hate crime
Crime motivated by hate for a certain group. occurs when an offender targets victim due to their perceived membership in a racial, ethnic, gender identity, or sexual orientation group
sex trafficking
victims of human trafficking who are required to participate in acts of prostitution and other forms of sexual slavery
specific deterrence
looks at how an individual may avoid criminal behavior if the potential punishment is viewed as undesirable
UCR (Uniform Crime Report)
one of the largest datasets on crime. Based on police arrest and reporting data
voir dire
the process of questioning by the prosecutor and the defense attorney that is used to select a trial jury
NCVS (National Crime Victimization Survey)
the largest victimization study in the United States, attempts to fill the gap of understanding between reported and unreported crime
indictment
official declaration that there is probable cause to charge the accused with a crime
racial profiling
when race or ethnicity of an individual is used as the sole or primary determinant by the police when making decisions
self-defense
a defense strategy that allows for the use of force to defend oneself against an attacker
general deterrence
Suggests that if people fear the punishments that others receive, they will decide not to engage in similar acts to avoid punishment
bail
a promise to return for future court appearance in exchange for one's release during the pretrial stage
plea bargain
a reduction in charge (and punishment) in exchange for for a guilty plea
Mens Rea
one of the four required components of a criminal act. Latin for the "Evil thought" Refers to the intent of an offender
Actus Reus
Latin for "Evil act" One of the four required components of a criminal act
courtroom work group
Informal arrangement between a prosecutor, defense attorney, and judicial officer
aggravating factors
circumstances that increase the severity of the crime, such as torture, excessive violence, or premeditation
statutory rape
sexual activity with someone who is legally unable to consent to sexual activity due to her or his age.
due process perspective
Perspective that views the role of the criminal justice system to be to ensure all people accused of crimes are treated fairly and equally in the system
crime control perspective
A popular view of the role of the criminal justice system. this perspective states that the goal of the criminal justice system is to prevent crime by shrewdly and harshly punishing offenders
Reasonable Suspicion
An objective basis supported by specific facts for believing someone committed a crime
restorative justice perspective
This perspective indicates that the appropriate role of the criminal justice system is to restore justice as best as possible through repairing the harm caused by criminal behavior
Wedding Cake Model
model that demonstrates how cases are treated differently by the criminal justice process
Miranda v. Arizona
Ernesto miranda was uneducated and had a history of mental illness and made his self-incriminating confession without an attorney present. appealed to the arizona supreme court due to the unconstitutionally obtained confession and lack of government appoi
Terry v. Ohio
A decision by the united states supreme court which held that the fourth amendment prohibition on unreasonable searches and seizures is not violated when a police officer stops a suspect on the street and frisk him or her without probable cause to arrest
clearance rate
Number of crimes "cleared" (charged) by the total number of crimes recorded. used as a measure of crimes solved by police
search warrant
A document that allows police to search a person or a place
SARA
Policing model that is used to help identify problems. Stands for scanning, analysis, response, and assessment.
white collar crime
a category of offenses that traditionally occur within the corporate field
parole revocation
The administrative act of committing a parolee back to prison for his//her failure to comply with the conditions to parole. Habeas corpus is a proper remedy for review of parole. Habeas corpus is a proper remedy for review of parole revocation proceedings
stare decisis
Latin for "to stand by things settled" Refers to the system of precedent
penitentiary
A correctional facility used to imprison criminal offenders. first used in the US in the 1790's (prison)
Eight Amendment
forbids excessive bail and cruel or unusual punishment
Victimology
a field of study within criminology that places the victim at the center of the discussion
Entrapment
a defense strategy that describes when an individual is deceived by a government official to engage in an act that is against the law
insanity defense
A defense based on the belief that a select group of people who suffer from mental illness are unable to control their actions to such an extent that they cannot be held accountable for their crimes
curtilage
The area immediately surrounding a home - outside this, a search cannot occur
procedural criminal law
provides the legal structure and rules by which cases should move through the system
Felony
Serious crime that can be punished by more than one year in prison
Misdemeanor
lower level crimes that are punished by less than one year in jail. Punishments can also involve community based sanctions such as probation
double jeopardy
Being tried twice for the same crime
Fourth Amendment
Protects against unreasonable search and seizure
Fifth Amendment
A constitutional amendment designed to protect the rights of persons accused of crimes, including protection against double jeopardy, self-incrimination, and punishment without due process of law.
exclusionary rule
states that items obtained outside the context of a warrant cannot be used against someone in a court of law
Mala in se crimes
crimes that are illegal because they are bad in themselves or inherently wrong by nature
Sixth Amendment
Right to a speedy trial
charge construction
Negotiation of the charges that a defendant will face at trial in return to a lesser charge defendant will often plead guilty
electronic monitoring
form of supervision that involves the use of technology to follow the location of an offender
community oriented policing
programs and strategies designed to bring police and the public closer together and create a more cooperative working environment between them
jail
Correctional facility that is used to hold people until their punishments are carried out. Also offers incarceration for misdemeanor offenders and specialized programs.
Broken Windows Theory
Theory that suggests that when lesser acts of disorder are left unattended in a neighborhood, there is an increased risk for serious crime to breed.
perjury
lying under oath
police culture
An example of an occupational culture to which new recruits become a socialized through socialization. It us though that police culture is one of several demand characteristics which shape routine decision-making by the police. The term police culture can
civil death
the loss of all or almost all civil rights by a person due to a conviction for a felony or due to an act by the government of a country that results in the loss of civil rights.
jury nullification
Occurs when the jury may decide not to convict a defendant even though the evidence would support a guilty verdict.
beyond a reasonable doubt
in order to convict a defendant of crime, the court must find that there is little doubt according to the reasonable person standard
Tennessee v Garner
A civil case in which the supreme court of the united states held that under the fourth amendment when a law enforcement officer is pursuing a fleeing suspect the officer may not use deadly force to prevent escape unless "the officer has probable cause
meat eaters
Describes officers who actively pursue corrupt activities that could result in significant and illegal gains.
stop and frisk
Policy that allows for police to use their discretion to briefly detain an individual if they believe that the individual may be engaging in illegal behavior and to pat down the individual's exterior clothing if they believe that the individual may have a
consent search
a search that occurs when an individual gives permission to conduct a search
Parens patriae doctrine
allows the state to step in and serve as a guardian for children, the mentally ill, the incompetent, the elderly, or disabled persons who are unable to care for themselves.
writ of habeas corpus
A court order that requires police to bring a prisoner to court to explain why they are holding the person
public defender
attorney who works for the state and defends people who cannot afford a private attorney
'worth of a case'
...
nolo contendere
a no-contest plea in which the defendant does not admit guilt but accepts responsibility
ROR (release on recognizance)
type of release where the defendant promises to appears for all future court dates but does not have to provide the court with any sort of financial guarantee
presentence investigation report
a report to the court that makes a recommendation for a sentence based on the individual's criminal history, nature of the offense, and needs. In some cases, it involves interviews w/ parents , guardians, school officials, treatment providers and social s
victim impact statement
A statement prepared by the victim or his or her family to inform the judge how the crime affected them physically, financially, emotionally, and psychologically. used in sentencing and in any future parole hearings
peremptory jury challenge
The right of peremptory challenge is a right in a jury selection for the attorney to reject a certain number of potential jurors without stating a reason
jailhouse informant
Inmates that will provide incriminating testimony in exchange for reduced sentences or other benefits
restitution
Compensation for injury or loss
Incapacitation
refers to the practice of removing offenders from society so that they will not engage in criminal behaviors for a certain period of time
death eligible charge
Crime punishable for the death penalty
New York Prison System
used the system of silence that was popular in the Pennsylvania system but adopted congregate labor system.
trial jury
a group of citizens who are charged with judging a person charged with a crime
probation
form of punishment that involves the supervision of offenders in the community in lieu of incarceration
conjugal visits
A visit to a prisoner by the spouse of the prisoner especially for sexual relations
boot camp
A type of intermediate sanction in which offenders are mandated to military settings where they are required to follow orders, march, run drills, and engage in physical training. while the public likes the idea of boot camps, some research finds they are
Angola Prison Farm
The louisiana state penitentiary is a maximum security prison farm in louisiana operated by the louisiana department of public safety corrections
recidivism
A measure that identifies relapse into criminal behavior. reducing recidivism is a goal of corrections in the community
Prisonization
The socialization process in prison that requires accepting different values and customs. these make offenders less likely to succeed in the free world
Reintegration
Often a failed step, offenders stay stigmatized as criminals and may lose the support of their
family and friends
grass eaters
Officers who occasionally engage in illegal and unethical activities, such as accepting small favors, gifts, or money for ignoring violations of the law during the course of their duties.
grand jury
A group of citizens that decides whether there is sufficient evidence to accuse someone of a crime.
Parens Patriae Doctrine
enables state to act as child's parent