Crime and Criminal Justice

Crime

Violation of laws by individuals or groups

Discretion

Power of criminal justice officials to make decisions

Felony

Offense punishable by more than a year in prison

Misdemeanor

Minor criminal offense punishable by fine and/or jail time

Victim

Person that suffers harm as a result of a crime

Crime Rate

Number of crimes per 100,000 people in an area

Hierarchy Rule

Only highest offense is reported in multiple offense incidents

Dark Figures of Crime

Unreported and unquantified crime

Case Law

Published court decisions used as precedent

Bill of Rights

First 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution

Penal Code

Code of laws dealing with crimes and punishments

Precedent

Prior legal decision used as basis for later cases

Legalistic Style

Policing that emphasizes enforcement of the law

Watchman Style

Policing that emphasizes order maintenance

Community Policing

Strategy involving community resources to stop crime

Broken Windows

Idea that neglect attracts crime

Street Crime

Small-scale offenses like homicide, robbery, assault

White Collar Crime

Nonviolent offenses committed for financial gain

Organized Crime

Professional criminals working together in secret organization

Urban Crime

Criminal activities in densely populated areas

Layer Cake Perception of Crime

Differentiating cases based on offense seriousness and more

Terrorism

Use of violence to create fear for political objectives

Hate Crimes

Violent crimes motivated by prejudice

Victim Impact Statements

Account expressing effects of the offense on victims

Affirmative Defense

Defense providing evidence to excuse legal consequences

Insanity Defense

Defense based on defendant's inability to comprehend actions

Strict Liability

Defendant's liability regardless of intent or mental state

Attendant Circumstances

Facts surrounding a crime

Service Style of Policing

Policing primarily focused on serving the community

The M'Naghten Rule

Standard test for insanity in the U.S. and U.K.