Chapter 1: Crime and Criminal Justice

Confirmation Bias

Occurs when people seek out information, or remember information, that is closely aligned with their personal beliefs.

Corrections

The correction system carries out the punishment as ordered by the court

Courts

The courts are responsible for determining whether an individual should be charged with a crime and also manage the process to determine whether they should be held criminally responsible for the crime

Crime

An act that is against the law and causes a punishment

Crime control model

Model of criminal justice that advocates for the suppression and control of criminal behavior as a function of public order in society

Defendant

someone who has criminal charges filed against them

discreation

The power of criminal justice officials to make decisions

due process model

Model of criminal justice that believes the protection of individual rights and freedoms is the most important function of the system

Ethics

The understanding of what constitutes good or bad behavior

Fake news

information that is verifiably inaccurate

Felony

Serious crime that can be punished by more than one year in prison

Misdemeanors

Lower level crimes that are punished by less than one year in jail. Punishments can also involve community-based sanctions, such as probation.

Police

Police are tasked with investigating crime and apprehending alleges offenders

Wedding cake model

Model that demonstrates how cases are treated differently by the criminal justice process