CRJU study guide

First federal law enforcement agency

Established to enforce federal laws in the U.S.

NCVS/NCS

National Crime Victimization Survey/National Crime Survey.

Wobbler

A crime that can be charged as felony or misdemeanor.

Lex talionis

Law of retaliation; 'an eye for an eye'.

Actus reus

The physical act of committing a crime.

Mens rea

The mental state or intent to commit a crime.

Mala in se

Crimes inherently wrong, like murder or theft.

Mala prohibita

Crimes that are wrong due to laws, not nature.

Racist system frame

Perspective viewing criminal justice as racially biased.

Faculty criminal justice system frame

Viewpoint focusing on institutional roles in justice.

Blocked opportunities

Limited access to resources leading to crime.

Supplemental Homicide Reports

Detailed reports on homicide incidents in the U.S.

Common law

Law developed through court decisions, not statutes.

Constitutional law

Law based on the U.S. Constitution and amendments.

Civil law

Law governing disputes between individuals or organizations.

Criminal law

Law defining crimes and punishments for offenders.

Administrative law

Regulations created by government agencies.

Beccaria's On Crimes & Punishments

Foundational text advocating for criminal justice reform.

Magna Carta

1215 document limiting the powers of the monarchy.

Code of Hammurabi

Ancient Babylonian code of law with strict penalties.

Race riots of 1830s-1840s

Violent civil disturbances related to racial tensions.

Jeremy Bentham

Philosopher known for utilitarianism and legal reforms.

Consensus Model

Theory suggesting society agrees on laws and norms.

Due Process Model

Focus on protecting individual rights in justice.

Crime Control Model

Emphasizes efficient law enforcement to reduce crime.

Dark Figure of Crime

Unreported or unknown crimes not captured in statistics.

Crime Multiplier

Concept suggesting crime rates can increase due to factors.

Stalking (PC 646.9)

Criminal offense involving repeated unwanted attention.

Domestic battery (PC 243(e))

Misdemeanor involving physical harm to an intimate partner.

Domestic violence felony (PC 273.5)

Felony involving serious injury to a partner.

Strangulation vs. choking

Strangulation involves airway obstruction; choking is airway blockage.

Justinian Code

Byzantine legal code influencing Western legal systems.

12 Tables

Ancient Roman laws inscribed on twelve bronze tablets.

Three types of deviance

Categorization of behaviors violating social norms.

Tithings & hundreds

Early English systems for community policing and law enforcement.

Pledge system

Early policing system based on community responsibility.

Bow Street Runners

Early police force in London, established by Henry Fielding.

London Metropolitan Police Department

First modern police force, established in 1829.

Sir Robert Peel

Founder of the modern policing principles.

August Vollmer

Pioneer of modern policing and police education.

Mary Rogers

Victim of a notorious murder case in the 1840s.

Slave patrols of the South

Early enforcement groups controlling enslaved populations.

Vigilantes

Self-appointed groups enforcing law without legal authority.

Reform Model Era in policing

Period focusing on professionalizing police forces.

President's Commission on Law Enforcement

1960s commission assessing law enforcement practices.

Kent State Massacre - 1970s

National Guard shooting of students protesting Vietnam War.

ATF

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Homeland Security

Department focused on national security and terrorism.

Department of Justice

U.S. government department enforcing federal laws.

FBI

Federal Bureau of Investigation; national security and crime agency.

US Marshal's

Federal agency responsible for fugitive apprehension.

Robert William Stewart & Roy Green

Notable figures in criminal justice history.

Thomas Lightfoot, Jim Beltran, Gregory Miraglia

Individuals associated with criminal justice cases.

Elizabeth Coffal & Betty Blankenship, Mary Dodge, Irma Carson, Hajir Nurdin

Notable women in criminal justice history.

Rosemary Wahl, & Amanda Ray

Individuals recognized for contributions to justice.

Canine police officers

Dogs trained to assist in law enforcement duties.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Landmark legislation prohibiting discrimination in the U.S.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Legislation aimed at eliminating racial discrimination in voting.

Literacy tests

Examinations used to restrict voting rights.

M'Naughten Rule

Legal standard for insanity defense based on cognitive ability.

Substantial Capacity Test

Test assessing a defendant's ability to understand actions.

Diminished Capacity Defense

Legal defense arguing reduced mental state during crime.

Elements of a crime (n=6)

Six necessary components to establish a crime.

Guilty but mentally ill

Verdict acknowledging mental illness but culpability.

Mental evidence

Psychological factors considered in legal cases.

Marsy's Law

Victims' rights law providing protections and notifications.

Sherrice Iverson Good Samaritan Law

Law protecting those aiding victims from liability.

Jeanne Cleary Act

Law requiring colleges to report campus crime statistics.

Family Justice Center

Support services for victims of domestic violence.

VAWA

Violence Against Women Act; federal law addressing violence.

Three components of the CJ system

Law enforcement, courts, and corrections.

Impact of gender, race, & ethnicity on arrest rates

Disparities in arrest statistics based on demographics.

Different types of crime

Categories include victimless, white-collar, and street crimes.

CJ system perspectives

Various viewpoints on the functioning of criminal justice.

Firearm related child deaths

Statistics on child fatalities involving firearms.

Restorative Justice

Approach focusing on repairing harm caused by crime.

Crime triangle

Model illustrating relationship between offender, victim, and location.

Discretion

Authority to make decisions in law enforcement.

Intelligence-led policing

Data-driven approach to prevent and solve crimes.

Less than lethal weapons

Tools designed to incapacitate without causing death.

Private policing

Non-governmental security services protecting private interests.

Rotten apple theory

Concept suggesting corruption is isolated to individuals.

Zero tolerance

Strict enforcement of laws with no exceptions.

Profiling

Using characteristics to identify potential offenders.

Grass-eaters/Meat-eaters

Terms describing police corruption levels.

JQ Wilson's varieties of police behavior

Framework categorizing different police conduct.

Broken Windows Theory

Theory suggesting minor crimes lead to larger offenses.

Continuum of force

Range of responses police can use in situations.

Lawrence Sherman & the Hot Spot theory

Theory focusing on crime concentration in specific areas.

George Kelling & Clarence Kelly's Preventive Patrol study

Research on effectiveness of police patrol strategies.

The Bakersfield Police Department-Community Collaborative

Initiative enhancing community relations with law enforcement.

Crime displacement

Shift of crime to different areas due to enforcement.

Police functions

Roles and responsibilities of law enforcement agencies.

Wickersham Commission

1929 commission investigating law enforcement practices.

Christopher Commission

1991 commission assessing LAPD after Rodney King incident.

Ferguson Commission

2015 commission addressing issues after Ferguson protests.

Lawrence Sherman's five stages of becoming a corrupt cop

Framework outlining progression to police corruption.

Brown v. Mississippi

Case establishing inadmissibility of coerced confessions.

Brown v. Board of Education

Landmark case ending racial segregation in schools.

Mapp v. Ohio

Case establishing exclusionary rule for evidence.