Book Review: Gibson, B., Cavadino, P., & Faulkner, D. (2008). The Criminal Justice System: An Introduction. Sherfield Gables: Waterside Press, 239pp

• Author: Youngyol Yim
• DOI: 10.1177/1057567709335885
• Published date: 01 September 2009
• Date: 01 September 2009

Book Reviews

Gibson, B., Cavadino, P., & Faulkner, D. (2008).

The Criminal Justice System: An Introduction.

Sherfield Gables: Waterside Press, 239pp.

DOI: 10.1177/1057567709335885

In The Criminal Justice System: An Introduction, Gibson, Cavadino, and Faulkner discuss the

criminal justice system in England and Wales. Considering that the first edition was originally pub-

lished under the title, Introduction to the Criminal Justice Process, this third edition is particularly

interesting, in that the authors clearly distinguish the difference between the criminal justice process

and the criminal justice system. According to the authors, ‘‘Previous editions of the handbook noted

that the arrangements for crime and punishment that existed in England and Wales were more in the

nature of a process than a system ...[however] since 2007, [due to the creation of] a Ministry of

Justice (MOJ) and related developments ... the title of this third edition ... is intended to convey

that there is now what can be described as Criminal Justice System’’ (p. vii).

The first two chapters are sort of an introduction to the book. The authors introduce the main con-

cepts such as the ministry of justice (MOJ), the rule of law, burden, and standard of proof, among

others. I found these two chapters useful because they serve as a map that readers can easily follow.

This map clearly shows how one place (a concept or a chapter) connects to other places (other con-

cepts or other chapters). For example, explaining criminal evidence in chapter 2, the authors relate

the concept of evidentiary rules to the role of a judge and defense lawyers (chapter 12), to the role of

police officers (chapter 6), and to the role of crown prosecutors (chapter 7).

Besides the introduction, the book is comprised of four main parts. As the authors mention in

chapter 1, ‘‘Thecriminal courts stand at the centre of the CJS’’ (p. 14, emphasis added), Part 1 begins

with the three levels of criminal courts including magistrate courts (chapter 3), the crown court

(chapter 4), and the higher courts and European court (chapter 5). In Part 2, entitled ‘‘Due Process,’’

the authors describe the proper procedures and processes that should be followed as soon as a

crime is detected. These proper procedures and processes include an investigation, arrest of suspects

and charging suspects with an offense (chapter 6), the decision to prosecute (chapter 7), bringing a

case to court, bail and custody (chapter 8), trial and sentence (chapter 9), and appeal and review

(chapter 10).

Part 3 discusses the key actors in the criminal justice process. Chapter 11, entitled ‘‘Before

Court,’’ examines how the police and other law enforcement agencies in England and Wales are

organized and how they work. What happens ‘‘In Court’’ is described in chapter 12. This chapter

outlines the roles of judges, the jury, law officers, crown prosecutors, advocates, the criminal defense

service, witnesses and experts, and interpreters. Chapters 13 and 14 are focused on ‘‘After Court.’’

Chapter 13 outlines community provisions (e.g., the probation service, social services, education ser-

vices, medical and psychiatric services, etc.), whereas chapter 14 outlines custodial provisions (e.g.,

HM prison service, the parole Board, the independent monitoring board). The final chapter, chapter

15, is the fourth part of the book and titled ‘‘Aspectsof Criminal Justice.’’ Here, the authors conclude

with a detailed discussion on the Royal Commission, ‘‘one of the most significant events for the CJS

of the last 50 years’’ (p. 212).

It is interesting that the authors refer to their book as a ‘‘handbook’’ in many instances. Handbook

usually is interchangeable with a reference book or even a manual. Yes, the book can be a good ref-

erence book; however, the book is definitely more than that. Its strength is that it provides readers

with a clearer picture of the criminal justice system in England and Wales even if they do not have a

background on this particular subject. I found the detailed footnotes through each chapter and

International Criminal

Justice Review

Volume 19 Number 3

September 2009 344-374

#2009 Georgia State University

Research Foundation, Inc.

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