Chapter 1 - Criminal Justice Today

Question 1

crime

Answer 1

an act that violates criminal law and is punishable by criminal sanctions

Question 2

consensus model

Answer 2

a criminal justice model in which the majority of citizens in a society share the same values and beliefs. Criminal acts are acts that conflict with these values and beliefs and that are deemed harmful to society

Question 3

morals

Answer 3

principles of right and wrong behavior, as practiced by individuals or by society

Question 4

conflict model

Answer 4

a criminal justice model in which the content of criminal law is determined by the groups that hold economic, political, and social power in a community

Question 5

deviance

Answer 5

behavior that is considered to go against the norms established by society

Question 6

murder

Answer 6

the unlawful killing of one human being by another

Question 7

sexual assault

Answer 7

forced or coerced sexual intercourse (or other sexual acts)

Question 8

assault

Answer 8

a threat or an attempt to do violence to another person that causes that person to fear immediate physical harm

Question 9

battery

Answer 9

the act of physically contacting another person with the intent to do harm, even if the resulting injury is insubstantial

Question 10

robbery

Answer 10

the act of taking property from another person through force, threat of force, or intimidation

Question 11

larceny

Answer 11

the act of taking property from another person without the use of force with the intent of keeping that property

Question 12

burglary

Answer 12

the act of breaking into or entering a structure (such as a home or office) without permission for the purpose of committing a felony

Question 13

public order crime

Answer 13

behavior that has been labeled criminal because it is contrary to shared social values, customs, and norms

Question 14

white-collar crime

Answer 14

nonviolent crimes committed by business entities or individuals to gain a personal or business advantage

Question 15

organized crime

Answer 15

illegal acts carried out by illegal organizations engaged in the market for illegal goods or services, such as illicit drugs or firearms

Question 16

criminal justice system

Answer 16

the interlocking network of law enforcement agencies, courts, and corrections institutions designed to enforce criminal laws and protect society from criminal behavior

Question 17

justice

Answer 17

the quality of fairness that must exist in the processes designed to determine whether individuals are guilty of criminal wrongdoing

Question 18

federalism

Answer 18

a form of government in which a written constitution provides for a division of powers between a central government and several regional governments

Question 19

system

Answer 19

a set of interacting parts that, when functioning properly, achieve a desired result

Question 20

formal criminal justice process

Answer 20

the model of the criminal justice process in which participants follow formal rules to create a smoothly functioning disposition of cases from arrest to punishment

Question 21

discretion

Answer 21

the ability of individuals in the criminal justice system to make operational decisions based on personal judgement instead of formal rules or official information

Question 22

informal criminal justice process

Answer 22

a model of the criminal justice system that recognizes the informal authority exercised by individuals at each step of the criminal justice process

Question 23

ethics

Answer 23

the moral principles that govern a person’s perception of right and wrong

Question 24

crime control model

Answer 24

a criminal justice model that places primary emphasis on the right of society to be protected from crime and violent criminals

Question 25

due process model

Answer 25

a criminal justice model that places primacy on the right of the individual to be protected from the power of the government

Question 26

homeland security

Answer 26

a concerted national effort to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States and reduce the country’s vulnerability to terrorism

Question 27

terrorism

Answer 27

the use or threat of violence to achieve political objectives

Question 28

civil liberties

Answer 28

the basic rights and freedoms for American citizens guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, particularly in the Bill of Rights