CJ1310 – Introduction to Criminal Justice Exam 1 Study Guide

A collection of vocabulary flashcards based on the CJ1310 Introduction to Criminal Justice lecture notes, covering key terms, definitions, and concepts essential for Exam 1.

Definition of crime

A wrongdoing that is punishable by law.

Mala in se crimes

Acts that are inherently wrong, such as murder and rape.

Malum prohibitum crimes

Acts that are wrong because they are prohibited by law, such as traffic violations.

Victimization surveys

Surveys that gather data on the victims of crime.

Perpetrator surveys

Surveys that collect data from offenders regarding their criminal behavior.

Public order crimes

Crimes that disrupt societal order, such as drug offenses and disorderly conduct.

Elements of a crime

Conditions that must be met for an act to be considered a crime, including actus reus and mens rea.

Actus reus

The physical act of committing a crime.

Mens rea

The mental state or intent behind committing a crime.

Causation

The requirement that the defendant’s actions must lead to the crime.

Justifications

Defenses that argue that the action was right under the circumstances.

Excuses

Defenses that argue the defendant should not be held responsible due to various factors.

Common law

Law derived from judicial decisions instead of statutes, often referred to as case law.

Self-defense

A legal defense arguing that a person acted to protect themselves from harm.

Stand your ground laws

Laws that allow individuals to use force in self-defense without the duty to retreat.

Malice aforethought

The intention to kill or cause serious harm, indicating a premeditated act.

Classical criminology

A perspective that suggests individuals make rational choices to commit crimes.

Jeremy Bentham

A philosopher who contributed to the development of classical criminology by advocating utilitarianism.

Freud’s id

The primal part of the psyche that contains basic instincts.

Freud’s ego

The rational part of the psyche that mediates between desires and reality.

Freud’s superego

The moral component of the psyche that holds internalized societal rules.

Atavism

A biological theory suggesting criminals are evolutionary throwbacks.

Anomie

A state of normlessness in society, leading to increased deviance, as described by Durkheim.

Social learning theory

A theory suggesting that behavior is learned through interactions with others.

Marxism and crime

A theory proposing that crime is a product of social and economic inequalities.

Intersectionality

An analytical framework that examines how different social identities converge and impact experiences.

Rape shield laws

Laws that prevent the admission of a victim’s sexual history in a trial.

Environmental crime

Crimes that harm the environment, often studied within green criminology.

Postmodern criminology

An approach that challenges traditional understandings of crime and justice, often associated with Michel Foucault.

Felonies vs. misdemeanors

Felonies are serious crimes; misdemeanors are less serious offenses.

Selective law enforcement

The practice of enforcing laws in a biased manner, often disadvantaging marginalized groups.

Rape kit backlog

The accumulation of untested rape kits, with a significant percentage remaining without testing.

Institutional biases

Prejudices embedded within social and political institutions that affect justice outcomes.

Legal defenses and justifications importance

They determine if a defendant can avoid criminal liability based on circumstances.