Overview of the Texas Criminal Justice System

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to the Texas criminal justice system as discussed in the lecture.

Criminal Justice System

The system of laws, courts, and officials that serves to administer justice within a society.

Civil Law

Laws that deal with disputes between individuals or organizations, typically involving compensation.

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

The standard of proof required in criminal cases to convict a defendant.

Adversarial System

A legal system where two or more advocates represent their parties' positions before an impartial judge.

Miranda Rights

The rights of a person taken into police custody to be informed of their rights to silence and legal counsel.

Convict Leasing

A system where states lease prisoners to private entities for labor.

Incarceration Rate

The number of individuals held in correctional institutions per 100,000 population.

Death Penalty

A legal punishment in which a person is put to death by the state for a crime.

Exoneration

The act of officially absolving someone from blame or fault, especially after a conviction.

Prosecution

The act of conducting legal proceedings against someone in respect of a criminal charge.