intro to criminal justice midterm

Task of the criminal justice system

To prevent and control crime, maintain social order, and administer justice through law enforcement, courts, and corrections.

Purpose of a criminal investigation

To gather information and evidence about a crime, identify the responsible party, and provide evidence for prosecution.

Crimes against the person

Offenses that involve physical harm, threatened harm, or death to another individual, such as murder, assault, and robbery.

Misdemeanor

A less serious criminal offense usually punishable by a fine, probation, or imprisonment for less than one year in a local jail.

Property crimes

Offenses where the primary objective is to take, damage, or interfere with another person's property, such as burglary, theft, and arson.

Criminal law

The body of rules defining criminal offenses, establishing punishments, and specifying conduct prohibited by the government.

Mens rea

The guilty mind or criminal intent required for an individual to be held criminally responsible for an offense.

Actus reus

The guilty act or physical behavior that constitutes a criminal offense.

Strict liability crimes

Offenses for which a person can be found guilty without proof of criminal intent, requiring only proof that the prohibited act occurred.

Just deserts

The principle that individuals who commit crimes deserve punishment proportionate to the seriousness of their offense.

Tort

A wrongful act causing harm to another person that can result in a civil lawsuit for damages rather than criminal prosecution.

Arrest

The process of taking an individual into legal custody based on probable cause that they committed a crime.

Probable cause

A reasonable basis, supported by facts and circumstances, for believing a crime was committed or that a specific person committed it.

Patrol function

The law enforcement responsibility of regularly monitoring community areas to prevent crime, respond to calls, maintain order, and assist the public.

County sheriff

An elected or appointed chief law enforcement officer of a county who typically oversees county jails and provides services outside municipal police jurisdictions.

Law enforcement accountability

The requirement that police officers and agencies remain answerable for their actions and subject to oversight, laws, policies, and consequences for misconduct.

Blue curtain

The secretive and insulated police culture that separates officers from society, characterized by strong internal loyalty and reluctance to report peer misconduct.

Corruption in policing

The misuse of legitimate police discretion for improper purposes or illegal means to accomplish an approved or private goal.

Deadly force

Force carrying a high probability of causing death or serious bodily harm, such as intentionally firing a weapon.

Nondeadly force

Force unlikely to cause death or serious bodily injury, used primarily to control or restrain a person.

Excited delirium

An overdose of adrenaline occurring during intense physical or emotional confrontations with police.

Sting operation

A police action using deception or undercover techniques to catch individuals committing or attempting to commit a crime.

Vigilantes

Private citizens who take the law into their own hands to enforce rules or punish violations without legal authority.

Body cameras

Wearable recording devices used by law enforcement officers to record interactions and activity, providing evidence and increasing operational transparency.

Discretion in criminal justice

The power to use personal judgment and individual decision-making when executing criminal justice duties.

Judicial security

Protective measures implemented to safeguard judges, court staff, jurors, and judicial facilities from threats or violence.

Illegal search and seizure

An inspection or confiscation by government officials that violates constitutional protections, specifically the Fourth Amendment.

Exclusionary rule

The legal principle prohibiting unlawfully obtained evidence from being admitted against a defendant in a criminal trial.

In-presence requirement

The rule specifying that an officer must personally witness a misdemeanor occurrence to execute a warrantless arrest for that offense.

Release on Recognizance (ROR)

Pretrial release of a defendant without requiring bail money, granted based on a written promise to return to court.

Pre-trial detainees

Individuals held in custody awaiting trial who have not been convicted of the current charges.

Bail

Financial security or assets deposited with the court to ensure a released defendant returns for scheduled trial proceedings.

Arraignment

A formal court proceeding where charges are read to the defendant and a plea (guilty, not guilty, or no contest) is entered.

Preliminary hearing

A judicial proceeding to evaluate whether sufficient probable cause exists to hold the defendant for trial.

Indictment

A formal legal accusation issued by a grand jury charging an individual with a crime after evaluating prosecution evidence.

Plea bargain

An agreement between prosecutor and defense where the accused pleads guilty in exchange for reduced charges or a milder sentence recommendation.

Bench trial

A trial conducted solely before a judge who determines both factual outcomes and guilt without a jury.

Nolle prosequi

A formal notice by a prosecutor declaring the decision to drop or discontinue a pending criminal case.

Conviction after full trial

A legal outcome finding a defendant guilty following a complete trial proceeding, as opposed to entering a guilty plea.

Insanity defense

An affirmative defense claiming that a recognized mental disorder prevented the defendant from possessing legal responsibility for the criminal conduct.

Self-defense

A legal defense permitting proportional force to protect oneself or others from immediate unlawful harm.

Sentencing

The judicial procedure in which a judge formalizes and imposes sanctions or punishments following a conviction.

Deterrent effect

The capacity of a legal penalty or threat of sanction to discourage individuals from engaging in criminal behavior.

Incarceration

Confinement of an individual in a jail or prison following legal proceedings.

First Amendment

Protects freedoms concerning religion, speech, press, peaceful assembly, and petitioning the government.

Second Amendment

Protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms.

Third Amendment

Restricts the government from quartering soldiers in private homes without owner consent during peacetime.

Fourth Amendment

Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures and sets standard requirements for search warrants.

Fifth Amendment

Guarantees due process, protects against double jeopardy and self-incrimination, and includes eminent domain protections.

Sixth Amendment

Guarantees criminal trial rights including a speedy public trial, impartial jury, notification of charges, right to confront witnesses, and legal counsel.

Seventh Amendment

Guarantees the right to a jury trial in certain federal civil matters.

Eighth Amendment

Prohibits excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishments.

Ninth Amendment

Clarifies that listing specific rights in the Constitution does not deny or disparage other unenumerated rights retained by the people.

Tenth Amendment

Establishes that powers not delegated to the federal government nor prohibited to the states are reserved to the states or the people.

Serial murderer

An individual who kills multiple victims in separate events, with cooling-off periods between killings.

Official statistics of reported crimes

Data collected and published by government agencies reflecting crimes officially made known or reported to law enforcement authorities.

Three major components of criminal justice

Law enforcement/police (investigates crime), courts (adjudicates guilt), and corrections (supervises convicted individuals).