Criminal Justice Vocabulary

Defense (to a criminal charge)

The evidence and arguments offered by a defendant and his or her attorney to show how the defendant should not be held liable for a criminal charge.

Alibi

A statement or contention by an individual charged with a crime that he or she was so distant when the crime was committed, or so engaged in other provable activities, that his or her participation in the commission if that crime was impossible.

Justification

A legal defense in which the defendant admits to committing the act in question but claims it was necessary in order to avoid some greater evil.

Excuse

A legal defense in which the defendant claims that some personal condition or circumstance at the time of the act was such that he or she should not be held accountable under the criminal law.

Procedural Defense

A defense that claims that the defendant was in some significant way discriminated against in the justice process or that some important aspect of official procedures was not properly followed in the investigation or prosecution of the crime charged.

Insanity

The existence of a psychological disorder or mental abnormality is insufficient.

Self-Defense

The protection of oneself or of one’s property from unlawful injury or from the immediate risk of unlawful injury. Also, the justification that the person who committed an act that would otherwise constitute an offense reasonably believed that the act was necessary to protect self or property from immediate danger.

Reasonable Force

A degree of force that is appropriate in a given situation and is not excessive. Also, the minimum degree of force necessary to protect oneself, one’s property, a third party, or the property of another in the face is a substantial threat.

Alter Ego Rule

In some jurisdictions, a rule of law that holds that a person can only defend a third party under circumstances and only to the degree that the third party could legally act on his or her own behalf.

Adjudicated Delinquency

In an adult criminal case, if the adult is found guilty of the crime, they are “convicted.” The jury renders their verdict and the judge formally declares that the defendant is convicted of the crime.

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However, in juvenile cases, no one gets “convicted.” Rather, they use the term “adjudicated delinquent.”

Discretionary Decision

In a law enforcement context, discretion only concerns decisions that are made in a legal setting. When decisions that are made by officers do not yield the desired positive results, but are made in good faith, these decisions still fall under the umbrella of discretion.

USA Patriot Act

When/Why: Congress passed the USA PATRIOT Act in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

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What it does: The act gives federal officials greater authority to track and interpret communications, both for law enforcement and foreign intelligence gathering purposes.

Probable Cause

In the United States Criminal Law, probable cause is the standard by which police authorities have reason to obtain a warrant for the arrest of a suspected criminal or the issuing of a search warrant.

Entrapment

An improper or illegal inducement to crime by agents of law enforcement. Also, a defense that may be raised when such inducement has occurred.

Reasonable Suspicion

The courts have allowed the drug testing of police officers based on reasonable suspicion that drug abuse is occurring.

Criminal Law

The area of local, state, and federa law that defines criminal acts and offenses, governs the arrest, detention, charging, and prosecution of accused offenders, and sets specific punishment.

Deliberate Indifference

Ignoring a situation known to exist. Simply put, when someone recklessly disregards the risk of harm to another or the consequences of the actions, you have a case of deliberate indifference.

Social Justice

Justices in term of the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society.

CompStat Policing

Computer Statistics, based on collecting and analyzing data from crime maps and other performance measures while holding police administrators accountable for their performance as measured by the data collected; a multifaceted system used to administer police operations based on comprehensive, continuous analysis of results. Five basic principles: specific objectives, timely and accurate intelligence, effective strategies and tactics, rapid deployment of police resources, and relentless follow-up and assessment.

Hierarchies

A system or organization in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to the status or authority.

Investigation

The investigations bureau is a subdivision of the operations division. Responsible fro obtaining and processing evidence and making arrests based on such evidence. Often regarded as the “glamour division” because it involves what is perceived as “real police work.” Investigators are not likely to solve crimes unless a witness steps forward to identify the offender.

Preventive Patrol

Overall. Braga’s (2001) review contributes to a growing body of research evidence supporting the conclusion that target “hot spots” of crime with focused, strategic intervention efforts is effective at reducing crime, both at the target one and in surrounding areas, and is far more effective than random preventive patrol activities.