Criminology Words/Terminology

Question 1

Appeal

Answer 1

A legal process that allows a defendant to challenge a conviction or sentence made by a trial court

Question 2

Arraignment

Answer 2

A court proceeding where a defendant is formally informed of the charges against them and enters a plea

Question 3

Burden of proof

Answer 3

The standard proof that the prosecution must meet in a criminal trial to establish that a defendant is guilty of a crime

Question 4

Crime

Answer 4

An action or omission that constitutes an offense may be prosecuted by the state and is punishable by law

Question 5

Assault

Answer 5

A crime that involves causing physical harm or putting someone in fear of physical harm

Question 6

Conviction

Answer 6

A legal judgement that a criminal defendant is guilty of a crime

Question 7

Accused

Answer 7

A person or persons formally charged or implicated in wrongdoing but not yet convicted of a crime

Question 8

Bench Trial

Answer 8

A criminal trial where a judge acts as both the fact-finder and law-giver, making the final decision on the defendant’s guilt or innocence without a jury

Question 9

Felony

Answer 9

A serious crime, such as murder or arson

Question 10

Parole

Answer 10

The conditional release of prisoners before the full completion of their sentence

Question 11

Counsel

Answer 11

To provide legal advice or guidance to someone on specific subject matter

Question 12

Law

Answer 12

The collection of rules imposed by authority

Question 13

Statutory Law

Answer 13

The body of laws created by legislative statutes

Question 14

Penal Code

Answer 14

The legal code governing crimes and their punishment

Question 15

Case Law

Answer 15

A law established by following earlier judicial decisions

Question 16

Common Law

Answer 16

A law established by following earlier judicial decisions

Question 17

Rule of Law

Answer 17

A state of order in which events conform to the law

Question 18

Jurisprudence

Answer 18

The branch of philosophy concerned with the law

Question 19

Criminal Law

Answer 19

The body of law dealing with offenses and their punishment

Question 20

Civil Law

Answer 20

The legal code of Ancient Rome

Question 21

Tort

Answer 21

A wrongdoing for which an action for damages may be brought

Question 22

Administrative Law

Answer 22

The body of rules and regulations and orders and decisions created by administrative agencies of government

Question 23

Precedent

Answer 23

An example that is used to justify similar occurrences

Question 24

Misdemeanor

Answer 24

A crime less serious than a felony

Question 25

Offense

Answer 25

A failure to show regard for others

Question 26

Infraction

Answer 26

A violation of a law or rule

Question 27

Treason

Answer 27

A crime that undermines the offender’s government

Question 28

Espionage

Answer 28

The systematic use of spies to obtain secrets

Question 29

Actus Reus

Answer 29

Activity that transgresses moral or civil law

Question 30

Mens Rea

Answer 30

Criminal intent

Question 31

Criminal negligence

Answer 31

(law) recklessly acting without reasonable caution and putting another person at risk of injury or death (or failing to do something with the same consequences)

Question 32

Motive

Answer 32

the reason that arouses action toward a desired goal

Question 33

Concurrence

Answer 33

The property of two things happening at the same time

Question 34

Ex post facto

Answer 34

Affecting things past

Question 35

Elements

Answer 35

Violent or severe weather

Question 36

Corpus delicti

Answer 36

The body of evidence that constitute the offense

Question 37

Islamic Law

Answer 37

The code of religious law derived from the Quran

Question 38

Tazir Crime

Answer 38

Minor crimes committed by Muslims

Question 39

Defense

Answer 39

The act of guarding someone or something against attack

Question 40

Alibi

Answer 40

Proof that someone accused of a crime could not have done it

Question 41

Justification

Answer 41

The act of defending or explaining by reasoning

Question 42

Excuse

Answer 42

A defense of some offensive behavior

Question 43

Self-defense

Answer 43

The act of defending yourself

Question 44

Entrapment

Answer 44

Missing

Question 45

Double Jeopardy

Answer 45

Prosecution of the same crime twice

Question 46

Substantive

Answer 46

Having a firm basis in reality and therefore important

Question 47

Inchoate

Answer 47

Only party in existence; imperfectly formed

Question 48

Culpable

Answer 48

Deserving blame or censure as being wrong or injurious

Question 49

Collateral

Answer 49

Accompanying; following as a consequence

Question 50

Estoppel

Answer 50

A rule of evidence whereby a person is barred from denying the truth of a fact that has already been settled

Question 51

Vagrancy

Answer 51

The state of wandering from place to place

Question 52

Conspiracy

Answer 52

A plot to carry out some harmful or illegal act

Question 53

Negligent

Answer 53

Characterized by undue lack of attention or concern

Question 54

Mitigate

Answer 54

Lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of

Question 55

Lewd

Answer 55

Suggestive of or tending to moral looseness

Question 56

Lascivious

Answer 56

Driven by lust

Question 57

Duress

Answer 57

Compulsory force or threat

Question 58

Fraud

Answer 58

Intentional deception resulting in injury to another person

Question 59

Conflagration

Answer 59

A very intense and uncontrolled fire

Question 60

Inducement

Answer 60

A positive motivational influence

Question 61

Incompetent

Answer 61

Not qualified or suited for a purpose

Question 62

Arson

Answer 62

The crime of intentionally setting fire to buildings and other property