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Criminal Justice System
System set up to maintain law and order
Jurisprudence
philosophy of the law
Uniform Crime Report
annual report of crime statistics  voluntarily reported by local law enforcement  More data reported for major offenses  fails to factor in unreported crimes
National Crime Victimization Survey
top data on victims in crime  info is for victims from victims  victim may not report to police, but will still report to survey
Plea Bargaining
Very few trials sent to court  Usually already planning on pleading guilty, so goal is reduced sentence
Preliminary Hearing
Decision made on whether there is enough evidence to go to trial (if not, case is dismissed) Used in about half the states  Designed to protect from defendant from hasty and malicious prosecutors
Trial
Jury or Bench Jury: jury decides if guilty or innocent and judge decides sentence (6 for magistrate, 12 for General Sessions)  Bench: innocence and sentenced decided by judge
Bail
8th amendment protects from excessive bail Can be denied (ex. multiple priors, murder) discriminates against poor  Different methods of bail Cash bond PR or ROR - dont have to post cash, based on your word bail bondsman - usually requires 10% of bond to be paid
Probation
suspended sentence (instead of prison) assigned probation agent = glorified babysitter Fed probation agent must have Bachelor's Judge decides if probation to be granted Huge advantage = your out and can work Can be revoked and sent to prison to finish sentence  Requirements Must ha…
Pardon
release from government consequences of conviction Alternative name = Clemency  If you lost right to vote or have a driver's license, those rights returned  Who can grant? Governor - for state charges President - for federal charges
Parole
getting out of jail early Parole board has absolute discretion Must show Some evidence of rehabilitation (good time credits) Have specific place to live  Have to have job in place If restitution is required, show attempts at satisfying this  Conditions once out, must: Meet with PO…
Abandonment
Voluntary relinquishment of all rights, titles, possessions, and claim without intention of reclaiming it
Impossibility
Intend to carry out actions to commit a crime, but turns out law does not prohibit what you did
3 types of inchoate crimes
Solicitation  Attempt - try to commit a crime, but don't finish  Conspiracy  2+ people agree to do unlawful act 2+ people agree to do lawful act in unlawful way
Shock Incarceration
aka boot camp designed for young, first time offenders to shock the criminal ways out of them  Usually 3o to 90 days  Strictly regimented
Parens Patriae
the state as the parent state is in charge of protection of all citizens who cannot protect themselves (usually minors)
Restitution
Repayment - usually as cash or service by offender for victim's benefit frequently ordered with property crimes
Impact Statement
Statement given by the victim of the crime during sentencing to express how he/she has been offended by the crime Can have large impact on judge's decision Can even come to defense of defendant
Insanity
Legal term, not medical  Insanity refers to mental state at time of crime, not trial Can be found "not guilty by reason of insanity", but very rare Insane person lacks mens rea
Work Release
You live in prison, but are allowed to leave for work
Goal(s) of Punishment (4)
Retribution  Deterrence  Incapacitation  Rehabilitation
Deterrents
Specific - punishment given to discourage you, personally, from committing crime again  General - punishment given to an individual, thats intended to be an example for the general public in hopes that it will deter most from committing that certain crime
Retribution
payback  the worse the crime, the higher the sentence
Incapacitation
Incapacitate offenders ability to commit more crimes (usually by detaining them in prison)
Transportation
Drug charges always lead to loss of drivers license
Hung Jury
Jury becomes deadlocked and cannot reach a verdict Trial is over Prosecutor must decide whether to retry case in front of new jury
Verdict
Guilty or not guilty
Due Process
Focused on protecting innocent's rights protects rights of accused from power of the government  assumes innocent until proven guilty  Laws may be void if it violates this
Suppressing Evidence
Defendant/ Prosecutors knows of evidence they do not want shown to jury (it might bias the jury's opinion on issues that don't have to do with the case)  Can file motion with judge to have evidence concealed from jury
Certiorari
Document from US Supreme Court, saying they will hear a case Sends down to lower court and instructs them to send up all information involving the case
Plain View
Law enforcement must be in place they have right to be at Illegal item in plain view (immediately apparent that it is part of a crime) Illegal item can be taken as evidence immediately without search warrant if in plain view
Internal Affairs
designed to keep officers in line and following the rules
Police Discretion
Ability of law enforcement to know what choices to make in often unclear circumstances involving how and when to apply the law Five major factors Nature of the Crime Relationship between alleged criminal and victim  Relationship between police and alleged criminal/victim Race/ethnici…
Assault
Unlawful threat to do bodily harm
Battery
Unlawful touching
Challenges
For Cause - Remove prospective juror from pool as they showed signs of having bias regarding the case in preliminary screenings (unlimited)  Preemptory Challenge - no reason needed to remove juror (limited)
Prison
Federal - go for committing federal offense (most common are drug charges) State - go for committing state offense (91 days or more in SC, 1 year 1 day for most other states)  Classify prisoners into different areas based on security and medical needs and gang affiliation  Private Pris…
Victimization
Based on: Gender - women have highest chance of being raped, but men have highest chance of being victim otherwise Marital Status - singles are more likely  Age - younger you are, more likely to be victim or victimizer  Time - late at night Location - urban areas have higher chance  …
Capital Punishment
Most common form of punishment in 1600s Can not subject minor to capital punishment  SC only allows electric chair and lethal injection 38 states use lethal injection 138 people released from death row due to DNA  4 people pardoned posthumously 3000 suspects exonerated by DNA
Double Jeopardy
5th amendment protects you from being tried for the same crime in the same jurisdiction more than once
Miranda Rights
Rights designed to protect citizens, when citizen is in custody and being interrogated Law enforcement may attempt to deceive you to gain confession = illegal  Designed to protect against self incrimination  Officer must read to anyone being arrested or the charges are dropped
Juvenile Justice
Status Offender - crimes that only apply to children (running away, skipping school) Delinquents - crimes that apply to adults and minors (shoplifting)  Steps Served a petition Intake - intake officer has huge power (can make case totally go away or suggest diversion program) Adjudic…
Substantive vs. Procedural Law
Substantive - do's and dont's of the law (don't rape, kill, steal, not pay taxes, etc...) Procedural - what procedures you will go through once accused of a crime
Stare Decisis
Precedent  What was the law yesterday, is the law today unless we make big deal to change it
Elements of a crime
Actus Reas  Mens Rea If crime requires result, action must have directly caused result
Actus Reas
Criminal/ Guilty Act Crimes of:  Omission - legal duty to act, but did not do so Commission - you actually did it
Mens Rea
Had the criminal mindset  Concurrence - bad act and illegal act committed at same time
Mala En Se v. Malum Prohibitum
Mala En Se - evil crimes (murder, rape) Malum Prohibitum - crime because we say so (stop signs)
Percent of female law enforcement
~13%
Different Styles of Policing
Zero-Tolerance - strict enforcement (makes community follow law, but dislike cops) Community - officers assigned to specific neighborhood (creates relationship between officer and neighbors) Broken-Window - encourages repair of run down buildings (less run down buildings= less vagrants/…
Number of Americans addicted to illegal drugs
7 million

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