Criminal Courts in Theory, Research, and Practice: A Reader features high-interest readings that focus on three specific aspects of the court system: organizational pressures, actor decision-making, and outside demands. Unlike conventional textbooks on the subject matter, this anthology emphasizes the courts as a social system and recognizes this system's influence on case processing.

The readings are organized into seven sections which cover criminal court ideology, trial courts as organizations, courtroom workgroups, the early phases of case processing, sentencing, the appeals process, and the impact of appellate courts. Each section features multiple readings on the topic, thoughtfully framed by original introductions and questions that engage students in critical thinking and discussion. Of special note is the Stat Help! feature, which helps students interpret empirical findings related to the topics.

With a variety of readings that includes foundational theoretical pieces, empirical research, and seminal Supreme Court cases, Criminal Courts in Theory, Research, and Practice: A Reader is well-suited to function as a primary text or reader for undergraduate courses, and a supplemental reader for those at the graduate level.