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.