Pathfinder Criminal Justice


...resources in the Drain-Jordan Library, West Virginia State College
How do I get started?
 Our Reference Department is a great place to get started ; it has subject specific dictionaries, handbooks, field guides and encyclopedias which will help you define and focus upon your research topic. Reference librarians are on duty at all hours and they are willing and able to assist you. Criminal justice materials use LC call number ranges: H (Social Sciences), J (Political Science), and K (Law).
INDEXES
 Try:
Criminal Justice Abstracts, CD-ROM. Main lobby. Indexes all the literature -- journals, reports, books -- of criminology and criminal justice.

Criminal Justice Periodicals Index (CJPI), Index Tables. Main Lobby. Indexes a wide variety of periodicals in the field of criminal justice, prisons, probation and policing. Uses a vocabulary unique to criminal justice.

Social Sciences Index, Index Tables. Main Lobby. Indexes the periodical literature of the social sciences, including criminology. Excellent index to use when your topic combines another social science field such as psychology, gerontology, or international relations.
INTERNET INDEXES
 We subscribe to several large Internet-based periodical indexes which provide you with full-text articles. EBSCOHost and Infotrac Searchbank both contain general academic databases relating to current topics in criminology and sociology.
Where do I find periodicals?
 Use our "Periodical Holdings List". We publish a list of our periodicals each semester and scatter them throughout the library. This alphabetical list tells you what titles we own, the years and volumes, and the format. Library staff will help you find the titles in our Periodicals Room. Periodicals cannot be checked out, but may be photocopied.
REFERENCE BOOKS
 You might also try a few of the many reference titles. Suggestions:
  • Crime and Justice, A Review of Research
    -- Ref HV 6001 .C672
  • Crime and Justice in American History...
    -- Ref HV 6325 .C74
  • Encyclopedia of American Prisons
    -- Ref HV 9471 .E425 1996
  • Encyclopedia of Crime and Justice
    -- Ref HV 6017 .E52 1983
  • Encyclopedia of World Crime
    -- Ref HV 6017 .E55
  • Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics
    -- Ref HV 7245 .N37b
  • West Virginia Code
    -- Ref KFW 1230 .A22
CIRCULATING BOOKS
 Since reference books must remain in the library, it may be necessary for you to search the online card catalog on the internet for circulating books. The catalog allows simple (Title Author Subject Keyword) searches and more complex boolean searches. The (search) type has a drop down menu for selection of the field type to search. Select a subject search and enter the subject of your paper or presentation. You can use terms you found in reference works or check the Library of Congress Subject Headings, the "Big Red" books, also located in the lobby area.
INTERNET RESOURCES
 West Virginia Code -- www.legis.state.wv.us/Code/toc.html
The West Virginia Code covers all the laws currently in effect. This WWW version is updated annually. The search engine/index is poor, so you might want to use this site after you know the chapter and article you need.

United States Code -- www.access.gpo.gov/congress/cong013.html
This online version of the U. S. code has a good search engine. Make the link to its "Helpful Hints" page if your search involves more than one word or if you are looking for a specific section.

Justice Information Center -- www.ncjrs.org
A collection of clearinghouses providing extensive information, documents and links about criminal and juvenile justice.

Our Reference Page under Law & Legislation and the Homework Page under Criminal Justice.

2/99 prepared by Jeannie Bess
this Pathfinder located at http://library.wvsc.edu/pathfind/pathcriminalj.html

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