AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE - Chapter 1

A set of practice flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture notes on global justice, comparative criminal justice, international cooperation, and study approaches.

What does the homicide rate measure?

Annual number of deaths from homicide per 100,000 people.

How is homicide defined in the notes?

The killing of a person by another with intent to cause death or injury.

Name four of the eight factors evaluated by the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index 2024.

Constraints on Government Powers; Absence of Corruption; Open Government; Fundamental Rights; Order and Security; Regulatory Enforcement; Civil Justice; Criminal Justice.

What does AECP stand for in the context of crime and punishment?

American exceptionalism in crime and punishment.

What two subjects does the AECP discussion typically focus on?

High incarceration rates and the death penalty.

What is Comparative Criminal Justice?

The study of a national system of justice in relation to other countries, cultures, or institutions, including comparisons of strengths and weaknesses of different approaches.

What is Comparative criminology?

The study of the causes and correlates of crime across two or more cultures, viewing crime as a social phenomenon.

List three key areas of study in Comparative Criminal Justice Systems.

Crime patterns across nations; Criminal law variations; Criminal justice systems; Punishment & corrections; Human rights & global justice; Transnational & global crimes.

What are the three main approaches to studying international criminal justice according to the notes?

Historical Approach; Political Approach; Descriptive Approach.

What is the Descriptive Approach in comparative criminal justice?

Identifies the main components and actors of a justice system and describes how they should operate; focuses on current structures and processes.

What are the two strategies under the Descriptive Approach?

Functions/Procedures Strategy and Institutions/Actors Strategy.

Give two examples of criminal justice systems: adversarial vs. inquisitorial.

Adversarial: United States, United Kingdom; Inquisitorial: France, Germany (note: Japan is described as a hybrid in the notes).

What is the role of Interpol?

Collects and disseminates information on international criminals, coordinates cross-border police cooperation, and does not investigate cases.

What do Europol and Eurojust do?

Europol facilitates information sharing and supports operations; Eurojust coordinates prosecuting authorities; the European Judicial Network facilitates judicial cooperation.

Name the three main EU institutions.

European Parliament; Council of the European Union; European Commission.

How is the European Union characterized in the notes?

A treaty-based framework of economic and political cooperation among 27 member states with shared institutions and supranational decision-making.

What is the Merida Initiative?

A bilateral U.S.–Mexico partnership for counterdrug and anticrime assistance, including addressing drug demand and illicit trafficking; started in 2008.

Give two examples of bilateral neighbor cooperation between the U.S. and Canada.

US-Canada Cross-Border Crime Forum; Memoranda of Understanding between agencies (e.g., DEA and RCMP); initiatives like BEST and Shiprider.

What is restorative justice?

Victim–offender mediation and community involvement; used in various programs, including those inspired by Maori traditions in New Zealand.

What is Transnational & Global Crime? Name at least three examples.

Crimes that cross borders or have global impact: organized crime, human trafficking, cybercrime, money laundering, terrorism.

Why study the legal system of other countries? List one local and one universal benefit.

Local: develops intercultural competence and fosters better understanding of one’s own system; Universal: promotes global perspective and cooperation to combat transnational crime.

What are the three reasons to compare criminal justice systems?

To benefit from others’ experiences; to broaden understanding of different cultures and approaches; to address transnational crime more effectively.

What are the three approaches to studying different criminal justice systems (Historical, Political, Descriptive) and what does each emphasize?

Historical: past events shaping current structures; Political: how politics and power shape the system; Descriptive: identifying the main components and actors and describing how they should operate.