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Books to Check Out
Books students can borrow from our Criminal Justice classroom and the school library. Click a cover to learn more about the book.
CJ Class
Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Experience
Walk the Blue Line
James Patterson & Matt Eversmann
Real police officers across America tell, in their own words, what the job is really like.
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10-8 Reporting for Duty
Susan Jurgens Kammen
A first-hand look at life on duty in law enforcement and what it takes to serve.
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On Being a Cop
Jim & Jay Padar
A father and son share stories and lessons from their careers in policing.
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COP: A True Story
Michael L. Middleton
A Black officer's memoir of nearly three decades with the Los Angeles Police Department.
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Once a Cop
Corey Pegues
A former drug dealer becomes a high-ranking NYPD officer and reflects on policing and race.
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Police Heroes
Chuck Whitlock
True stories of officers who went above and beyond in the line of duty.
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Blue Blood
Edward Conlon
A Harvard graduate turned NYPD officer describes daily life on patrol and as a detective in New York City.
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Legal System, Courts & Judicial Thinking
A Trial by Jury
D. Graham Burnett
A professor serves as jury foreman on a Manhattan murder trial and shows how juries decide.
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Black’s Law
Roy Black
A famous defense attorney walks through real cases and how he won them in court.
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The Defense Lawyer
James Patterson & Benjamin Wallace
The story of high-profile defense attorney Barry Slotnick and the cases that defined him.
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A Lawyer’s Journey
Morris Dees
The co-founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center on fighting hate groups in court.
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You Are Not a Lawyer Anymore
Judge T.W. Small
A judge's view of the move from practicing law to sitting on the bench.
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How Judges Think
Richard A. Posner
A federal judge explains how judges really reach their decisions.
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Her Honor
LaDoris Hazzard Cordell
A trailblazing Black woman judge shares stories from her years on the California bench.
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Officer Wellness, Emotional Survival & Identity
Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement
Kevin M. Gilmartin
How officers can protect their mental health, families and sense of self over a long career.
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Beaten Black and Blue
Brandon Tatum
A former Black police officer shares his experience and views on policing and race.
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Justice While Black
Robbin Shipp & Nick Chiles
A practical guide for Black Americans on dealing with police and the justice system.
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Forensics, Crime History & Inequality
Civil Rights, Leadership & Social Change
Just Mercy
Bryan Stevenson
A defense attorney's true story of fighting for people wrongly convicted or unfairly sentenced, including a man on Alabama's death row.
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Medgar & Myrlie
Joy‑Ann Reid
The love story and civil rights work of Medgar and Myrlie Evers.
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Lovely One
Ketanji Brown Jackson
A memoir by the first Black woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.
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School Library
Monster
Walter Dean Myers
A teen on trial for murder tells his story as a movie script, raising questions about guilt, identity, and how juries see young defendants.
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Dear Martin
Nic Stone
After a wrongful arrest, a high school senior writes letters to Dr. King as he wrestles with racial profiling and justice.
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The Hate U Give
Angie Thomas
A teen witnesses a police shooting of her friend and must decide whether to speak out. Sparks strong discussion on policing and community trust.
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