Chapter 10

Question 1

Acceptance of responsibility

Answer 1

a genuin admission or acknowledgment of wrongdoing

Question 2

Affirm

Answer 2

to uphold the decision or opinion of a lower trial court.

Question 3

Aggravating circumstances

Answer 3

Events about the crime that may intensify the severity of punishment

Question 4

Appeal

Answer 4

Any request directed to a higher court challenging the decision of a lower court.

Question 5

Appelant

Answer 5

Person who initiates an appeal

Question 6

Appellees

Answer 6

the respondents in a case appealed to a higher court.

Question 7

Argument

Answer 7

Any rationale provided by the defense or prosecution to support their position in court.

Question 8

Bifurcated trial

Answer 8

Tribunal in capital cases where the jury is asked to make two decisions.

Question 9

Brief

Answer 9

A document filed to a lawsuit to convince the court of the merit of the case

Question 10

Circumstantial evidence

Answer 10

Material provided by a witness from which a jury must infer a fact.

Question 11

Conditions of confinement

Answer 11

The nature of jail or prison of incarceration(heat, humidity, cleanliness)

Question 12

Death row

Answer 12

Arrangement of prison cells where inmates who have been sentenced to death are housed.

Question 13

Defendant’s sentencing memorandum

Answer 13

Version of event leading to conviction offense in the words of the convicted offender.

Question 14

Dissenting opinion

Answer 14

Any judicial opinion attacking the decision of a collegial court.

Question 15

DNA fingerprinting

Answer 15

Detecting suspect according to their unique DNA patterns

Question 16

Interiment sentencing

Answer 16

Imposed punishment where offender must serve a portion of sentence in jail.

Question 17

Isolation

Answer 17

A sentencing philosophy where prisoners are placed in a confined cell with no communication with others.

Question 18

Jail as a condition of probation

Answer 18

Sentence in which the judge imposes limited time to be served in jail before commencement of probation.

Question 19

Mistrial

Answer 19

A trial that cannot stand, is invalid.

Question 20

Mixed sentencing

Answer 20

Sentence that requires that the convicted offender serves weekends in jail while undergoing probationary supervision in the community.

Question 21

Narrative

Answer 21

A portion of pre-sentence investigation report prepared by a probation officer which provides description of offense and offender.

Question 22

Notice of appeal

Answer 22

Filling a formal document with the court advising that the sentence is to be appealed.

Question 23

Opinion

Answer 23

The official announcement of a court’s decision and the reasons for that decision.

Question 24

Oral argument

Answer 24

Verbal presentation made to an appellate court in order to persuade the court to affirm, reverse or modify a lower court decision.

Question 25

Pardon

Answer 25

a declaration of forgiveness and freedom from punishment.

Question 26

Probation officer

Answer 26

Person who supervises probationers.

Question 27

Reversed or remanded

Answer 27

Decision by the appellate court to overturn the verdict of a lower trial court with instruction to the trial court to rehear the case.

Question 28

Sentencing hearing

Answer 28

Optional hearing in which defendants and victims can hear content of pre-sentence investigation reports.

Question 29

Sentencing memorandum

Answer 29

Court decision that furnishes ruling or finding and orders to be implemented relative to convicted offenders.

Question 30

Sentencing probation (_parole)

Answer 30

Sentencing offenders to prison for a brief period to give them a taste of prison life and then releasing them into the custody of a probation or parole officer.

Question 31

Split sentencing

Answer 31

Sentencing whereby a judge imposes a sentence of incarceration for a fixed period followed by probation.

Question 32

Stare decisis

Answer 32

Legal precedent. The principle of leaving undisturbed a settled point of law.

Question 33

Warrant

Answer 33

A written order directing a suspect’s arrest.

Question 34

Wrongful conviction

Answer 34

Adjudication of guilt by either the judge or jury where the convicted offender is actually innocent.