Chapter 4: American Justice System Review

Vocabulary review flashcards covering key legal terms, landmark cases, justice models, courtroom roles, and case studies for Chapter 4 - American Justice System.

Strict Liability

A category of crime that requires no mens rea (culpable state of mind).

Mens Rea

A culpable state of mind required for criminal responsibility, which exists in multiple legal forms.

Civil Lawsuit

A legal proceeding in which monetary compensation is sought and won, distinguished from criminal prosecution.

Criminal Lawsuit

A legal action brought by the state in which legal punishment is sought against a defendant.

Victimless Crime

A specific category of crime evaluated by whether or not it causes actual harm.

Miranda Rights

A set of four enumerated rights that must be read to an accused individual, concluding with a mandatory final question.

Miranda v. Arizona

The landmark Supreme Court case establishing that suspects must be informed of their constitutional rights upon arrest.

Gideon v. Wainwright

The landmark Supreme Court decision establishing that all defendants are entitled to the right to an attorney in court.

Public Defender

A court-appointed attorney whose job is to represent defendants entitled to counsel under Gideon, often facing heavy and difficult casework.

Consensus Model

A model of justice contrasted with the conflict model to explain how the American justice system functions.

Conflict Model

A model of justice contrasted with the consensus model to describe the competitive operations of the American justice system.

Castle Doctrine

A legal doctrine that seeks to protect individuals and their property, closely associated with Stand Your Ground defenses.

Stand Your Ground

A legal defense concept related to the Castle Doctrine, distinguished in case studies such as the Killer Biker road rage incident.

Megan's Law

A law with a public safety goal that maintains an official website providing registry information on sex offenders.

Juvenile Justice System

The justice system designed for minors, governed by distinct legal goals and four key procedural differences from the adult system.

Adult Justice System

The legal system handling adult criminal offenders, characterized by punitive goals distinct from the juvenile justice system.

PA Sexting Law

Pennsylvania statutory law outlining legal restrictions, affected parties, and penalties concerning youth sexting and pornography.

Age of Consent in PA

The statutory age established by Pennsylvania law that legally defines consent and governs statutory rape cases.

Court Reporter

A courtroom official with a designated seat and job function responsible for recording and transcribing legal proceedings.

PA Court System

The Pennsylvania state judicial structure that includes several court levels plus the PA State Supreme Court before a criminal case can enter the federal court system.

Aggravating Circumstances

Specific case factors evaluated in criminal justice that increase the severity of an offense, contrasted with mitigating circumstances.

Mitigating Circumstances

Specific case factors evaluated in criminal justice that lessen culpability or severity, contrasted with aggravating circumstances.

Amicus Brief

A legal document and term highlighted in the Defending Gideon biography.

Mrs. McAfee's Cheat Sheet to Murder

A classroom reference guide outlining the legal differences between first degree murder, second degree murder, and third degree murder.

Defending Gideon

A video biography examining Clarence Earl Gideon, the criminal charges he faced, and the landmark ruling entitling all defendants to an attorney.

Accused: Guilty or Innocent Killer Biker - Road Rage or Stand Your Ground

A video case study analyzing evidence to distinguish whether a fatal altercation was an act of road rage or a justified Stand Your Ground defense.

Accused Guilty or Innocent: Killer Teen or Fatal Accident

A case study examining the criminal charges faced by Emmalou and the special circumstances demonstrating the justice system at work.