Chapter 1: Intro to Crime and the CJ System Flashcards
Criminal Justice
The system of institutions, policies, and practices with the goal of maintaining social control and deterring crime through sanctions and rehabilitation.
Law Enforcement
one of the three main components of the criminal justice system. Law enforcement agencies are charged with investigating crimes and arresting individuals alleged to have committed crimes.
Courts
One of the three main components of the criminal justice system. The courts are responsible for interpreting and applying the law.
Corrections
Functions to protect society from criminals through housing, monitoring, and other community based programs
Nolle Prosequi
Latin for “be unwilling to pursue” this is commonly used by a prosecutor to willingly terminate legal proceedings before trail or before a verdict. The statement is often construed as an admission that the charges can’t be proven.
No bill
A decision made by a grand jury that indicates that insufficient evidence is present to proceed with the case.
Nolo Contendere
A plea made by a defendant in which he or she neither admits nor disputes guilt. It is commonly referred to as a “no-contest” plea.
Indeterminate Sentence
Sentence given to a defendant in the form of a range of years to be served (ie. 3-15 years)
Victim Advocates
Trained professionals who support crime victims as their cases move through the criminal justice system.
Inalienable Rights
Rights that are universal and not contingent on laws or beliefs specific to a particular govt. or culture
Judicial Activism
This refers to deviation from the literal meaning of the constitution, to take into account the present situation including complex societal advances.
USA PATRIOT Act
The 2001 Uniting and Strengthening American by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act was sign into law by President George W Bush to strengthen security measures designed to protect the US from attack.
USA Freedom Act
A 2015 law that came into effect the day after the USA PATRIOT Act expired. This act restored many provision of the PATRIOT Act but limited the collection of telecommunication metadata of citizens by the National Security Agency.
Crime
The breaking of a law for which the criminal justice system or some other governing authority prescribes punishment.
Street Crime
These crimes are relatively common and serious, involving a victim and offender who come together in space and time
Property Crime
Crime against property. The most common forms include, burglary, property theft, and motor vehicle theft
Victimless Crime
These criminal offences are thought not to involve victims because they do not directly harm individuals other than the offenders.
Arraignment
Charges are given, defendant informed of his/her rights, enters a plea
Guilty, not guilty, nolo contendere (accept penalty without admitting guilt)
Nolo contendere
accept penalty without admitting guilt
White-collar Crimes
Crimes committed by a person of respectability and high status in the course of his/her occupation
Mala en se
Behavior that is immoral and inherently wrong by nature
Mala Prohibita
Behavior that is prohibited by the law (changes over time)
Justifiable Homicide
lawful and intentional taking of another’s life
Castle doctrine
You have the right to kill those who intrudes on your residence
“Stand Your Ground”
Is a justification in a criminal case, whereby defendants can “stand their ground” and use force without retreating, in order to protect and defend themselves or others against threats or perceived threats.
Cyber Crime
A form of illegal activity using a computer or computer networks as the primary method of commission. Examples include network intrusions, dissemination of computer viruses and phishing.
Terrorism
The completed of threatened use of coercion and/or violence against a population of people with the goal of changing political, religious, or ideological positions.
decriminalization
The act of ending or reducing criminal associated with some behavior
Adultery
Sex by a married person with someone other than his or her spouse.
specific laws differ by state and criminality associated with it.
Rape
A type of violent crime considered mala in se that includes “penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with a body part of object, oral penetration by a sex organ or another person, without the consent of the victim.”
Crime Control POV
A popular view of the role of the CJ system. This POV states that the goal of the system is to prevent crime by shrewdly and harshly punishing offenders.
Rehabilitative POV
A view that the purpose of the CJ system is to rehabilitate offenders.
Due Process POV
A perspective that views the role of the CJ system to be to ensure that all people accused of crimes are treated fairly and equally in the system.
Restorative Justice POV
This POV indicated that the role of the CJ system is to restore justice as best as possible through repairing the harm caused by criminal behavior.
Nonintervention POV
A view that the role of the CJ system is to be as minimal and non intrusive as possible
Consensus Model
A theoretical view of the CJ system that highlights the collaborative nature of the system. The components of the criminal justice system work in unison to achieve justice.
Conflict Model
A theoretical view of the CJ system that highlights the adversarial nature of the system. components of the criminal justice system work in competition to produce a fair outcome or justice.
Framing
The packaging of criminal events in the media into tidy presentations that make sharing the info easy.
Faulty Criminal Justice System Frame
Suggests that crime occurs because of a dearth of law and order in the country and that criminals offend because they feel they can get away with it.
Blocked Opportunities Frame
This frame indicates that crime results from a lack of legal options. Offenders live in poverty, are uneducated, unemployed and discriminated against, and because of that commit crime.
Social Breakdown Frame
Indicates that crime is the result of a breakdown in family and community
Racist System Frame
Indicates that the problem is not crime, but rather that law enforcement, courts and corrections are racist agents of oppression.
Violent Media Frame
This frame find that crime is depicted as a direct result of the violent media present in television, movies, video games and music.
Infotainment
The marketing of a highly edited and distorted combination of entertainment and information posed to be truthful and comprehensive.
Narrow-casting
The presentation of a narrow view of information in the media to small homogeneous audiences.
Criminology
An academic discipline that investigates the nature, extent, and causes of criminal offending and criminal victimization.
