|
Introduction to Criminal Justice
Books -
to find broad information on a topic, or the history of a given topic,
try the book collection. This information may not the most up to date,
but should give you a good sense of the "big picture." To look
up books on a given topic, go to the library
catalog:
http://cmars.cwmars.org/search~S38/
Once you're in the library catalog depending
on your topic, try keyword searches like:
- domestic violence
- spouse abuse
- family violence
- abused women
- marital violence
- elder abuse
Remember, if you do locate a book which
contains good information on your topic, see if there are bibliographies
in the book, which list other sources like journal articles.
Periodical Indexes/Databases
- to find the most current information on a topic, try journal or newspaper
articles. In order to locate them, you must use an index. Just like in
the back of a book there is an index which tells you what page to look
at in the book, there are indexes to journals and newspapers which tell
you which issue and page to look at in the journal. These indexes
used to be just available in print but are now available online as well.
Some online indexes which you should use in your work would be:
- Expanded Academic ASAP
- Academic Search Elite
- Lexis-Nexis
These are all available through the library's databases page:
http://www.mwcc.mass.edu/library/login
Just select the appropriate access - either on-campus
(from anywhere at MWCC) or off-campus (if you're working from home), then
find these online indexes in the alphabetical database listing.
Once in these databases, try keyword
searches such as:
- (wife or spouse) and abuse
- domestic violence and treatment
- child abuse and prevention
Websites -
To supplement your investigation, but not to substitute for information
you find in journals and books.
General Criminal Justice
Webpages:
Criminal
Justice - http://www.fsu.edu/~crimdo/cj.html
Pulls together many Internet resources. Includes: juveniles, drugs, prisons,
police, courts, censorship and crime prevention.
Sourcebook
of Criminal Justice Statistics - http://www.albany.edu/sourcebook/
Presents 654 data tables, as PDF files (Adobe Acrobat Reader required),
from more than 100 sources. Includes characteristics of the criminal justice
system, public attitudes toward crime and criminal justice topics, nature
and distribution of known offenses, characteristics and distribution of
persons arrested, judicial processing of defendants and persons under
correctional supervision. Searchable.
Police
Officer's Internet Directory - http://www.officer.com/
Although written for the police professional, this site will be very useful
to anyone needing criminal justice information.
The criminal justice resource directory links
to US federal and constitutional law sites, law libraries, and criminal
justice resources by state. Criminal justice
issues by topic include computer laws, hate
crimes, terrorism, prison issues, and firearms law. Links to international
and foreign criminal justice issues are also provided.
American Civil Liberties
Union (ACLU) Freedom Network - http://www.aclu.org/
This site gives a brief overview of the ACLU and presents information
on current ACLU activities in the news, Congress, the courts, and the
states. They also provide specific information on issues they cover, including:
criminal justice; cyber-liberties; death
penalty; drug policy; free speech; HIV / AIDS; immigration; lesbian &
gay rights; national security; police practices; prisons, privacy; racial
equality; religious liberty; reproductive rights; students rights; voting
rights; women's rights; and workplace rights. Each issue includes highlights
from recent ACLU actions, related legislation facing Congress, ACLU publications,
and links to other resources.
Corrections
Connection - http://www.corrections.com/
Online network for corrections and criminal justice
professionals and others looking for information in this field.
Links to official Federal, State, County, Community, and International
corrections pages; Bulletin Board where questions on topics like community
outreach, inmate education, legal issues, legislation, and health care
are posted; Juvenile Information Network; Technology Network; American
Correctional Association; American Jail Association, and much more. In
addition, there's an inmate locator page with federal and state phone
numbers and links to inmate databases for a dozen states as well as a
facilities locator page which links to the corrections departments for
each state.
Subject Specific Webpages:
Violence
Against Women Office - http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/vawo/
From the U.S. Justice Department, information about the Violence Against
Women Act, the National Domestic Violence Hotline telephone number (800-799-SAFE),
national and local resources for victims and others, federal grant programs
and documents, statistics, and speeches about the problem.
Family Violence
Prevention Fund - http://www.fvpf.org/
"The FVPF works to end domestic violence and help women and children
whose lives are devastated by abuse, because every person has the right
to live in a home free of violence." The wealth of information on this
site may be more useful to those involved in trying to stop domestic violence
and helping the victims of battering. There are sections for health care
professionals, workplace managers, and police and justice officials; descriptions
of private and public programs that have been successful; etc.
National
Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect - http://www.calib.com/nccanch/
This excellent site presents "information on the prevention, identification,
and treatment of child abuse and neglect and related child welfare issues."
Included are statistics, information on federal and state statutes, information
on prevention and funding sources, and more. The searchable database of
over 32,000 records provides thorough abstracts of books and articles.
Some documents require Adobe Acrobat Reader.
National
Center On Elder Abuse - http://www.elderabusecenter.org/
Dedicated to informing the public on Elder Abuse. Within this site you
will find: statistics, facts, publications, related organizations, and
hotline numbers.
This page is maintained by
the MWCC Library.
This page last updated 9/14/01.
|