Criminal Justice and Public Policy (CCJ 4497) Exam 1 Study Guide

A comprehensive set of flashcards summarizing key terms and concepts from the Criminal Justice and Public Policy course, aiding in exam preparation.

Consequentialism

Punishment’s justification lies in its good consequences; it aims to exclude greater evils.

Retributivism

Punishment is justified only on moral grounds, aiming to restore moral balance and hold people accountable.

Proportionality dilemma

The challenge of determining the degree of punishment that is proportionate to the crime.

Deterrence

The theory that people commit crime when perceived rewards outweigh perceived risks.

Incapacitation

Physically restricting someone's ability to commit crime, typically through incarceration.

Rehabilitation

Addressing underlying issues that contribute to criminal behavior through treatment and support.

Politicalization of crime

The process by which crime becomes a party issue used to gain votes.

False dichotomies

Framing a complex problem as having only two opposing solutions.

Mass incarceration

The significant increase in the number of incarcerated individuals, especially for nonviolent offenses.

The First Step Act

A 2018 law designed to reduce recidivism, reform sentencing laws, and improve federal prison conditions.

Evaluation research

The use of social research methods to systematically investigate the effectiveness of social intervention programs.

Hierarchy of evaluation

A structure outlining different levels of evaluations, including needs, theory, implementation, outcome/impact, and cost-efficiency.

Informal social control

Community-level mechanisms that influence individual behaviors and maintain social order.

Heterogeneity in incarceration

Variation in the experiences and outcomes of individuals during and after incarceration.