Justice: Systems, Institutions, and Your Place in It

Flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture notes on justice definitions, the three branches, levels of the system, costs, and the justice process.

How does the teacher's definition of justice differ from 'fairness'?

Justice is not always fairness; it involves competing goals such as punishment, protection, and rehabilitation.

What are the competing goals of the justice system?

Punishment, protection, and rehabilitation.

What protection does the justice system aim to provide?

Protection against cruel and unusual punishment.

What does proportionality mean in justice?

Punishment should be proportional to the crime and address the victim; it is not always guaranteed.

What is the purpose of the justice system?

Keep people safe and hold people accountable with discipline.

Is plea bargaining considered justice?

Not necessarily; it can raise questions about whether it achieves justice.

What are the three branches of law?

Law enforcement, Courts, and Corrections.

What is the role of law enforcement?

Enforces laws and apprehends suspects.

What is the role of courts?

Interpret laws, ensure fair trials, protect rights of the accused and victims, determine guilt or innocence, and decide case continuation, charges, or dismissal.

What is the role of corrections?

Carry out punishment and rehabilitate.

What was the approximate annual cost of the justice system in 2017?

$305 billion.

How much do Americans spend per person on the justice system?

$938 per person.

In funding, what is more expensive: prisons or K-12?

More money is spent on prisons than funding for K-12.

What two resource challenges are noted?

Scarce economic resources and overcrowding.

What defines the Local level of the justice system?

Municipal police, county jails; example: noise ordinance.

What defines the State level of the justice system?

State courts, highway patrol, prisons.

What defines the Federal level of the justice system?

FBI, federal courts, federal prisons; example: punching a postal worker.

What triggers federal jurisdiction as per the notes?

Actions involving the federal government or federal employees (e.g., punching a postal worker).

What is the basic process flow in the justice system?

Crime → arrest → trial → sentence → corrections.

What percentage of cases go to trial?

About 5–10%.

What typically happens to most cases instead of going to trial?

They are plea bargained.

What shapes every stage of the justice process?

Discretion.