Introduction to Criminal Justice Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering terms, legal concepts, defenses, criminological theories, and forensic techniques from the lecture notes.

Justice

The principle of fairness, equity, and moral rightness in the administration of law.

Case Law

Law created by judicial decisions and interpretations rendered in previous court cases.

Common Law

A legal system based on custom and judicial precedent rather than statutory enactments.

Procedural Law

The legal rules and procedures that govern how court proceedings and legal cases are conducted.

Substantive Law

The body of law that defines rights, obligations, and specific legal violations or crimes.

Civil Law

The branch of law dealing with private rights, legal disputes, and relationships between individuals or organizations.

Administrative Law

The body of law governing the creation, operations, and procedures of government agencies.

Consensus Model

A criminal justice perspective assuming that system components work together harmoniously toward a shared definition of justice.

Conflict Model

A criminal justice perspective asserting that system components function primarily to serve their own interests rather than a unified goal.

Wedding Cake Model

A model depicting criminal cases across four tiers based on publicity, severity, and offender history.

Crime Control Model

A criminal justice perspective emphasizing the efficient arrest and conviction of criminal offenders.

Due Process Model

A criminal justice perspective prioritizing individual rights and formal procedural safeguards at every stage.

Due Process

The constitutional guarantee of procedural fairness and legal protection against arbitrary governmental actions.

Procedural Due Process

The requirement that legal procedures followed by government authorities must be fair and consistent.

Substantive Due Process

The requirement that laws themselves must be fair, reasonable, and not arbitrary or oppressive.

Reasonable Suspicion

An objective standard of justification based on specific facts that warrants brief investigation or stopping a suspect.

Prima Facie Case

A case supported by sufficient evidence to prove a fact or establish a presumption unless rebutted.

Recidivism

The tendency of a convicted offender to reoffend or relapse into criminal behavior.

Extradition

The surrender or transfer of an accused or convicted individual from one jurisdiction or country to another.

Genocide

The deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political, national, or cultural group.

Criminology

The scientific study of crime, criminal behavior, society's response, and prevention strategies.

Probable Cause

A reasonable ground based on facts and circumstances sufficient to justify an arrest, search, or warrant.

Jurisdiction

The legal authority of a court or official agency to hear cases, enforce laws, or act within a specified territory.

Arraignment

A formal court proceeding where a defendant hears the charges and enters a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest.

Bail

Financial or property collateral provided to secure a defendant's release prior to trial while ensuring court appearance.

Indictment

A formal written accusation issued by a grand jury charging a person with a crime.

Information

A formal written charging document submitted directly by a prosecutor without grand jury action.

Preliminary Hearing

A judicial proceeding to determine whether probable cause exists to hold an accused person for trial.

Grand Jury

A panel of citizens that reviews evidence presented by prosecutors to determine if criminal charges should be filed.

Plea

A defendant's formal answer in court to a criminal charge.

Motion

A formal request submitted to a judge asking for a specific order or ruling in a case.

Diversion

An official program or alternative path routing offenders away from criminal prosecution into rehabilitation.

Sentence

The formal judicial penalty imposed on a person convicted of a crime.

Appeal

A formal application to a higher court requesting review and reversal of a lower court decision.

Status offenses

Actions considered illegal solely because of the offender's age, such as truancy or curfew violations.

Probation

A court-ordered period of supervised release in the community served instead of incarceration.

Parole

The conditional release of a prisoner prior to completing their full prison sentence, served under community supervision.

Violent Crime

An offense involving physical force, threat of force, or bodily harm against another person.

Property Crime

An offense involving theft, damage, or destruction of property without direct force or threat against a person.

Adjudicated

Having been formally judged, settled, or decided by a court or judicial officer.

Rape

Unlawful sexual intercourse committed without consent by force, coercion, or against an incapacitated individual.

Sexual Battery

Intentional, nonconsensual physical contact with another person's intimate body parts.

Date Rape

Nonconsensual sexual intercourse occurring between individuals who share a social or romantic relationship.

Robbery

The unlawful taking of property directly from a person by force or threat of immediate force.

Burglary

Unlawful entry into a building or structure with the intent to commit a felony or theft.

Assault

An intentional threat or attempt to inflict bodily harm creating a reasonable fear of immediate injury.

Aggravated Assault

An unlawful physical attack or threat involving a dangerous weapon or intent to inflict severe bodily injury.

Larceny

The unlawful taking and carrying away of personal property belonging to another without consent and with intent to permanently deprive.

Theft

The general act of unlawfully taking another person's property without permission.

Embezzlement

The fraudulent misappropriation or theft of property or money entrusted to someone's care.

Fraud

Deceptive misrepresentation intended to induce another to part with something of value or surrender a legal right.

Trafficking

The illegal trade or transport of goods, contraband, or human beings.

Stalking

A repeated pattern of unwanted, harassing, or threatening behavior causing fear or distress.

Hate Crime

A criminal offense motivated by bias or prejudice against a victim's perceived group identity.

White Collar Crime

Nonviolent financially motivated crimes committed by business or government professionals.

Organized Crime

Unlawful activities conducted by structured groups operating systematically for illegal financial gain.

Domestic Terrorism

Violent or dangerous acts dangerous to human life intended to intimidate citizens or influence policy, committed within the home nation.

International Terrorism

Violent acts transcending national boundaries designed to intimidate or coerce populations or foreign governments.

Cyber Terrorism

The use of computer technology and networks to launch disruptive or destructive attacks for political or ideological motives.

Money Laundering

The process of concealing the origin of illegally obtained money to make it appear legitimate.

Treason

The crime of betraying one's nation by waging war against it or adhering to and aiding its enemies.

Espionage

The practice of spying or gathering confidential governmental or military information for a foreign power.

Arson

The intentional and malicious burning or destroying of property by fire.

Inchoate Offense

An incomplete criminal act committed in preparation for or seeking the execution of another criminal offense.

Attempt

An intentional overt step toward committing a crime beyond mere preparation that falls short of completion.

Conspiracy

An agreement between two or more persons to commit an unlawful act.

Solicitation

The act of requesting, encouraging, commanding, or enticing another person to commit a crime.

Mala in Se

Acts that are inherently evil or morally wrong in themselves, such as murder or theft.

Mala Prohibita

Acts that are considered illegal only because laws forbid them, rather than being inherently immoral.

Motor Vehicle Theft

The unauthorized taking or driving away of a motorized land vehicle belonging to another.

Statutory Law

Written laws enacted by legislative bodies.

Penal Code

A formal written compilation of a jurisdiction's criminal laws, offenses, and penalties.

Felonies

Serious criminal offenses punishable by state prison sentences exceeding one year or death.

Misdemeanors

Less serious criminal offenses generally punishable by fines or incarceration in local jails for under one year.

Precedent

A prior court decision serving as an authoritative rule or guide for future similar legal cases.

Stare Decisis

The legal doctrine mandating that courts follow historical precedents set by previous decisions.

Tort

A civil wrong or injury inflicted on a person or property resulting in legal liability.

Actus Reus

The guilty physical act, conduct, or omission required to establish criminal liability.

Mens Rea

The criminal state of mind, intent, or guilty knowledge required to establish criminal guilt.

Modus Operandi

A characteristic method or pattern of working employed by a criminal during an offense.

Reckless Behavior

Consciously disregarding a substantial and unjustifiable risk of harm.

Criminal Negligence

A gross deviation from reasonable care where a person fails to perceive a dangerous risk.

Strict Liability Crime

An offense holding a person legally accountable regardless of intent or mens rea.

Motive

The underlying reason or drive inducing a person to commit a crime.

Ex Post Facto

A law making an act illegal retroactively after it was committed, which is constitutionally prohibited.

Attendant Circumstances

The facts surrounding and accompanying a criminal act required for full legal definition.

Mitigated circumstances

Factors accompanying a crime that reduce the offender's moral blame or legal severity.

Alibi

A defense showing that the accused was elsewhere when the crime occurred.

Accomplice

A person who intentionally aids, encourages, or assists another in committing a crime.

Immunity

Exemption or protection from legal prosecution granted by a court or authority.

Privilege

A legal right or exemption protecting confidential communications or specific actions from legal exposure.

Manslaughter

The unlawful killing of a human being without malice aforethought.

Homicide

The killing of one human being by another.

Murder

The unlawful killing of a human being with malice aforethought or intent.

Justification defense

A legal defense claiming the illegal act was acceptable or necessary under the circumstances.

Procedural defense

A defense claiming that government discrimination or official procedural error violated rights during processing.

Criminal Excuse

A defense claiming personal condition or circumstance negated criminal responsibility at the time.

Self Defense

The legally permitted protection of one's own person from imminent unlawful force.

Defense of Others

The legal right to use reasonable force to defend another person from imminent danger.

Defense of Home and Property

The legal right to use reasonable force to protect personal property or residence against intruders.