Criminology Terms Flashcards
Crime Control Model
- favours providing criminal justice professionals with considerable powers for responding to crime.
- stresses the importance of controlling crime.
Due Process Model
-limits the powers of criminal justice system to prosecute accused persons.
Case Attrition
when cases drop out of the criminal justice system.
Rule of Law
- everyone is accountable under law.
- laws are clear, publicized, stable and just, applied evenly, and protect fundamental rights, including the security or persons and property.
- the process in which the laws are enacted, administered, and enforced is accessible, fair, and efficient.
- justice is delivered in a timely manner by competent, ethical, and independent representatives, and neutrals who are sufficient, adequately informed, and reflect the communities they serve.
What is the Charter of Rights and Freedoms?
It is the primary law of the land and guarantees fundamental freedoms, legal rights, and quality rights to all citizens of Canada, including those accused of crimes.
What is Criminal Law?
The body of law that deals with conduct considered so harmful to society as a whole that it is prohibited by statute and prosecuted and punished by the government.
What is the origin of the Rule of Law?
Magna Carta, June 1215
What are the Principles of Canadian Law?
- an act does not make a person guilty unless he or she has a guilty mind (mostly).
- no crime without a law, no punishment without a law (rules cannot be changed in the middle of the game, and laws cannot be applied retroactively).
- ignorance of the law is no excuse (even though the laws are ever changing).
- no one is compelled to incriminate him/herself (criminal suspects have the right to remain silent during the police investigation). If forced or threatened to make a confession, the statement will be inadmissible in court.
- no one should be twice troubled by the same cause (double jeopardy); an alleged offender cannot, under any circumstances, be tried twice for the same offense.
Precedent
a judicial decision that may be used as a standard in subsequent similar cases.
Common Law
a law that is based on custom, tradition, and practice. It is generally a written law.
Statute Law
a written law that has been enacted by a legislative body, such as the Parliament of Canada.
Case Law
a law that has been established by a previous court decision and based on the rule of precedent.
Stare Decisis
the principle by which the higher courts set precedents that the lower courts must follow.
Crime
and act or omission that is prohibited by criminal law.
What implies a crime has occurred?
A crime occurs when a person:
- commits an act or fails to commit an act when under a legal responsibility to do so.
- has the intent to commit the act.
- does not have a legal defense or justification for committing the act.
- violates a provision in criminal law.
What are the three categories of criminal offenses?
summary conviction offenses, indictable offenses, hybrid offenses.
What is a summary conviction offense?
- generally a less serious offense.
- triable before a magistrate or judge.
- maximum penalty of a fine up to $5000 and/or 6 months in a provincial correctional facility.
- time limit of 6 months.
ex. trespassing, causing a disturbance.
What is an indictable offense?
- generally a more serious offense.
- maximum prison sentence of 14 years to life.
- no time limit.
ex. murder, robbery, aggravated sexual assault.
What is a hybrid offense?
can be preceded summarily or by indictment-a decision that is always made by the crown.
ex. many types of assault.
Value Consensus Model
the view that the behaviours are defined as criminal and the punishment imposed on offenders reflects commonly held opinions and limits of tolerance.
Conflict Model
the view that the crime and punishment reflect the power of some groups have to influence the formulation and application of criminal law.
Moral Entrepreneurs
individuals, groups, or organizations that seek action against certain groups of people or certain behaviours and bring pressure on legislators to enact criminal statutes.
ex. MADD, anti-abortion groups, pro-choice
Actus Rea
the act of doing something.
Mens Rea
guilty intent
Criminology
The scientific study of crime and criminal behaviour.
Criminal justice
The study of social control and the agencies that are involved in the apprehension, prosecution, defence, sentencing, incarceration, and supervision of those suspected or charged with or convicted of criminal offences.
Criminal Justice System
All the agencies, organizations, and personnel that are involved in the prevention of, and response to, crime and to persons charged with criminal offences and persons convicted of crimes.
Crime control (model of criminal justice)
An orientation to criminal justice in which the protection of the community and the apprehension of offenders are paramount.
Due process model (of criminal justice)
An orientation to criminal justice in which the legal rights of individual citizens, including crime suspects, are paramount.
Task environment
The cultural, geographic, and community setting in which the criminal justice system operates and justice personnel make decisions.
Constitution Act 1867
The legislation setting out the division of responsibilities between the federal and provincial and territorial governments.
Criminal Code
Federal legislation that sets out criminal laws, procedures for prosecuting federal offences, and sentences and procedures for the administration of justice.
Adversarial system
A system of justice that is based on two opposing sides-the prosecution and the defence- arguing the guilt or innocence of a person before a judge or jury.
Beyond a reasonable doubt
The standard that must be met to convict a defendant in a criminal case, which requires that the facts presented provide the only logical explanation for the crime.
Discretion
The freedom to choose among different options when confronted with the need to make a decision.
Ethics
“The foundation of knowledge that describes right/wrong or better/worse…and applies to harm/care and fairness/reciprocity.”
Ethical Issues
“Broad social questions, often concerning the government’s social control mechanisms and the impact on those governed, for example, what laws to pass, what sentences to attach to certain crimes.”
Basic Principles of the Adversarial System
- Presumption of innocence
- The Crown bears the burden of proof
- Doli incapax (too young for evil)
- Severe mental disorders (insanity)
- Attempts are crimes
Ethical Dilemmas
Situations in which criminal justice personnel must decide what to do.