Police and Law Enforcement Books

This book is a great resource for anyone that is interested in criminology, but isn't quite sure what the career options are. I have been looking for books on forensic science that included information about careers in the field but I could not seem to find what I was looking for. This book offers information on a lot of different careers and what it takes to get there. This book has really helped me become more informed on my future career options and if you are wondering about careers in the field, this is the book for you!

An excellant book for anyone thinking of entering the law enforcement field. Also recommend reading U.S. Customs, Badge of Dishonor for anyone thinking of entering the Department of Treasury, Law Enforcement field.

Careers in Criminal Justice is a good starting point for those who are either considering or actively pursuing a career in law enforcement. Stephens profiles a variety of careers such as Chief of Police, State Attorney, small town and city police officers, FBI, forensics, and more. Each profile centers on one officer, who explains how he or she became interested in their chosen field, the kinds of education they had to acquire both in school and on the job, and what traits an officer needs to possess in order to succeed. The most prevalent tip throughout the book was to gain a wide variety of education due to the growing cultural and technological trends in today's society.
This book is a short 91 pages, and it doesn't list websites or professional organizations like several other books about law enforcement. But it is written in a conversational style, giving the reader a first-hand idea of what it is like to work out in the field or in a lab. Recommended.

The format of this book is extremely easy to follow. The examples, descriptions, and remedies from Mr. Rahtz are excellent. I am not in law enforcement, nor do I have a degree in Administration of Justice, but what I can offer you, concerning this book, is this: this book gives the average citizen a good look into what community oriented policing is all about. Mr. Rahtz does mention that there are other definitions and other styles of community policing that are currently being practiced by other agencies. His book is one of many, but one that should be noticed. Mr. Rahtz introduces the reader to two approaches in policing: the old way of policing, and then there's the new approach - community oriented policing. The author advocates for the new way and makes his claim that the new is more productive and shows (with examples) that it actually works. Later in the book, he gives the supervisor tips on how to effectively apply community oriented policing in the leadership role. Many police officers may think that they have a good understanding of what community policing is, or that some may be resistant to the whole idea of community policing, but these concepts and ideas, encapsulated in this short read, is a good reminder to the veteran police officer and to the skeptics that learing, training, leadership and being connected to your community is a never ending process. If you're thinking about law enforcement as a new career, if you're currently in the academy, or if you're a veteran police officer, this book is worth the money and the time to read.

As a reader who is not a policeman, I enjoyed Lt. Rahtz's book from a police story perspective. The anecdotes of the force were entertaining as well as instructive. In my humble opinion, the description of the community oriented police work probably is what most recruits believe their job will be like. Every recruit enters the force with a great attitude - gung ho and wanting to make a difference. What happens next - chasing radio and 911 calls - wears down many cops until the reasons they joined the force are forgotten.

With the recent unrest in Cincinnati, maybe the city will listen to one of its own and expand community policing.

Howard Rahtz has made community policing accessible for the beat cop. His handbook cites real-world examples of how community policing works. He also cites research to back the examples, but he doesn't get bogged down in statistics or academics. This is a primer. Every new cop should read this in the police academy. Every veteran cop should too. And supervisors should refer to it regularly.
I've taught community policing classes for years. This handbook does in less than 150 pages what I've tried to get done in hours and hours of classes. This handbook explains in simple terms that community policing is a philosphy of action. It makes the SARA model of problem solving easy to understand. Howard Rahtz obviously knows his topic and he writes in easy to read, street cop language.
This book doesn't belong on the shelf. It should be on your desk, in your briefcase, or in your hands. And it should be read by every community leader, from the elected officials to those volunteers who are so vital to making community policing work.

I purchased this book, obviously, for a class,and I thought it was actually interesting. I had many texts that literally put me to sleep, but this one is different. It makes you think about the penal system in this country, and introduces issues to make you think about things other than locking up the bad guys and throwing away the key. My husband even wanted to read it when I finished my class!!! Recommend highly!!!!

Wow! What a great and interesting textbook. I think this is the first time I've actually been "current" in the reading required for a college course. I'd like to add that the study guide that you can purchase to accompany this textbook is excellent as well. I'd recommend a course that uses this book to anyone with an interest in criminal justice or corrections.

I am using this textbook in a class and it is a whopper. Wonderful pictures, easy to read, clear colors and understandable. I've been working in prisons for 5 years and this book makes a lot of sense. You ought to read their sections on women in prison and on probation. I loved the parts on geriatric prisoners (old cons) and the death penalty. And it is easy to read. More!

Driven By Drugs: U.S. Policy Toward Colombia by Russell Crandall (MacArthur Assistant Professor of Political Science, Davidson College) is a straightforward history of American relations vis-a-vis Colombia with particular emphasis on the last decade. An exhaustively researched, scholarly presentation surveying U.S. drug dependency, and its relationship with the roots of violence and guerilla groups in Colombia, as well as the volatile political situation revolving about who owns the land and what is to be done with it, Driven By Drugs is a fascinating, insightful, revealing, and greatly disturbing account of the troubled interaction between these two nations. Driven By Drugs is an important contribution to academic and community library International Studies supplemental reading lists and reference collections.

Russell Crandall's "Driven by Drugs" is an excellent guide to understanding the impact of U.S. policies and the current chaotic situation in Colombia. The author provides background on U.S.-Colombian relations and an overview of Colombian society to help the reader contextualize recent events. While violence in Colombia is rooted in that country's stratified social relations, it is America's "War on Drugs" that now might rip apart what little remains of Colombia's civil society.

Professor Crandall teaches Political Science at Davidson College. Crandall writes in a concise and scholarly manner, and his expertise on the subject matter is readily apparent. The author uses solid research; the numerous footnotes include a number of first-person interviews with knowledgeable sources as well as author translations of Spanish-language sources. The author's arguments are convincing and his conclusions are air-tight as they appear to be based on a rational evaluation of the evidence.

Principally, Crandall argues that Colombian-U.S. relations changed from a mutually-agreeable anti-Communist philosophy to a "narcotized" orientation by the mid 1980s. The narcotized state of affairs, Crandall suggests, is driven by America's multiple addictions; this includes of course the widespread consumption of illicit substances among its population and a congress dependent on defense industry dollars. (To this I might also suggest a peculiarly American need to rationalize its foreign policies in a moralistic manner.)

Perhaps not surprisingly, recent Colombian administrations have had mixed reactions to U.S. policies. Crandall writes that in fact our efforts have only succeeded in undermining Colombia's central government at the same moment when narco-trafficers, paramilitary groups, and guerilla fighters have exploited fear and uncertainty among the populace in order to gain strength. One hopes that Crandall's plea for U.S. policy makers to learn "from past mistakes" and instead implement policies that address Colombia's core socio-economic needs is heeded soon.

With so much of today's news reporting obsessed with other regions of the world, I strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about the decades-long war that America has been waging in Colombia.

Russell Crandall has broken new ground. His dynamic focus on U.S. policy during the Samper Administration (1994-1998) and the Pastrana Administration (1998-2002) provides a powerful insight as to why Colombia is the third largest recipient of U.S. foreign aid in the world after Israel and Egypt. The author also cautions of the many political landmines in the road ahead. Crandall is a tier-one academic and a polished writer.

Hookers, Tricks and Cops reveals all the dark humor, poignancy, sordidness, degradation, sadness and violence that is the world where hookers, tricks and cops interweave.

During Loren Christensen's 25-year police career, he worked many assignments that brought him into contact with street prostitutes. The anecdotes in this book tell of decoy missions, confrontations, arrests and times he used them as informants.

Loren also interviewed many veteran police officers, male and female, as well as prostitutes. Their stories are in this book, too, some subtle; some in-your-face, some laugh-out-loud funny -- but all actually happened.

A police officer was killed working a decoy mission while Loren was writing this book That tragic story is told here, too.

While the book is in no way sexually titillating, some of the dialog is crude in keeping with the reality of the situations.

Hookers, Tricks and Cops was a real eye opener. I've seen the ladies on street corners here in LA, but I hadn't a clue about how the police conduct their undercover missions.
It's clearly a bleak world the women live in and a sordid one that we ask our officer to enter.

The book consists of dozens of one or two page anecdotes told by several police officers and prostitutes. Lots of them are funny. Christensen did a great job in that not only does his writing bring all the players to life, but he treats them all with respect.

(..)It's on a floppy disc. You simply plug it into your computer and read it like a book. The short anecdotes in Hookers are perfect for this format.

"Hookers, Tricks and Cops, is not your everyday book. No, this one will make you sit up and take notice. Think the world of prostitution is bad? You just don't know the half of it. Mr. Christensen writes from first hand knowledge, being a retired police officer, he tells the true story of the interaction between the three, Hookers, Tricks and Cops. He will answer the questions that have been whispered behind close doors.

The stories are true encounters that Mr.Christensen and his fellow workers have had.
Often sad, sometimes humorous, he gets down to the nitty-gritty of lives age old profession.
Who are these women and men who sell something so precious for so little? Why do they do this and where do their lives go after their youth and innocence has long departed them? This book takes a hard, accurate look and answers these questions and many more.

I was surprised at some of the comments and attitudes of the prostitutes and tricks myself. Mr. Christensen takes away the myth of the innocent victim and allows you to see things as they really are. Not a pretty sight, I might add!

This is not a book for the tender of heart, as some dialog is crude but necessary in keeping with the content of the story.

"Hookers, Tricks and Cops!" Interesting, sad, humorous, violent and sobering at the same time!
Quite a read! Thank you Mr. Christensen for shedding a new light and answering many unasked questions. And....for those who maybe
thinking of taking a little ride down to the Red-Light district of your hometown.......maybe you
might want to read this book first. You may just decide to stay home and be thankful for the wonderful family you have!

Shirley Johnson/Reviewer

Law enforcement - a must read. It takes seconds for a shooting incident to snap and then juries spend hours trying to asssess blame using hollywood standards. This is scholarship of a unique variety and will assist in understanding what really happens in violent encounters. The delay in recognition, reaction and cessation times was well presented as a study in the psychology of human interaction. The discussion of ballistics, ineffectiveness of handguns as immediate stopping tools, and the recommendations for training are first rate - and factual.
Highly recomended for law enforcement and citizens who wonder about the use of force by police in real life - as opposed to the fantasy on television and in film. Case citations are included for further reading about use of force by police. The real need for this book, however, is an audience that does not read books and considers itself expert in all things real and metaphysical - the press. The press almost always gets it wrong and just keeps mucking along giving each other awards. This book would help in getting the story straight, therefore, the members of the press should not read this book. Another problem for the press is that the book contains long, compound sentences and uses math and occassional large words. The press probably can't handle this work. Everyone else will benefit from reading this, especially when the usual cast of performers shows up to accuse police of "overreacting." Politicians will always throw the cops to the wolves, but citizens should know how the mind and body really works - and that there is no such thing as shooting to wound. This book is about the decision process and then the sequence of times and events that result in using deadly force. A must read for all prosecutors and defense attorneys - absolute must.

John Hall is a true American Law Enforcement icon ... the world's leading expert on this topic. He and Pat Patrick have done an invaluable service to all of us "sheep dogs" in law enforcement and the military by explaining why the law is on our side. Any attorney assigned the task of investigating or defending our actions MUST read this book.

The information in this book will save law enforcement officers' lives, both on the street and in the courts. I've never read a book where every page is loaded with useful information. There is no 'filler' in this book. I've testified on behalf of many law enforcement officers on use of force and deadly force. The case studies and analysis supplied in this book are invaluable to those investigating, reviewing, or defending officer-involved shootings and uses of deadly force. The authors do an excellent job of translating the legal-ese into understandable language. This is a must read for every American Peace Officer, his or her family, attorneys for agencies and jurisdictions, and everyone who supports the institution of civilian policing in our country. The investment will save millions of dollars; from designing outstanding training for law enforcement officers so that they 'win' in the street and defending against frivolous lawsuits by those engaging in the lottery mentality of filing claims based upon ignorance or distortions of facts. As a police family, this book provides great 'peace of mind' for understanding the law and right (and need) for law enforcement officers' to use deadly force to defend themselves and every law-abiding American.

The true story of a cop who knew too much.
1978 hardcover. 311 page published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Author's note: All of the events depicted in this book are a matter of factual record, and the people are real. No names have been chenged. The dialogue has either been taken from concealed tape recordings made at the time the events took place or been carefully reconstructed through interviews with the participants.

Prince Of The City: The True Story Of A Cop Who Knew Too Much is the dramatic true story of Detective Robert Leuci, a deep cover sleuth who assembled corruption cases against lawyers, bail bondsmen, mob figures, and even some of his own, putting his own life in peril for the sake of law and justice. Written in the style of a novel, Prince Of The City offers an unflinchingly honest portrait of the rigors of policework, the toll it can take, and the horrors it encounters all too often. An introduction by Rudolph Giuliani rounds out this mesmerizing chronicle of courage and duty.

This is a dazzling work of nonfiction that traces the story of Robert Leuci, a young detective with the New York City Police Department who came to a crossroads in his life and found himself confronted with whom he had become and, apparently, did not like what he saw. As a team leader in the elite and now defunct Special Investigations Unit (SIU) of the Narcotics division during the late nineteen sixties and early seventies, Leuci was involved in many large narcotics takedowns and, consequently, the corruption that then often ensued.

In early 1971, Leuci was called to appear before the Commission to investigate Alleged Police Corruption, which was known as the Knapp Commission. Although the commission had no evidence of wrongdoing by Leuci, it had called him in to ask about some of the detectives that he had worked with in SIU. Leuci, at the time, refused to give up his fellow officers, claiming that the whole criminal justice arena, including the lawyers and the courts, were corrupt. Leuci was interviewed by Nicholas Scoppetta, a former Manhattan Assistant District Attorney with the Knapp Commission (and now the current New York City Fire Department Commissioner). After interviewing him, Scoppetta decided to leave the Knapp Commission and persuaded the federal government to undertake a probe into the entire criminal justice system of New York City with Detective Robert Leuci as its linchpin, an investigation that the federal government agreed to undertake.

The book details Detective's Leuci's personal exploits, as he fearlessly helped the federal government make its cases against lawyers, bail bondsmen, and other cops. For years, Leuci walked a fine line, continuing his work as a NYPD detective while working as a confidential informant for the feds, often at great risk to his life. The details of his exploits are riveting, as they expose the seamy side of a criminal justice system that, at the time, was truly corrupt at so many levels. Moreover, Leuci's personal angst in trying to keep his detective friends from becoming embroiled in the investigation is palpable throughout the book, as is Leuci's innate sense of fair play.

Leuci himself had previously been on the take, a fact of which the feds were aware. It was the extent to which Leuci had been on the take that the Feds were unaware. Leuci's perfidy was not revealed in its entirety until the government had made many arrests, grand juries had handed down indictments, and defendants had been tried and convicted. Leuci had worked with Rudolf Giuliani, who was then a young Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of the State of New York. It was to Giuliani that Leuci eventually unburdened himself. I have to commend Giuliani for the compassion that he extended to Leuci, a man who was clearly on the verge of a nervous breakdown after leading a double life for years and who, for so long, had internalized his anxiety over his own and his friends' involvement in the corruption that was at the heart of the investigation.

This is a well-written and moving true story of a cop who knew too much and was eventually made to sing. This is a great book upon which the wonderful, gritty film, "Prince of the City", starring Treat Williams, was based. Those who are interested in the criminal justice arena or are cop buffs will especially enjoy this book, as well as the film. Bravo!

This is an eye-opening account of a lifestyle that has gone largely unsung. There have been dozens of books and movies glamorizing the life of the lawman of the old west, but little has been written about that lawman's wife and the amazing role she played. This is a fascinating read, with lots of little vignettes and tidbits that will leave you wanting more!

I am finding this book to be so interesting in learning about the lives of the women/wives who supported their husbands in the early sometimes lawlessness days in our history. I am sure you would enjoy it equally as well.

This book has a special place in my heart because i lived the life she wrote about.People who read this book will be amazed at the life of the people who lived and grew up in this lifestyle.Thanks to BJ i will have something to share with the world and others who read this book.I sat at my fathers knee as he ran the jail,I grew up in and i now work in the same profession as he did.
THank you BJ for preserving history for others
Cindy
Fernandina bch fl

I am a retired law enforcement officer and really enjoyed reading some of real facts about the Old West. Many of the stories we read and see on TV have been embellished to make it seem more interesting, but the truth is often more fascinating that the fictional accounts. And Sven dug out the truth through research and interviews and provides us some wonderful, great stories about Los Angeles during the times of the Gold Rush, Civil War, and the beginning of the LA Sheriff's Department. He brings to life the desperadoes and the racial problems, offset by strong government leaders and the heroic deeds of the early lawmen. An excellent chronicle of the wild and wooly days out West.

This is a historical account of the earliest days of Law Makers and Breakers in the L.A. area... Quite violent and deadly...Quite interesting! Purchased for a friend who was in the Mounted Posse division of the L.A. Sheriff's Dept. for over 20 years, I still have it and am almost finished! Very informative, engaging and entertaining.

As a history of Los Angeles and of LASD it hits on all counts. Written by a Deputy Sheriff it provides a unique prospective on the subject. A must read for history and law enforcement buffs.

Reading the stories in SKID ROW BEAT is like eating potato chips: you can't stop after just one. I was moved emotionally, sickened and then forced to laugh out loud. Read this book. It's a winner

A two word phrase can sum up my opinion of Loren Christensen's book, Reality Check. This book's look at what life is like on skid row is an in your face description of what some people have to go through each and every day. At times I found myself laughing out loud, and others weeping out loud, all with the realization that this was not fiction, it was truth. In Christensen's classic literary genius, he was able to not only capture my attention and mind, but my heart as well.

I loved this book and so has everyone I have lent it to. I laughed, was moved and disgusted all in the same story. It's an incredible revelation of the human condition. The anecdotes, which range from one to four pages long, chronicle events from the 70's and 80's, as well as a few recent incidents, in an area one officer in the book called, "A place forgotten by God."

Policing was indeed different back then, and if you've been around long enough, this curb side look at skid row will have you laughing and saying to yourself, "Oh yea, I remember that." Like any good story teller, Christensen has woven some tales together and modified some he could not other wise have told.

While Loren lived most of these stories, other officers contributed a few. Some of the anecdotes are so disgusting that you will have to put the book down, though a short time later you will want to pick it up and resume where you left off. There are four chapters: Characters, Sex, Violence and Bodily Excretions, and Loren says there are several stories that could have fit into all of them. He says that Skid Row Beat is not for the easily offended, the overly politically correct, or those who view community policing as a religious experience. The tales run the gamut from absolutely hilarious, to stomach-turning gross, to poignant. One story will offend, another will move you, and another you will retell to your friends. Skid Row Beat is a quick read and I suspect more than one copy will find its way into the "library" next to the porcelain throne where one can read a story or two, put the book down and pick it up the next time you are making a visit.

This book reflects a time before "politically correct" was even a thought, much less a phrase. Times were different, and after reading the book you can only reflect that we have come a long way since the days when it was still a crime to be drunk in public, and the beat cop was expected to "take care of business" on his district. Many of the skid row beat cops were street monsters who were tough as nails on the outside, but with hearts bigger than all of outdoors.