Chapter 6 Key Terms

Question 0

Beyond a reasonable doubt

Answer 0

The standard of proof used in criminal cases

Question 1

Crime

Answer 1

A wrong against society proclaimed in a statute and, if committed, punishable by society through fines, imprisonment, or death.

Question 2

Actually reus

Answer 2

A guilty (prohibited) act. The commission of a prohibited act is one of the two essential elements required for criminal liability, the other element being the intent to commit a crime.

Question 3

Mens rea

Answer 3

The wrongful mental state (“guilty mind”), or intent, that is one of the key requirements to establish criminal liability for an act.

Question 4

Robbery

Answer 4

The act of forcefully and unlawfully taking personal property of any value from another

Question 5

Burglary

Answer 5

The unlawful entry or breaking into a building with the intent to commit a felony

Question 6

Larceny

Answer 6

The wrongful taking and carrying away of another person’s personal property with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the property

Question 7

Arson

Answer 7

The intentional burning of a building

Question 8

Forgery

Answer 8

The fraudulent making or altering of any writing in a way that changes the legal rights and liabilities of another

Question 9

White collar crime

Answer 9

Nonviolent crime committed by individuals or corporations to obtain a personal or business advantage

Question 10

Embezzlement

Answer 10

The fraudulent appropriation of funds or other property by a person who was entrusted with the funds or property

Question 11

Insider trading

Answer 11

The purchase or sale of securities on the basis of inside information (information that has not been made available to the public)

Question 12

Money laundering

Answer 12

Engaging in financial transactions to conceal the identity, source, or destination of illegally gained funds

Question 13

Felony

Answer 13

A crime- such as arson, murder, rape, or robbery- that carries the most severe sanctions, ranging from more than one year in a state or federal prison to the death penalty

Question 14

Misdemeanor

Answer 14

A lesser crime than a felony, punishable by a fine or incarceration in jail for up to one year.

Question 15

Petty offense

Answer 15

The least serious kind of criminal offense, such as traffic or building code violation

Question 16

Self defense

Answer 16

The legally recognized privilege to do what is reasonably necessary to protect oneself, ones property, or someone else against injury by another

Question 17

Duress

Answer 17

Unlawful pressure brought to bear on a person, causing the person to perform an act she or he would not otherwise perform

Question 18

Entrapment

Answer 18

A defense in which a defendant claims that he or she was induced by a public official to commit a crime that he or she would otherwise have not committed.

Question 19

Self-incrimination

Answer 19

Giving testimony in a trial or other legal proceeding that could expose the person testifying to criminal prosecution

Question 20

Plea bargaining

Answer 20

The process by which a criminal defendant and the prosecutor work out an agreement to dispose of the criminal case, subject to court approval

Question 21

Search warrant

Answer 21

An order granted by a public authority, such as a judge, that authorizes law enforcement personnel to search particular premises or property

Question 22

Probable cause

Answer 22

Reasonable grounds for believing that a search should be conducted or that a person should be arrested

Question 23

Double jeopardy

Answer 23

The fifth amendment requirement that prohibits a person from being tried twice for the same criminal offense

Question 24

Exclusionary rule

Answer 24

A rule that prevents evidence that is obtained illegally or without a proper search warrant- and any evidence derived from illegally obtained evidence- from being admissible on court

Question 25

Indictment

Answer 25

A formal charge by a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that a named person has committed a crime

Question 26

Grand jury

Answer 26

A group of citizens who decide after hearing the states evidence, whether probable cause exists for believing that a crime has been committed and that a trial ought to be held

Question 27

Information

Answer 27

A formal accusation or complaint (without and indictment) issued in certain types of actions by a government prosecutor

Question 28

Computer crime

Answer 28

The unlawful use of a computer or network to take or alter data, or to gain the use of computers or services without authorization

Question 29

Cyber crime

Answer 29

A crime that occurs in the online environment rarer than in the physical world

Question 30

Cyber fraud

Answer 30

Any misrepresentation knowingly made over the internet with the intention of deceiving another for the purpose of obtaining property or funds

Question 31

Identity theft

Answer 31

The illegal use of someone else’s personal information to access the victims financial resources

Question 32

Phishing

Answer 32

An email fraud scam in which the messages purport to be from legitimate businesses to induce individuals into revealing their personal financial data, passwords, or other information

Question 33

Hacker

Answer 33

A person who uses computers to gain unauthorized access to obtain data