Torres has followed his Handbook of Federal Police and Investigtive Agencies with this similarly focused book on state police organizations. He begins with an extensive essay that traces law enforcement history and concentrates on state-level organization and methods. This introduction is followed by a systematic directory of state police agencies. Organizational structure, historical devlopment, and employment requirements for each agency have been compiled from widely diverse sources. Both this directory and Torres' earlier book are unique information sources. Choice

This book remedies the problem of lack of information on state law enforcement organizations. It provides specific information on the backgrounds of state police, highway patrols, and investigative agencies, and describes organization structure, primary duties, jurisdiction, and educational and training qualifications of sworn personnel. Information is provided both on the larger and better known agencies such as the California Highway Patrol and the New York State Police, and on smaller agencies like the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation.