Test #1 Questions 1-25 Flashcards
What is the purpose of the criminal justice system?
To control and prevent crime with justice and fairness.
The crime control model assumes what?
It assumes that the police are in a better position than courts in determining guilt.
What is used to determine the relationship between genetics and criminal behavior?
Trait theories.
The school of criminology that considers criminal behavior to be the predictable result of a person’s intersection with their environment is called what?
The Chicago School
What is a proposition that can be tested by researchers or observers to determine if it is valid?
A hypothesis
The scientific study of mental processes and behavior is called what?
Psychology
Psychologists studied high levels of televised violence led to increased violent activity among young people. What type of theory is this?
Positivism. Or just simply a Criminology theory.
In which type of data collections are individuals asked directly through personal interviews, questionnaires, and phone interviews, about specific criminal activity?
Self-reported surveys
What are the 3 factors most often used by criminologists to explain increases and decline in crime rate?
Imprisonment, youth populations, and the economy.
Give an example of a crime that is mala prohibita
Prostitution, polygamy, etc.
What is one of the difficulties in defining the natural laws that “mala in se” violate?
It’s difficult to separate a crime from the culture that has deemed it a crime.
The authority of a court to hear and decide cases within an area of the law or geographic territory is called what?
Jurisdiction
What is the basic element of corpus delecti? Corpus delecti is defined as the proof that a crime has been committed.
Actus reas, or a guilty act.
What are most hate crimes motivated by?
Bias against a person or group based on race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or disability.
What is a justification defense?
When someone claims that although a criminal activity was committed, the circumstances justified it. An example is self defense.
What kind of law is enacted by legislative bodies?
Statutory law.
What is required for something to constitute a crime?
- Criminal Act - Actus reas. 2. Mental State - Mens reas.
What does the 8th Amendment protect against?
The government imposing excessive bail, excessive fines, or cruel and unusual punishment.
What are the responsibilities of the Sheriff’s department?
Investigating violent crime in their jurisdictions among others.
What contributes to the growth of private security?
An increase in public fear of crime, triggered by media coverage. Also an increase in workplace crime. Also budget cuts in states and municipalities have reduced the police force and raise the need for private security.
If a private security officer witnesses a crime, what may they do?
They should report it, but they may perform a citizen’s arrest.
The first modern police force was created where in 1829?
London.
According to the Phoenix study, what is the best predictor of police use of force?
Civilian use of force.
What is forensic evidence?
Evidence obtained by scientific methods such as ballistics, blood tests, and DNA tests.
Why is DNA fingerprinting so useful in criminal investigations?
Because no two people have the same genetic code.
What is the largest nationwide DNA database, which is operated by the FBI?
CODIS
According to the San Diego police “use of force” matrix, if a suspect’s behavior is one of “active resistance”, the officer may do what?
The officer may employ: tasers, neck restraints, takedown techniques, pepper spray, and K9.
(True or False) The smallest and top-tier of the wedding cake model focuses on high-profile cases.
True
(True or False) Sometimes a constituent consensus forces the government to move more quickly due to public pressure on a crime issue.
True
(True or False) Young black males have failed to benefit from the positive crime trends of the last 15 years.
True
(True or False) Actus reas is a person’s mental state.
False
(True or False) Constitutional law is the type of law enacted by legislative bodies.
False
(True or False) The 6th Amendment guarantees a right to a speedy trial, trial by jury, the right to confirm witnesses, etc…
True
(True or False) The written sources of American criminal law are also known as substantive criminal law.
True
(True or False) Budget cuts in state and municipalities have forced reductions in public police, and raised the demand for private ones.
True
(True or False) A motorist who is belligerent towards a highway patrol officer is more likely to be ticketed than one who is contrite and apologetic.
True
(True or False) The period of time when a police officer may be fired is called field training.
False
According to the consensus model, society _____ _____ to control and prevent deviant behavior.
Passes; laws
_____ drugs have chemicals that affect the brain causing changes in emotions and behavior.
Psychoactive
The _____ _____ _____ is a general guide for criminal law that explains different degrees of criminal activity.
Wedding cake model or crime control model. But I don’t think it’s either.
A defense for criminal liability that asserts a lack of legal _____ is called insanity
Responsibility
_____ is when unlawful pressure is brought to bear on a person causing the person to perform an act he/she might not otherwise perform.
Duress
_____ is a defense in which the defendant claims he/she was induced by a public official, usually an undercover police officer to commit a crime.
Entrapment
Private security is is the practice of private corporations offering services traditionally performed by _____
Police
A uniformed security guard patrolling a shopping mall or bank lobby has one primary function. This is known as the _____ factor .
Deterrence
_____ is evidence such as fingerprints, blood, or hair found at a crime scene.
Trace evidence
_____ is the moral sense of a police officer that he/she should apply authority in a certain manner.
Duty
What are the principles of right/wrong behavior called for individuals/society?
Morals
What is the authority to choose between and among alternative courses of action called?
Discretion
What is the purpose of patrol?
To deter crime, and maintain public order.
