twenty-first century. By identifying developments affecting technology, demography, and politics, the authors evaluate impacts on law and criminal justice. Many of the issues discussed, including the expanding Latino population, new technologies for investigations, weapons, and executions, health crises in prisons, DNA testing, and the «war on terrorism», will have profound effects on the fates of individuals drawn into the justice system.

The Authors: Christopher E. Smith earned his J.D. from the University of Tennessee and his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Connecticut. The author of twenty books, including The Supreme Court, Crime and the Ideal of Equal Justice (Peter Lang, 2003), Dr. Smith is Professor of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University. Madhavi McCall earned her Ph.D. in political science at Washington University. She is Associate Professor of Political Science at San Diego State University. Her writings have appeared in American Politics Research and other journals. Cynthia Perez McCluskey earned her Ph.D. in criminal justice at the University of Albany, SUNY. She is Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of Texas-San Antonio. Her writings have appeared in Crime and Delinquency and other journals.