Correctional Law Resources - CJC 233 

Find BOOKS

Online Library Catalog
Use the online library catalog to search for materials in the library such as books, videos, etc.

Search word examples:
civil rights cases; prisoners rights; corrections; constitutional rights

Books found at PCC Library:

• Constitutional Rights of Prisoners 4th Ed.
  REF KF 9731 .A7 P35 1991
  Contains all of the significant United States Supreme Court cases involving prisoners’ rights through January, 1990.

• Encyclopedia of Prisons and Correctional Facilities
  REF HV 9471 E693 2005
  “Prisoner Litigation” etc.

• Encyclopedia of American Prisons
  REF HV 9471 .E425 1996
  “Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act,” “Legal Issues: Civil Rights,” etc.

• Constitutional Rights and Liberties: Cases-Comments-Questions
  REF KF 4758 .C66 1991
  “Congressional Enforcement of Civil Rights”

• Encyclopedia of the American Constitution
  REF KF 4548 .E53 1986
  Cases and topics included: Brown vs. Board of Education; Civil Rights; Desegregation; Sit-Ins; Martin Luther King, Jr.

• Great American Trials: From Salem Witchcraft to Rodney King
  REF KF 220 .G74 1994

• Landmark Decisions of the United States Supreme Court
  REF KF 4549 .F56 2003

Find CASES Online

FindLaw: Cases and Codes

• Look for – “US Supreme Court - Opinions & Web Site”
  The easiest way to find Supreme Court cases with the FindLaw database is to have the case citation. Example: Cruz v. Beto, 405 U. S. 319 (1972)

U.S. Supreme Court Case Citations

LII/Legal Information Institute (Cornell)

• From this site you can view Historic Supreme Court cases by TOPIC

Find ARTICLES from Journals, Magazines, & Newspapers 

Legal/Criminal Justice Database:

• Criminal Justice Periodicals

General Topic Database that may contain legal, correctional and other related criminal justice topics.

• Academic Search Premier

In-depth Reports on Controversial Issues

• Issues & Controversies   (“Prisoners Rights”)

• CQ Researcher Online

• Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center
  

Search Tips and Keyword Examples:

1. Vary your search terms and phrases.

• When searching for specific cases:
  Turner vs. Safley
  Turner v. Safley
  Safley (Hint: it’s the least common of the two names)
  
  
• When using phrases:
  prisoners rights
  prisoners and civil rights
  prisoners and constitutional rights
  prisoners and human rights
  civil rights and supreme court decisions
  civil rights and cases…
  
  
• When searching for a term:
  prisoner
  inmate
  detainee
  institutionalized persons

2. Correct spelling!

• Last names can be tricky - double check the spelling if you can't find anything.

3. Try more than one database.

• Depending on your topic, you may need to search multiple databases in order to find what you are looking for.

Other WEBSITES:

National Criminal Justice Reference Service

U.S Department of Justice: Civil Rights Division Special Litigation

FindLaw: Civil Rights Center

Landmark Cases: Supreme Court

Need Help?  ASK A LIBRARIAN!