Recent Book: Like a Rock: Criminal Pleading Evidence and Practice
| Author | Portia |
| Published date | 01 July 1980 |
| Date | 01 July 1980 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X8005300310 |
| Subject Matter | Recent Book |
RECENT BOOKS
LIKEA
ROCK
ARCHBOLD:
Criminal Pleading Evidence and Practice Fortieth Edition.
Sweet &Maxwell. £40.00 Soft back; £62.20 Hard back.
I note that inthe opening words of his
preface to the Fortieth Edition. the
learned Editor of Archbold remarks that
despite a certain amount of pruning. the
new edition is even longer and heavier
than the last. As a practitioner himself, I
have no doubt that Mr. Mitchell is very
conscious
ofthe
practical problems faced
by his colleagues intravelling from court
to court heavily laden. In my review of
the last edition of Archbold. this was a
matter upon which I commented and I
must repeat my concern. There must
come a time when Archbold cannot
continue to grow(206 extra pages in this
edition) without being divided into two
volumes; preferably one volume for daily
use in the Crown Court and one volume
for matters which arise very rarely.
One of the subjects which has been
omitted as a result of the "pruning"
referred to above is breathalyser
offences. For those who practise inareas
where there isa lengthy backlog ofcases,
it is perhaps unfortunate that this subject
was excluded when offences are still
coming before the Crown Court.
However, obviously. there are a iarge
number of enactments and cases which
must be included in any edition of
Archbold and one does. not envy Mr.
Mitchell his task of selection.
The fortieth edition includes the
provisions of a number of important
statutes including the Criminal Law Act
has. in fact, led to a rewriting of the
chapter on Theft and related offences. A
great number of recent cases are also
dealt with in some detail and it is by no
means easy to reconcile some of the
leading decisions and infer from them any
guiding principles. However. the learned
editors assess these authorities with their
usual skill and clarity. Lastly, one is glad
to see that the Index has been the subject
of
much-needed
revision
and
amendment. Mr. Mitchell, therefore. is
to be congratulated yet again on
producing a work of an extremely high
standard and of vital importance to all
concerned in the practice of the Criminal
Law. PORTIA
THE AMERICAN
WAY
CHARLES
A.
FOSTER.
DIANE
MACHUNZE.
ROBERT
BLASCHARD:
Introduction to the Administration
of
Justice (2nd Edition).
John
Wiley and Son. Price £9.95.
This book istypical of many American
publications.
It
is well produced with
dazzling typography. The pages contain
a survey of the American Justice System.
It
is a rather superficial survey because
the work is rather small and attempts to
deal with fifty state systems. The work is
divided into several parts. dealing with
an introduction to the criminal justice
system and its problems, the police,
courts and "corrections" or punishments
and
professionalism.
The
largest
portion of the text is devoted to the
police. The reader will find details of
history. functions. current and future
problems. Many readers will know that
Police Journal
Ju(1'
1980
some
4ססoo
police agencies exist in the
United States. This book isgood value in
its analysis. of common factors and
solutions to problems.
It
is also
interesting to read about
"PROM
IS"
(Prosecution Management Information
System). This computer system provides
nationwide access to information about
arrest and court records, a defendants
pending cases, judges in different courts
treating similar cases and other related
matters.
There is a description of foreign
judicial systems. The information about
the English system is out of date when
reference is made to Quarter Sessions.
282
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