This new title is a 'one-stop shop' for those who teach, study or are interested in criminology and the criminal justice systems of the UK. Written by some of the leading criminologists in the country, The Handbook is accessible and reader-friendly, guiding the user through summaries, key terms and key readings. To help those who teach criminal justice or criminology, seminar topics are suggested at the conclusion of each chapter. The Handbook is a critical introduction and as such considers contemporary issues in criminal justice, focusing on conceptions of crime and conflict resolutions, as well as introducing the reader to researching criminal justice. It discusses crime and criminology in relation to the media, race, Islam, gender and politics, and considers all the relevant theoretical debates that dominate criminology. Chapters on the police, courts, probation and prisons are included, along with more theoretical chapters regarding crime prevention, youth justice, and restorative and informal justice. The Handbook also includes comparative materials and international criminal courts.