Criminal Justice Memory Tricks & Quick Review

Due process model

Focuses on protecting individual rights and ensuring legal procedures are fair.

Crime control model

Focuses on efficiently controlling crime and emphasizing public safety.

Consensus model

Assumes society broadly agrees on key values and laws.

Conflict model

Assumes laws reflect power struggles and competing interests among groups.

UCR (Uniform Crime Reporting)

Official crime data source based on crimes reported to police.

NIBRS (National Incident-Based Reporting System)

Detailed official data source capturing specific incident-level information.

NCVS (National Crime Victimization Survey)

Surveys individuals about victimizations, including unreported crimes.

Self-report surveys

Surveys asking individuals to report their own delinquent or criminal acts.

Dark figure of crime

Refers to crime that goes unreported or unrecorded by official sources.

Correlation vs. Causation

Two events occurring together (correlation) does not prove one caused the other.

Purposefully (MPC)

Mental state where the person consciously intends the result or conduct.

Knowingly (MPC)

Mental state where the person knows the outcome is practically certain.

Recklessly (MPC)

Mental state where a person consciously disregards a substantial risk.

Negligently (MPC)

Mental state where a person should have recognized a substantial risk.

Actus reus

The physical criminal act or prohibited conduct.

Mens rea

The required mental state or intent for a crime.

Concurrence

The requirement that the criminal act and mental state coincide.

Substantive law

Defines crimes, legal rights, and duties (the WHAT of law).

Procedural law

Sets procedures for enforcing legal rights and rules (the HOW of law).

Mala in se

Acts that are inherently wrong in themselves (e.g., murder).

Mala prohibita

Acts that are wrong simply because they are prohibited by law.

Criminal justice vs. Criminology

Criminal justice studies system response; criminology studies causes/patterns of crime.

Disparity vs. Discrimination

Disparity is a difference in outcomes; discrimination is unfair differential treatment.

Fourth Amendment

Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Fifth Amendment

Protections include self-incrimination rights and Miranda warnings in custody.

Sixth Amendment

Guarantees trial rights, public/speedy trial, and right to counsel.

Eighth Amendment

Protects against excessive bail/fines and cruel and unusual punishment.

Fourteenth Amendment

Provides due process and equal protection, applying Bill of Rights to states.

Reasonable suspicion

Specific facts supporting a brief police stop or investigation.

Probable cause

Factual basis supporting reasonable belief a crime occurred or evidence exists.

Preponderance of the evidence

Standard of proof in civil cases meaning 'more likely than not' (>50%).

Beyond a reasonable doubt

The high burden of proof required for criminal convictions.

Policing Eras (in order)

Colonial → Political → Reform/Professional → Community → Evidence-based.

SARA Model

Problem-oriented policing steps: Scanning, Analysis, Response, Assessment.

Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

Applied the Exclusionary Rule to state court proceedings.

Terry v. Ohio (1968)

Authorized stop-and-frisk based on reasonable suspicion.

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

Requires police to advise suspects of rights prior to custodial interrogation.

Carroll v. United States (1925)

Established the automobile exception to the search warrant requirement.

Minnesota v. Dickerson (1993)

Established the 'plain feel' doctrine during lawful frisks.

Tennessee v. Garner (1985)

Restricted deadly force against fleeing unarmed suspects.

Graham v. Connor (1989)

Established objective reasonableness as standard for police use of force.

United States v. Leon (1984)

Created the good-faith exception to the exclusionary rule.