Final Exam Flashcards
Examples of criminal justice system -
Police, courts, and corrections
Is the criminal justice system the only power to control/ punish violators?
Yes
Who was the contact between police and public most common?
Among males, whites, and younger residents
Community policing (COP) and Problem-Oriented Policing -
Proactive forms of policing, change agents to prevent crime before committed
Discretion:
Personal decision making by those carrying out police, judicial functions w/in criminal system
Landmark decision:
Ruling of US Supreme Court, influences everyday procedures of police agencies, courts
Adversary system:
In which prosecution (state) and defense (accused) bring forward evidence arguments decided by judge/jury
Prosecutor:
Public official who represents the government in criminal proceedings; presenting case against the accused
Defendant:
person accused of violating the law
Convictability:
Conditions surrounding criminal case that indicate it had good chance of resulting in conviction
Defense attorney:
Responsible for protecting constitutional rights of accused, legal defense
Right to counsel:
Right of the person accused of crime to the assurance of public attorney in criminal prosecutions
Public defender:
Attorney employed by state whose job is to provide free legal counsel to defendant
Pro bono:
Defense lawyers volunteer w/out compensation, free legal counsel
Probation:
Conditional release of convicted offender; under supervision of probation officer
Incarceration:
Confinement in jail/prison
Jail:
Institution, short-term detention of those convicted/misdemeanors andawaiting trial
Prison (penitentiary)
State/federally operated facility for incarceration of felony offenders sentences by criminal courts
Truth in sentencing:
Requirement that inmates serve greater % of their time behind bars before eligible for parole
Parole:
Conditionally early release from prison
-Offender serving rest of sentence in community w/ supervision of parole officer
Arrest:
Taking into police custody of an individual suspected of a crime
Probable cause:
Evidence of crime is sufficient to warrant an arrest
Booking:
Fingerprinting, photographing, personal info of a suspect in police custody
Interrogation:
Questioning of a suspect in police custody
Mille prosequi:
Declarations expresses prosecutors decision to drop case from further prosecution
Indictment:
Written accusation returned by grand jury charging individual w/ crime
Grand jury:
Group of citizens chosen to hear testimony, and form accusations
Information:
Filing before impartial lower-court, decides if case should go forward
Preliminary hearings:
Alternative grand jury, lower court judge decides if probable cause sufficient for trial
Arraignment:
Accused brought before trial judge, formal charges and rights read, bail considered, trial date set
Bail:
Money bond to ensure accused will return for trial
Recognize:
Pledge by accused to return for trial, accepted in bail
Plea bargain:
Agreement between prosecution and defense where accused pleaded guilty in return for less charge
Hung jury:
Jury is unable to agree on decision, leaving case unresolved, open for possible retrial
Disposition:
Sentencing of defendant w/ fine, probation, incarceration
Appeal:
Taking case to higher court, due to found guilty because of legal error/violation of human rights -may result in new trial
Criminal justice system:
Agencies of government that are responsible for apprehending, adjudicating, sanctioning, and treating criminal offenders
