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Criminal Justice System > Criminal Justice Key Terms > Flashcards

Criminal Justice Key Terms Flashcards

To learn key terms

1
Q

A criminal court practice that allows someone charged with a crime to plead guilty to a lesser offense (so there will be no trial) or allows them to plead guilty to the original charge with the prosecutor

A

Plea Bargain

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2
Q

A formal promise to perform a specific duty or act

A

Oath

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3
Q

A request by a lawyer during a trial that the judge order a witness not to answer a question asked by the other lawyer… The judge must either “sustain” the objection (agree with it and forbid the witness to answer it) or “overrule” it (allow the question to be asked).

A

Objection

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4
Q

The legal, formal name given to the issues embodied in a complaint against another

A

Action

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5
Q

the defendant in a criminal case

A

Accused

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6
Q

An official order issued by a judge or law enforcement official which notifies the person named in the summons that legal action has been started against the person and which tells him or her a date, time, and place they must appear to answer the complaint

A

Summons

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7
Q

A decision made by a judge or jury

A

Finding

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8
Q

A person in a trial who is accused of a crime or some wrongdoing

A

Defendant

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9
Q

The state of a person who is placed in a jail or prison

A

Confinement

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10
Q

A lawyer who acts on behalf of a defendant on trial

A

Defense Attorney

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11
Q

In criminal cases, a lawyer who is appointed and paid by the state or federal government to defend a person who has been accused of committing a crime and who is not able to afford a private attorney

A

Public Defender

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12
Q

To bring someone to trial to obtain a conviction

A

Prosecute

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13
Q

An announcement by a lawyer that he or she has finished presenting the evidence for that side

A

Rest One’s Case

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14
Q

An answer to a charge or claim; guilty, not guilty, or no contest

A

Plea

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15
Q

A person who starts the action, files a complaint, or sues another person

A

Plaintiff

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16
Q

An official decision by a judge or jury that one party must pay another party a specific amount of money

A

Award

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17
Q

A group of people who have sworn to decide the facts in a court case and to reach a fair verdict, or decision

A

Jury

18
Q

The opportunity given to the lawyers at the close of testimony to sum up what they believe the jury’s verdict should be

A

Closing Arguments

19
Q

To threaten someone and have the power to carry-out the threat

A

Assault

20
Q

Questioning of a witness of the opponent called by the lawyer

A

Cross Examination

21
Q

The decision that a jury or judge makes after hearing and considering all of the evidence and testimony in a case

A

Verdict

22
Q

A court that reviews decisions made by trial courts because one side in a case is unhappy with the decision and asks for a “second opinion” on review; an appeals court can agree with the trial court and uphold the lower court decision or disagree with the lower court and overturn the decision

A

Appeals Court

23
Q

The formal presentation of both sides of a dispute before a judge or jury

A

Trial

24
Q

The government official who is authorized to accuse and prosecute (bring to trial) someone who is believed to have committed a crime… Prosecutors are known by various names in difference places, i.e. district attorney, state’s attorney, and people’s attorney.

A

Prosecutor

25
Q

In civil cases, the legal document that states the reasons why someone is being sued and the relief sought

A

Complaint

26
Q

The law enforcement officer who has jurisdiction or authority in a courtroom

A

Bailiff

27
Q

Lawyer, attorney, or counselor; someone who gives advice in a legal matter

A

Counsel

28
Q

An order signed by a judge or prosecutor requiring the presence of someone in a court on a specific date and time

A

Subpoena

29
Q

A person who employs or retains a lawyer to advise and defend them in a legal matter

A

Client

30
Q

The place in the courtroom where the judge sits

A

Bench

31
Q

The presentation made by the lawyers on each side of a case at the start of trial… During opening statements, the issues and facts that will be presented are outlined; the purpose of opening statements is to give the jury an overview of the case so the jurors will be better able to understand the evidence they will hear.

A

Opening Statements

32
Q

Someone who has seen or heard something; someone who provides evidence about something; someone who is officially ordered to testify in a court

A

Witness

33
Q

To strike or hit someone else

A

Battery

34
Q

An act that is harmful to society

A

Crime

35
Q

The amount of evidence required in a case in order for the jury to find in favor of the person bringing the suit; the more serious the consequences of the case, the greater amount of proof required

A

Burden of Proof

36
Q

A reason why a defendant could not have done what they are accused of doing; usually a statement by a witness the defendant was somewhere else

A

Alibi

37
Q

A legal action stated against another asking recovery for a private wrong; not a criminal case

A

Civil Case

38
Q

In criminal cases, the decision by a judge or jury as to what punishment is appropriate for a convicted defendant

A

Sentence

39
Q

A legal system for people under the age of eighteen that is different in some ways from the adult system

A

Juvenile Law

40
Q

Evidence given after taking an oath in court to tell the truth; questions answered under oath concerning what one knows about a case being heard in court

A

Testimony

41
Q

A jury that cannot agree on a verdict; this can result in a new trial before different jurors

A

Hung Jury

42
Q

A jury that investigates criminal complaints and decides whether someone should be formally charged with committing a crime

A

Grand Jury

Criminal Justice System (1 decks)

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