Key Supreme Court Cases and Concepts in Criminal Justice

Flashcards covering key concepts related to Supreme Court cases and criminal justice.

Furman v. Georgia (1972)

A Supreme Court case that temporarily halted executions in the US, ruling them unconstitutional as they were applied at the time.

Gregg v. Georgia (1976)

The Supreme Court ruling that ended the moratorium, allowing executions to resume in the US.

Atkins v. Virginia (2002)

A Supreme Court ruling deeming it unconstitutional to execute individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Roper v. Simmons (2005)

A Supreme Court ruling that prohibits the execution of individuals who were juveniles at the time their crime was committed.

Probation

A sentence where a convicted person is monitored in the community instead of being incarcerated.

Parole

The early release of an incarcerated person from prison under specific conditions.

Recidivism

The tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend.

Moratorium

A temporary prohibition or suspension of an activity.

Churn

The constant flow of people into and out of jails.

Decriminalization

The removal of criminal penalties for an act.

Restorative Justice

A theory of justice that emphasizes repairing the harm caused by criminal behavior.

The 8th Amendment

The constitutional amendment prohibiting 'cruel and unusual punishment'.

Deterrence Theory

The argument that the threat of punishment discourages crime.

'The Lottery'

A criticism of the death penalty suggesting that a death sentence relies more on chance than the severity of the crime.

Transformational Prison Project

A restorative justice organization that focuses on healing rather than punishment.

The Visiting Room Project

A digital multimedia project that allows inmates to tell their stories.

Mass Incarceration

Refers to the unique situation in the US with the highest incarceration rates in the world.