test 1 Flashcards
Criminal Law
Laws that define criminal acts and how such acts will be punished
Three Strikes Law
A crime control strategy whereby an officer who commits three or more violent offenses will be sentenced to a lengthy term in prison: Usually 25 years
Arrest
: The taking into custody or detaining of one who is suspected of committing a crime
Prosecution
(Lawyer for police officer and victim) To bring charges against an individual based on probable cause
Adjunction
Legal resolution of a dispute by s judge or jury. Used in Juvenile processes
Arraignment
: Accused informed of charges, advised of rights of criminal defendants, asked to enter a plea to the charges
Sanction
Punishment
Appellate Review
Following trial and sentencing, a defendant may appeal his or her conviction or sentence by requesting that a higher court review the arrest and trial
Death Penalty cases
Automatic appeals of conviction
Corrections
: Offenders sentenced to incarceration serve time in a local jail or state prison
Indeterminate sentence
Scheme whereby one is sentenced for a flexible time period (e.g 5-10 years) to be released when rehabilitated or when the opportunity for rehabilitation is presented
Determinate sentence
: A specific, fixed-period sentence ordered by a court (8 years)
Parole
: Early release from prison, with conditions attached and under supervision of a parole agency. Prisoner may become eligible for parole after serving a portion of indeterminate sentence
State offenses
- such as truancy and running away
Ethics
: A set of rules or values that spell out appropriate human conduct
State Decisis
: Latin for “to stand by a decision”, Precedent
Mens Rea
Intent
Atus Reus
The act
criminal law
: Body of law defines criminal offenses and prescribes punishments for their infractions
Motive
The reason for committing a crime
Felony
: A serious offense with a possible sentence of more than a year in prison
Civil law
: All noncriminal law, applies to civil matters
Misdemeanor
A lesser offense, punishable by a fine or up to one year in local jail.
Plaintiff
Party bringing a lawsuit or initiating a legal action against someone else
Defendant
: A person charged with a crime