Intro to Criminal Justice Final Exam Study Guide

These flashcards cover key terms from the Intro to Criminal Justice lectures and serve as study aids for the final exam.

double marginality

The social burden African American police officers carry by virtue of being both minority group members and law enforcement officers.

cynicism

The belief that most people’s actions are motivated solely by personal needs and selfishness.

blue curtain

The secretive, insulated police culture that isolates officers from the rest of society.

discretion

The use of personal decision making and choice in carrying out operations in the criminal justice system.

emotional intelligence

The capability of monitoring one’s own feelings and actions in order to guide action.

demeanor

The way in which a person outwardly manifests his or her personality.

racial profiling

The practice of police targeting minority groups because of a belief that they are more likely to be engaged in criminal activity.

police brutality

Involves such actions as the use of abusive language, unnecessary use of force, or coercion.

corruption

Exercising legitimate discretion for improper reasons or using illegal means to achieve approved goals.

Knapp Commission

A public body that led an investigation into police corruption in New York and uncovered a widespread network of payoffs and bribes.

appellate court

A court that reconsiders a case that has already been tried to determine whether the measures used complied with accepted rules of criminal procedure.

court of last resort

A court that handles the final appeal on a matter, such as the US Supreme Court for criminal matters.

writ of certiorari

An order of a superior court requesting that the record of an inferior court be brought forward for review.

landmark decision

A decision handed down by the US Supreme Court that becomes the law of the land and serves as a precedent.

US magistrate judge

A federal trial judge who presides over various civil and certain misdemeanor cases.

Missouri Plan

A method of picking judges through nonpartisan elections to ensure adherence to high standards.

prosecutor

Representative of the state in criminal proceedings; advocate for the state's case.

public defender

An attorney employed by the government to represent poor persons accused of a crime.

adversarial procedure

The process of publicly pitting the prosecution and the defense against one another.

Sixth Amendment

The US constitutional amendment containing various criminal trial rights.

hearsay evidence

Testimony that is not firsthand but relates information told by a second party.

compulsory process

Compelling the production of witnesses via a subpoena.

pro se

Presenting one’s own defense in a criminal trial; self-representation.

proof beyond a reasonable doubt

The standard of proof needed to convict in a criminal case.

preponderance of the evidence

The level of proof in civil cases; more than half supports the allegations of one side.

voir dire

The process by which a potential jury panel is questioned to select unbiased jurors.

challenge for cause

A request that a prospective juror be removed due to bias or knowledge about a case.

peremptory challenge

The dismissal of a potential juror for unexplained, discretionary reasons.

direct examination

The questioning of one’s own witness during a trial.

cross-examination

The process in which the defense and prosecution interrogate witnesses for the other side.

penitentiary

A state or federal correctional institution for the incarceration of felony offenders.

general deterrence

The theory that crime rates are influenced by the threat of punishment.

specific deterrence

A policy suggesting that punishment should be severe enough to deter repeat offenses.

incapacitation

The policy of keeping dangerous criminals in confinement to eliminate risks to society.

blameworthy

Culpable or guilty of participating in a particular criminal offense.

just desert

The philosophy asserting those who violate rights deserve to be punished proportionally.

rehabilitation

The strategy of applying treatment so an offender presents no further threat to society.

equity

The action of awarding each person what is due to them; compensating victims.

indeterminate sentence

A term of incarceration with a stated minimum and maximum length.

determinate sentence

A fixed term of incarceration.

intake

The process in which a probation officer settles cases at the initial appearance.

risk classification

Classifying probationers to receive an appropriate level of treatment and control.

motivational interviewing

A technique that increases the probationer’s awareness of their problems.

intermediate sanctions

Punishments that fall between probation and prison.

fine

A money payment levied on offenders to compensate society.

forfeiture

The seizure of personal property by the state as a penalty.

zero tolerance

The practice of seizing all instrumentalities of a crime.

restitution

A condition of probation requiring offenders to repay society or victims.

monetary restitution

Compensating crime victims for out-of-pocket losses.

community service restitution

Requiring an offender to work in the community as an alternative to incarceration.