Criminal justice information is published in a number of formats including books, articles, government reports (at the federal, state and local levels) and reports from non-governmental organizations. Methods for identifying and acquiring these different types of materials vary, which is what this tutorial is all about.

In this chapter you will:

• Learn the difference between primary and seconday sources
• Learn what kind of publications publish primary and secondary source literature
• Learn which publications are most likely to be found on the Web
• Learn the strengths and weaknesses of the Web for criminal justice related research

Next: Primary vs. Secondary Sources