Criminology Study Guide

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Social Institution

An organized system of rules, roles, and groups that helps society run smoothly

3 Characteristics

(1) Relatively stable and lasting (2) Set up to address a particular set of socialitial mean (3) What takes place in one impacts the others

What are 3 needs to control crime?

(1) Need for those to obey the law (2) Need for those who break laws get what they deserve (3) Need to control crime

Legislative Branch

Processing cases to determine guilt or innocence, to then sentence those who are guilty

Judicial Branch

Applies sentences to there who are guilty

Executive Branch

Elected and public officials who oversee law enforcement and oversee the corrections agencies

Probable Cause

Facts and circumstances surrounding the case which would cause a prudent person has committed a specific crime and reasonably intelligent to believe a particular

CSI Effect

Selected to serve jury but watched too many CSI and has a distorted view and unreasonable expectations

The Judicial Process

Legislative → Crime Scene → Pretrial → Adjudication → Sentencing → Punishment

Legislative Phase

Elect a legislative, passes laws and determine the punishment

Crime Scene Phase

Mens Rea (intent of doing a crime) → Actus Reus (the act or doing the crime) → rises an investigation → Probable Cause (reasonable belief, backed by facts, that one has committed a crime)

Pretrial Phase

The prosecutor determines sufficient evidence, then sees if hang is possible. After, preliminary hearing is held

Adjudication Phase

Court hearing to determine i the accused is innocent or guilty

Sentencing Phase

Probation officer conducts background check, does PSIR (Presentence Investigation Report) then gives it to the judge. Judge sentences convict.

Punishment Phase

Where someone is serving their sentence. Sentenced to either probation or incarceration. If sentenced to incarceration, possibility for parole

Difference between Probation and Parole

Probation is a sentence, parole is not. Parole is the ability to serve outside of incarceration.

Crime Control

Where the goal is the suppression or crime by police a prosecutors

Due Process

The primary goal is to protect the rights of the arrestee, and process the case fairly