Criminal Law: The Essentials provides an engaging overview of criminal law in a slim, accessible, and affordable format. A concise and thoroughly updated version of Sue Titus Reid's acclaimed Criminal Law, Seventh Edition, this book is an ideal resource for instructors who would like to supplement their courses with additional reading material without overwhelming their students. Featuring incisive chapters on such timely topics as terrorism and substance abuse, the text also integrates a variety of pedagogical resources. Each chapter features several study aids, including chapter outlines, chapter summaries, and study questions, as well as a debate issue designed to generate lively discussion on a thought-provoking topic. Key terms are clearly defined throughout and also appear at the end of each chapter and at the end of the text. Each chapter also includes two Internet Activities; these engaging exercises draw students into the subject through relevant real-world applications. Case, name, and general indexes enable students to find information quickly. Appendix A reprints portions of the U.S. Constitution for easy reference to the sections mentioned throughout the text.Appendix B features a legal case citation, along with an explanation of how to read and interpret it. Features: * Incorporates references to federal and state statutes and cases to illustrate agreement and divergence within criminal law * Focuses on substantive rather than procedural criminal law; when necessary, also includes discussions of constitutional principles that directly relate to criminal law * Includes focus boxes, which highlight recent examples of crimes as well as selected statutes or appellate opinions * Integrates figures and graphs to relate general principles and laws directly to recent crime data * State-specific guides for California, Florida, Illinois, New York, and Texas are available separately