criminal law Flashcards
tort
violation of individual legal rights
crime
act that violates the laws and legal rights shared by a community as a whole
violation
act of breaking law, considered an offense against the autherority invested in the state or federal govt
actus rea
criminal act itself
mens rea
intent to commit the crime
malice
wish to annoy or harm another person, or intent to commit a wrongful act without regard to the lives or safety of other people.
general malice
refers to a generalized desire to commit harm or injury
express malice
refers to a specific plan to cause harm to a specific party
malice afterthought
important element in murder cases, intention to cause injury or commit a dangerous act prior to the act of killing
criminal
person who commits crime
penal code
entire published body of criminal statutes
criminal act
actual commission of a criminal offense
criminal action/criminal prosecution/criminal proceeding
lawsuit brought by the state or fed govt against a criminal offender
criminal procedure
rules that describe the various steps involved in initiation and concluding a criminal action
arrest
detain
arrest warrent
order to have criminal arrrested and brought before court
probable cause
allows person to be arrested without an arrest warrent if they are suspected of a crime. must have reasonable grounds for arrest
articulable
the officer can justify and explain suspicion in probable cause
stop
persons freedom of movement or action is briefly inhibited
stop and frisk/terry stop
officer stops the suspect and performs a quick pat down and search for a weapon that may be concealed.
prosecutor/district attorney/states attorney
elected public official who serves a specific jurisdiction and represents the govt in criminal court. must file criminal complain when suspect is arrested
preliminary hearing/probable cause hearing
determines if defendant named in complaint has enough evidence of criminal conduct against them to be tried in court
bail
release of defendant in exchange for property or a sum of money, used to prevent suspects from fleeing to avoid standing trial
recognizance
formal obligation that is recorded in court in which the person gives the court a formal written statement acknowledging his or her obligation to show up for trial.
treason
act of war against the us or giving aid and comfort to the countries enemies.
felony
serious criminal offense for which punishment is more than one year of incarceration in prison
prison
facility est specifically for people convicted of serious crimes or death
misdemeanor
less serious offense for which the punishment involves payment of a fine and or less then one year of incarceration in a jail
jail
institution usually local est specifically for people awaiting trial and for ppl convicted of less serious crimes
criminal charges
formal charges of a criminal offense. must be written out and submitted to court.
indictment/true bill
formal written account of the charges against a suspect as determined by a grand jury
grand jury
a group of 6-23 jurors in charge of determining weather sufficient grounds exist to warrant an indictment. hears prelim evidence and has broad investigative powers which includes the ability to subpoena witnesses and evidence
information
formal written description of the charges submitted by a prosecutor rather then a grand jury
principal
person who actually commits a crime, either through his or her won actions or by directing or compelling another person
accomplice
anyone who knowingly and voluntarily helps another person commit a crime
accessory
person involved in the commission of a crime without actually being present during the crime
aiding & abetting
help or encouragement from an accomplice or accessory to principal
attmempt
actions taken with intent to commit crime
conspiracy
agreement btw 2 or more ppl to commit a crime