Chapter 1

Question 1

Federalism

Answer 1

A system of government where power is divided between central governments and regional governments.

Question 2

System

Answer 2

A complex whole consisting of interdependent parts whose actions are directed toward goals and are influenced by the environment within which they function.

Question 3

exchange

Answer 3

A mutual transfer of resources: a balance benefits and deficits that flow from behavior based on decisions about the values and costs of alternatives

Question 4

plea bargain

Answer 4

A defendant’s pleas of guilty to a criminal charge with the reasonable expectation of receiving some consideration from the state for doing so, usually a reduction of the charge. the defendant’s ultimate goal is a penalty lighter than the one formally warranted by the charged offense.

Question 5

Discretion

Answer 5

The authority to make make decisions without reference to specific rules or facts using instead one’s own judgement. Allows for individualization and informality in the administration of justice.

Question 6

Filtering Process

Answer 6

A screening operation; A process by which criminal justice officials screen out some cases while advancing others to the next level of decision making`

Question 7

Dual court system

Answer 7

A system consisting of a separate judicial system for each state in addition to a national system. Each case is tried in a court of the same jurisdiction as that of the law or laws broken.

Question 8

adjudication

Answer 8

the process of determining whether the defendant is guilty

Question 9

mala in se

Answer 9

Offenses that are wrong by their very nature

Question 10

mala prohibita

Answer 10

offenses prohibited by law but not necessarily wrong in themselves

Question 11

arrest

Answer 11

the physical taking of a person suspected of committing a crime into custody.

Question 12

information

Answer 12

A document charging an individual with a specific crime. it is prepared by the prosecuting attorney and presented to a court at a preliminary hearing

Question 13

indictment

Answer 13

A document returned by a grand jury as a “true bill” charging an individual with a specific crime on the basis of probable cause as presented by the prosecuting attorney.

Question 14

felonies

Answer 14

serious crimes usually carrying a penalty of death or incarceration for more than one year

Question 15

misdemeanor

Answer 15

offenses less serious than felonies and usually punishable by incarceration of no more than one year in jail.

Question 16

crime control model

Answer 16

A model of the criminal justice system that assumes that freedom is so important that every effort must be made to repress crime. It emphasizes efficiency, speed, finality and the capacity to apprehend, try, convict and dispose of a high proportion of offenders.

Question 17

due process model

Answer 17

A model of the criminal justice system that assumes that freedom is so important that freedom is so important that every effort must be made to ensure that criminal justice decisions are based on reliable information. It emphasizes the adversarial process, the rights of defendants and formal decision making procedures

Question 18

disparity

Answer 18

a difference between groups that may be explained either by legitimate factors or by discrimination

Question 19

discrimination

Answer 19

differential treatment of individuals or groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or economic status instead of on their behavior or qualifications