Chapter 1: Crime and Criminal Justice

Question 1

History of American Criminal Justice System

Answer 1

Puritanical values: strong influence in developing our criminal codes

Founding Fathers: strong belief in protecting rights of accused

A need to balance Federalism w/states’ rights

Question 2

Stages of the Criminal Justice System

Answer 2

Policing, courts, and corrections

Question 3

Policing

Answer 3

First point of contact: tasked w/investigating crime/apprehending offenders

Question 4

Courts

Answer 4

Determines if an offender should be charged; manages process to determine if offender should be held criminally responsible (receives info from officers)

Question 5

Corrections

Answer 5

Carries out punishment ordered by the court

Question 6

Relationships of policing, courts and corrections

Answer 6

Each make decisions that impact the other groups

They function both in relationship to the other two and as their own entity

Question 7

Discretion

Answer 7

Freedom to make decisions (power of criminal justice agents and most powerful tool in CJ system)

Question 8

Ethics in the criminal justice system

Answer 8

Law/policies that guide discretion of police, courts and corrections

Understanding what constitutes good/bad behavior

Question 9

Wedding Cake Model

Answer 9

Four tiers: 1, 2, 3, and 4

Question 10

Bottom layer (wedding cake model)

Answer 10

Largest number of cases: misdemeanor (least serious)

Not resolved at trial, plea bargains w/reduced sentences or lesser punishments; less than 1 yr in jail

Question 11

Second Tier (wedding cake model)

Answer 11

Smaller tier: lower level felony cases

Nonviolent; offenders are lower level

Many handheld by plea bargain

Does not involve significant incarceration sentences

Question 12

Third Tier (wedding cake model)

Answer 12

Upper level felony cases

Violent cases w/criminals that have criminal histories; typically go to trial under no guilty plea; can face prison time

Question 13

Top Tier (wedding cake model)

Answer 13

High profile cases

Covered by media w/potential of significant penalties (life in prison, death penalty); may involve well-known offenders/celebrities

Question 14

Models of Criminal Justice (Ideologies)

Answer 14

Crime Control Model

Due Process Model

Question 15

Crime Control Model

Answer 15

Belief that the most important function of CJ system is to suppress and control criminal behavior as a function of public order in society.

Focus on swift/sever punishment

Justice resembles and assembly line

Question 16

Due Process Model

Answer 16

Believes the most important function of CJ system is suppressing and controlling criminal behavior (liberal view)

Emphasis on formalized legal practices

Justice resembles and obstacle course

Question 17

Influence of the Media

Answer 17

Info we learn is gathered from the media

Shapes individuals’ perception of crime/justice

Internalize media generated images as facts

Direct relationship on understandings of realties of crime in society

Question 18

CSI Effect

Answer 18

References popular crime drama

Presents a distorted view of reality crime and can impact real issues in criminal justice

Question 19

Reality TV

Answer 19

Crime is presented in a reality TV programming

Documentaries on crime/justice on various networks

Atypical, high-profile cases garner greatest attention

Media coverage can impact juror’s decision

Question 20

Overemphasis of violent crime rate

Answer 20

False picture painted of crime realities

Punitive attitudes on crime

Increase fear on crime

Question 21

Public Policy Influence

Answer 21

Agents respond to society’s fear of crime

Rise in public dialogue which is influenced by media misinformation/sensationalized high-profile cases

Crime victims/high-profile events have influenced public policies