Final answer:
The foundational book for the modern American criminal justice system is 'On Crimes and Punishments' by Cesare Beccaria, which established key legal principles like the presumption of innocence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The book that helped lay the foundation for the contemporary American criminal justice system is B) "On Crimes and Punishments" by Cesare Beccaria. Beccaria's work advocated for the rights of the accused, such as the presumption of innocence and a proportionate approach to punishment, which are fundamental aspects of modern justice systems. His ideas contrast with other authors like Niccolò Machiavelli, whose work 'The Prince' dealt with political power, or Thomas Hobbes' 'Leviathan', which addresses the structure of government and social contract theory but not specifically the justice system. While Hobbes and Rousseau also discussed social contract theories, it was Beccaria's forward-looking philosophy on law and justice, focusing on preventing crime and treating defendants fairly, that paved the way for reform in criminal law and aligns most closely with the principles found within the American system.