Criminal Justice

Anomie

A condition where social norms become weak or unclear, which can lead to crime or deviant behavior.

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

The highest standard of proof, requiring the prosecutor to convince the jury of guilt with no reasonable doubt.

Burglary

Unlawfully entering a building or home with the intent to commit a crime.

Capital Crime

A very serious crime that can be punishable by death in jurisdictions where the death penalty is allowed.

Causation

The relationship between an action and the result it produces, showing that one event directly caused another.

Choice Theory

The idea that people choose to commit crimes after considering the possible benefits and consequences.

Civil Law

Law dealing mainly with disputes between individuals or organizations, usually involving financial compensation or rights rather than criminal punishment.

Classical Criminology

The theory that people have free will and choose to commit crime based on a cost-benefit decision.

Conflict Model

The view that criminal laws reflect conflicts between social groups with different levels of power and interests.

Consensus Model

The view that society generally agrees on basic values and that laws reflect those shared values.

Control Theory

The theory that individuals are less likely to commit crime when they have strong social bonds and controls.

Correlation

A relationship between two variables, which does not necessarily mean causation.

Criminal Justice System

The network of police, courts, corrections, and other agencies responsible for enforcing laws and handling crime.

Criminology

The scientific study of crime, criminals, criminal behavior, and the underlying causes of crime.

Cultural Deviance Theory

The theory that crime can result when a person follows cultural or group values that conflict with the values of the larger society.

Dark Figure of Crime

Crimes that occur but are not reported to or discovered by authorities.

Deviance

Behavior that violates the accepted norms or standards of a society.

Discretion

The ability of criminal justice officials to make choices based on the circumstances of a situation.

Ethics

Principles about right and wrong that guide moral behavior and decision-making.

Evidence-Based Practices

Methods and policies that are supported by reliable research and empirical evidence.

Federalism

A system where government power is divided between a central federal government and state governments.

Felonies

Serious crimes, usually punishable by more than one year in prison.

Gang Investigator

A law enforcement officer who investigates gang activity, members, crimes, and organizations.

Hidden Genetic Effects

The concept that genetic factors may influence behavior or criminal tendencies without being directly or obviously observable.

Homelessness

A condition in which a person lacks stable, permanent, and adequate housing.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction or explanation about a relationship between variables.

Infraction

A minor violation of the law, usually punished with a fine rather than jail or prison.

Labeling Theory

The theory that being labeled as a criminal or deviant can influence a person's identity and future behavior.

Learning Theory

The idea that criminal behavior is learned through interactions, experiences, and other people.

Liable

Legally responsible for an action, harm, or debt.

Mala in Se

Acts that are considered wrong in themselves, such as murder or rape.

Mala Prohibita

Acts that are illegal because statutory law prohibits them, even though they may not be inherently wrong.

Marijuana Legalization

Making cannabis possession, use, or sale legal under specified statutory regulations.

Misdemeanor

A less serious crime, generally punishable by up to one year in jail.

Morals

Personal or societal beliefs and principles about what is right and wrong.

Part I Offenses

Major offenses traditionally included in the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting system for measuring serious crime, such as murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson.

Positivism

The belief that criminal behavior can be scientifically studied and explained by factors such as biology, psychology, or environment.

Preponderance of the Evidence

A standard of proof meaning that something is more likely than not to be true (greater than 50% probability).

Prosecuting Domestic Violence

The legal procedure of charging and trying individuals accused of violence against an intimate partner or family member.

Psychoanalytic Theory

The theory that behavior can be influenced by unconscious thoughts, experiences, and inner conflicts.

Public Order Crime

An offense that violates accepted standards of public behavior or morality, such as prostitution or illegal gambling.

Recidivism

When a person who has previously committed a crime commits another crime, often after punishment or release.

Robbery

Taking property directly from a person through force, threats, or intimidation.

Self-Reported Surveys

Surveys where individuals report their own criminal or deviant behavior, including offenses never reported to police.

Social Conflict Theories

Theories that explain crime as the result of inequality, competition, and conflicts between groups in society.

Social Disorganization Theory

The theory that crime is more likely in communities with weak social institutions, poverty, instability, and low social control.

Social Process Theories

Theories that explain crime through social interactions, relationships, and socialization experiences.

Strain Theory

The theory that people may turn to crime when they experience stress or cannot achieve socially desired goals through legitimate means.

Street Gang

A group of people who identify with one another and engage in criminal or delinquent activities.

System

A group of connected parts working together toward a particular purpose, such as police, courts, and corrections.

Testosterone

A hormone associated with male characteristics that has been studied for possible links to aggression and behavior.

Theory

A well-supported explanation of a phenomenon that helps explain relationships and predict outcomes.

Thrill Offenders

People who commit crimes primarily for excitement, stimulation, or the thrill of the experience.

Uniform Crime Report (UCR)

A statistical system traditionally used by the FBI to collect and report information about crime known to law enforcement.

Victim Surveys

Surveys that ask people whether they have been victims of crimes, including offenses not reported to police.

White-Collar Crime

Nonviolent crime committed primarily for financial gain, often in a business or professional setting.