A “Must Have” Book
Career Tips/Advice/Suggestions
“Historically if you work in the criminal justice system you fall into one of three categories: a practitioner, an administrator, or an academic. Rarely do you meet someone with a career encompassing all three disciplines who achieves a very high level of accomplishment in each. On those rare occasions that you do, one might be wise to consider their counsel. I urge you to do just that with Professor Pittaro’s latest book. His firsthand experience shines through with his in-depth knowledge of the subject matter. In law enforcement you know pretty quickly when someone “walks the walk,” and there is no doubt Pittaro’s “been there, done that.” Whether you are in your senior year of high school and considering a career in criminal justice, or a seasoned Correctional Officer with fifteen years under your belt, there is career essential information for you within these pages.”
“This isn’t a rah-rah tribute to all things Criminal Justice, this is an open, candid, hard edged look at some of the real dilemmas we face in this profession. Rather than shy away from the tough topics like bias, discrimination, societal distrust, and corruption, he hits them head-on. He refuses to adopt a defensive posture instead offering plausible solutions while understanding that the issues are complex, multilayered, and often personal. Mike courageously opens up about his own battles and the coping mechanisms he uses to manage a lifetime in Criminal Justice. From both an academic and practical standpoint this is a great book for anyone currently in the field, interested in criminal justice or researching the topic. Even after forty years in this field Professor Pittaro still teaches me something new, something useful in virtually everything he writes.”
Brian Dawe,
National Director
One Voice United
Criminal Justice Author, Speaker, Subject Matter Expert
Dr. Mike Pittaro
As a university professor (criminal justice), I obviously do my absolute best to instill the knowledge and skills needed, and as required of our university policies and procedures; however, I genuinely believe that to produce exceptional students, we must go well beyond the standard expectations. I want to create future leaders, not just entry-level workers.
My teaching philosophy is and always has been quite straightforward, at least from my perspective. As a first-generation university student, I take tremendous pride in knowing that I have come a long way, and that I have played an integral part in paving the path for many of my family members to follow, but more importantly, I continually strive to better myself in my personal life and within my career. Therefore, I constantly do my best to serve as a well-respected professor, but of equal importance, serve as a coach and mentor for my students to emulate rather than fear. I am accustomed to working in a multicultural environment that supports diversity and embraces tolerance and inclusion.
My graduate degree was in Public Administration, so I have always been intrigued by leadership principles and practices. I see myself quite literally as a transformational leader in and out of the classroom, one who endlessly inspires and motivates students to perform at previously unimagined levels by instilling the values and importance of a strong work ethic, and a practical career-focused education that is built on a solid ethical foundation. There is always room for improvement in everything that we do, therefore, I suggest to my students that they volunteer their time, join professional organizations, attend professional conferences, become involved in community advocacy, and make it their personal / professional mission to contribute to the advancement of our profession as either a criminal justice practitioner or a scholar.
I strongly believe that university-level teaching should not rely exclusively on course-related textbooks. Textbooks can and should be augmented with real-life experiences of working within the field. Consequently, my approach to teaching is not only about teaching students to be the very best criminal justice students possible, but also about preparing them to enter the workforce with strong critical thinking, interpersonal communication, and writing skills necessary to excel within the ranks, and in my experience, this is exactly what the criminal justice system expects from today’s graduates.
Other Publications
Global Perspectives on Reforming the Criminal Justice System
Global Perspectives on Reforming the Criminal Justice System provides in-depth and current research about the criminal justice system around the world, its many inadequacies, and why it urgently needs reformation. Offering a fully fleshed outline of the current system, this book details the newest research and is incredibly important to fully understand the flaws of the criminal justice system across the globe. The goals of this book are to improve and advance the criminal justice system by addressing the glaring weaknesses within the system and discuss potential reforms including decreasing the prison population (decarceration) and improving police/community relations. Highlighting topics that include accountability, community-oriented policing, ethics, and mass incarceration, this book is ideal for law enforcement officers, trainers/educators, government officials, policymakers, correctional officers, court officials, professionals, researchers, academicians, and students in the fields of criminal justice, criminology, sociology, psychology, addictions, mental health, social work, public policy, and public administration.
The many academic areas covered in this publication include, but are not limited to:
- Accountability
- Body Cameras
- Community Relationships
- Community vs. Institutional Corrections
- Community-Oriented Policing
- Correctional Reform
- Ethics
- Mass Incarceration
- Perceptions of Law Enforcement
- Police Misconduct
- Police Reform
- Policing Strategies
- Procedural Justice
- Recidivism
- Rehabilitation
- School-to-Prison Pipeline
- Transformative Justice Resolution
- Use of Force
Crimes of the Internet
This book contains 31 original scholarly articles on all aspects of cybercrime—from emerging global crimes of the Internet, to criminological perspectives on cybercrime to investigating and prosecuting cybercrimes. Offering a collection of previously unpublished works, this book examines emerging global crimes, challenges faced by law enforcement, and the underlying reasons for the rise in such activities. Through a variety of essays, it explores the role of the cybercriminal, the victim, and the cybercriminal’s impact on the criminal justice system.
Criminal Justice Study Guide
An entire Introduction to Criminal Justice Course in 6 laminated pages. A step-by-step outline of the U.S. system for investigating & prosecuting criminal offenses – from arrest to disposition.
Criminology Quick Study Guide
Perfect for students studying criminology. The guide examines, in detail, the many experts and their theories that have made criminology a prominent field of study. Color-coded sections and up-to-date information make learning about this subject a breeze!
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.
– Martin Luther King
At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst.
– Aristotle
Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.
– Frederick Douglas
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