POLS 2312 1st Edition Lecture 27 Outline of Last Lecture I News II History of Legal System A Family Law B Changing Times C Labor Laws D Categorizing Crimes Outline of Current Lecture I Categorizing Crimes A Felony B Misdemeanor C Parole D Probation E Arraignment and Bail F Grand Jury G Pretrial Hearings H Trial II County or District Attorneys III History of Texas Prison System IV Changes in the Texas Prison System Current Lecture l A A felony is a serious criminal offense with fines up to 10 000 Prison punishment ranges from 6 months to life The death penalty is possible and voting rights for felons are restored and other terms of punishment have been served Many states issue a lifetime ban on voting if you were a felon but not in Texas B A misdemeanor is a less serious crime with fines up to 4 000 jail sentences up to 1 year possible served in county jail C Parole is a conditional early release after serving prison time they must follow specific rules and are under probation officer supervision These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute D Probation is when there is no incarceration sentence they remain in the community and they must follow set rules and are under probation officer supervision May do community service counseling treatment E Arraignment and bail is for felonies and misdemeanor arrests They are arraigned before a judge where their charges are explained they re reminded of due process rights bail is usually set during arraignment F The grand jury determines whether evidence is sufficient to proceed with a trial They do not determine guilt G Pretrial Hearings are a formal guilty or not guilty plea trial dates are scheduled motions may be presented plea bargains usually take place during this phase H At trial is when the jury decision must be unanimous otherwise it results in a mistrial Acquittal is not guilty and defendant is set free Conviction is when they are guilty and sent to jail or prison probation and fees A defendant can appeal a guilty verdict they ask a higher court to reconsider the lower courts decision ll County or district attorneys prosecute felony cases on behalf of the state They decide whether to prosecute or not They authorize plea bargains and negotiations They are elected within each county and serve a 4 year term Rosemary Lehmberg is the DA who got arrested for a DUI lll The first Texas prison was built in Huntsville in 1849 1849 1910 prisoners were leased out as laborers and Texas prisons were brutal and scandalous In 1972 Texas prisoners sued against the prison system Texas prisons have been under federal supervision from 1980 2002 lV Prisons are now limited to 95 capacity Violent prisoners are separated from others there s improved health care and safer working conditions They also ended severe and arbitrary discipline Louisiana has the highest incarceration rate with Texas in the top 5 and Maine with the lowest Texas has the most executions with 432 from 1976 2012
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