Written in a clear and engaging style, The Encyclopedia of American Law Enforcement gives the official lowdown on the exciting world of law enforcement, providing an A-to-Z history of the police and law enforcement authorities in the United States-from the 17th century to the present. With more than 600 entries, this book goes behind the scenes and takes a closer look at this intriguing topic. Coverage includes all major federal law enforcement agencies; at least one police department from each state and most major cities; biographies of key figures; civil rights and social issues; community outreach and crime prevention efforts, such as Crime Stoppers and D.A.R.E.; scandals and other infamous incidents; law enforcement campaigns, such as the War on Drugs; police codes, organization, and jargon; police tactics and special units; types of crime; and women in law enforcement. Biographical information on figures such as U.S. attorney generals and FBI directors, various police chiefs and commissioners, sheriffs, criminologists, detectives, and victims is also provided.