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Chapter One Flashcards

1
Q

Criminology

A

the scientific study of the nature, extent, cause, and control of criminal behavior

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2
Q

valid measure

A

measure that actually measures what it purports to; a measure that is factual

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3
Q

reliable measures

A

produces consistent results from one measurement to another

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4
Q

victim-precipitated homicide

A

killings in which the victim is a direct, positive precipitator of the incident

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5
Q

white-collar crime

A

illegal acts that capitalizes on a person’s status in the marketplace

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6
Q

Ex. of white-collar crime

A

fraud, embezzlement, market manipulation

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7
Q

penology

A

a subarea of criminology that focuses on the correction and control of criminal offenders

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8
Q

rehabilitation

A

treatment aimed at preventing future criminal behavior

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9
Q

mandatory sentences

A

statutory requirement that a certain

penalty shall be carried out in convictions for a specific or series of offenses

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10
Q

capital punishment

A

the execution of criminal offenders; the death penalty

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11
Q

recidivism

A

relapse into criminal behavior after apprehension, conviction, and correction for previous crimes

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12
Q

victimology

A

the study of a victim’s role in criminal events

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13
Q

classical criminology

A

theoretical perspective suggesting people choose to commit crime and that crime can be controlled if potential criminals fear punishment

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14
Q

positivism

A

branch of social science that suggests human nature and behavior is a product of social, biological, psychological, or economic forces that can be empirically measured

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15
Q

sociological criminology

A

focuses on the relationship between social factors and crime; based off of Emile Durkheims work

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16
Q

anomie

A

a lack or confusion of norms of clear social standards

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17
Q

Chicago School

A

the group of urban sociologists who have studied the relationship between environmental conditions and crime

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18
Q

socialization

A

process of human development and enculturation, it is influenced by key social processes and institutions

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19
Q

conflict theory

A

view that human behavior is shaped by interpersonal conflict and those who maintain social power will use it to further their own needs

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20
Q

critical criminology

A

the view that crime is a product of the capitalist system

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21
Q

rational choice theory

A

view that crime is a function of a decision-making process in which the would-be offender weighs the potential costs and benefits of an illegal act

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22
Q

trait theory

A

view that criminality is a product of abnormal biological or psychological traits

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23
Q

social structure theory

A

view that disadvantaged economic class position is a primary cause of crime

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24
Q

social process theory

A

view that criminality is a function of people’s interactions with various organizations, institutions, and processes in society

25
critical criminologists
they examine how those who hold political or economic power shape the law to uphold their self-interests
26
deviant behavior
actions that depart from social norms, whether criminal or harmless abertrations
27
crime
an act, deemed socially harmful or dangerous, that is specifically defined as prohibited and punished under the criminal law
28
decriminalized
having criminal penalties reduced rather than eliminated
29
consensus view
belief that the majority of citizens in a society share common values and agree on what behaviors should be defined as criminal
30
criminal law
the written code that defines crimes and their punishments
31
conflict view
the belief that criminal behavior is defined by those in power to protect and advance their own self interests
32
interactionist view
belief that those with social power are able to impose their values on society as a whole; these values then define criminal behavior
33
Code of Hammurabi
oldest written criminal code ca. 1750 BCE
34
Mosaic Code
the written laws on the Ancient Israelites
35
precedent
a rule derived from previous judicial rulings and applied to future cases: the basis of common law
36
common law
early English law, it is the basis of US criminal law
37
statutory crimes
defined by legislative bodies in response to changing social conditions, public opinion, and customs
38
felony
serious offense that carries a penalty of imprisonment, usually one year or more, and may entail loss of political rights
39
misdemeanor
a minor crime usually punished with a short jail time and/or a fine
40
criminal justice
system made up of the agencies of social control, such as police departments, courts, and correctional institutions that handle criminal offenders
41
criminal justice system
the agencies of government that are responsible for apprehending, adjudicating, sanctioning, and treating criminal offenders
42
arrest
the taking into police custody of an individual suspected of a crime
43
probable cause
a set of facts, information, circumstances, or conditions that would lead a reasonable person to believe an offense was committed by the accused. It is the level of proof needed to make a legal arrest
44
booking
fingerprinting, photographing, and recording personal information of a suspect in police custody
45
interrogation
the questioning of a suspect in police custody
46
nolle prosequi
a declaration that expresses the prosecutors decision to drop a case from further prosecution
47
information
a filing before an impartial lower-court judge who decides whether the case should go forward
48
indictment
a written accusation returned by a grand jury charging an individual with a specified crime, based on the prosecutors demonstration of probable cause
49
grand jury
group of citizens chosen to hear testimony in secret and to issue formal criminal accusations
50
preliminary hearing
an impartial lower-court judge decides of the probable cause is sufficient for trial
51
arraignment
the accused is brought before the trial judge, where formal charges are read, defendants are informed of their rights, bail is considered, and a trial date is set
52
bail
a money bond intended to ensure the accused will stand trial
53
recognizance
pledge by the accused to return for trial, which might be accepted in lieu of bail
54
plea bargain
agreement between prosecution and defense in which the accused pleads guilty for a sentence reduction, more lenient sentence, or another consideration
55
hung jury
a jury that is unable to agree on a decision thus leaving the case unresolved and open for a possible retrial
56
appeal
taking a criminal case to a higher court on the grounds that the defendant was found guilty because of legal error or violation of his/her constitutional rights
57
Miller V. Alabama
ruled that juveniles are not fully capable of anticipating consequences for their actions; unconstitutional for them to receive a life sentence without parole
58
Glossip V. Gross
displayed a significant likelihood of a wrongful conviction in death penalty cases due to intense pressure from the community

criminology (14 decks)

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