Carlan, Lisa S. Nored, and Ragan A. Downey (all criminal justice, U. of Southern Mississippi-Hattiesburg) present a first textbook, setting out substantive law and its elemental components in simple and practical manner so as not to excite the well known skittishness of beginning law students faced with the usual whelm of legalese most textbook authors seem to feel necessary. Among their topics are principles and working vocabulary, constitutional limitations and protections, theft offenses and fraudulent practices, criminal homicide, sex offense, crimes against moral values, crimes against the administration of justice and public orders, inchoate offenses and party liability, defense to criminal responsibility, and white collar crime. Appendices contain the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution with the Bill of Rights, and answers to the test questions. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)