Criminal Justice Concepts Quiz

Actus Reus

• The guilty act or conduct that constitutes a crime.

Administrative Law

• Rules and regulations created by government agencies, having the force of law.

Auburn System

• A prison system that emphasized silent congregate labor during the day and solitary confinement at night.

Bail

• Money or property deposited with the court to ensure a defendant's appearance at trial.

Bifurcated Trial

• A trial divided into two phases: guilt and sentencing.

Burden of Proof

• The obligation to present evidence to support a claim.

Civil Law

• The body of law that governs private disputes between individuals or organizations.

Community Corrections

• Supervision of offenders in the community as an alternative to incarceration.

Concurrent Sentence

• Multiple sentences served at the same time.

Consecutive Sentence

• Multiple sentences served one after another.

Criminal Justice Funnel

• A model depicting the flow of cases through the criminal justice system, showing attrition at each stage.

Criminal Law

• The body of law defining crimes and their punishments.

Death Penalty

• Capital punishment, the execution of a person convicted of a crime.

Defendant

• The person accused of a crime in a criminal case.

Deterrence

• The theory that punishment prevents future crime.

Discretion

• The authority of criminal justice professionals to make decisions based on judgment.

Dual Federalism

• A system of government where power is divided between a central and regional government.

Felony

• A serious crime usually punishable by imprisonment for a year or more.

Grand Jury

• A group of citizens determining if sufficient evidence exists to indict a suspect.

Incapacitation

• The theory that punishment removes offenders from society to prevent further crime.

Judicial Review

• The power of the courts to declare laws or government actions unconstitutional.

Jurisdiction

• The authority of a court to hear a particular type of case.

Juvenile Justice System

• The system handling cases involving minors in the justice system.

Mens Rea

• The guilty mind or intent required for a criminal conviction.

Misdemeanor

• A less serious crime typically punishable by fines or jail time under a year.

Miranda Rights

• Constitutional rights informing suspects before custodial interrogation.

Parole

• Conditional release of an inmate from prison before sentence completion.

Pennsylvania System

• A prison system emphasizing solitary confinement and penitence.

Plea Bargain

• An agreement between prosecution and defense for a lesser charge or sentence in exchange for a guilty plea.

Precedent

• A previously decided case guiding future cases.

Probable Cause

• A reasonable belief that a crime has been committed or evidence exists.

Probation

• A sentence allowing a convicted offender to remain in the community under supervision.

Prosecutor

• The government attorney representing the state in a criminal case.

Rehabilitation

• The theory that punishment aims to reform offenders.

Retribution

• The theory that punishment should be proportionate to the crime.

Sentence

• The punishment imposed by a court on a convicted offender.

Sentencing Guidelines

• Rules specifying the range of punishments for different crimes.

Stare Decisis

• The legal principle of following precedent in judicial decision-making.

Statute

• A law passed by a legislative body.

Trial

• A formal judicial proceeding to determine guilt or innocence.

Walnut Street Jail

• A Philadelphia jail recognized as the first U.S. prison with individual cells and designated work areas.

Congregate System

• A prison system, also known as the Auburn System, with features like inmates working together in silence during the day, placed in solitary confinement during the night.

Lease System

• A system where convicts are leased to private businesses for labor during Reconstruction, predominantly in the Southern states.

Declaration of Principles

• Foundational guidelines for the National Prison Association regarding corrections.

Special Populations

• Groups within the correctional system needing particular attention (elderly, juveniles, etc).

Prison Programs

• Activities aiming to reintegrate offenders into society and prevent recidivism through substance abuse, anger management, and education.

Private Prisons

• Correctional facilities operated by for-profit companies under government contracts.

Reception Facility

• An initial facility for evaluating and processing of inmates before permanent assignment.

Reformatory Movement

• A movement advocating for separating juveniles from adult prisons using specialized facilities for rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation Model

• A model that suggests that criminal behavior stems from external factors that can be addressed through treatment to reform the individual.

Elmira Reformatory

• The first major institution in the U.S. to be fully dedicated to rehabilitation.

Zebulon Brockway

• A significant figure in prison reform, considered the "Father" of American Parole.

Penitentiary

• A term for prison emphasizing penitence.

Rational Choice Theory

• The theory that criminals make decisions based on cost-benefit analysis.

Restitution

• Compensation paid by the offender to the victim for losses.

Revocation

• Cancellation of probation or parole due to violation of conditions.

Search Warrant

• Court order for law enforcement to search specified locations for evidence.

Status Offense

• An act that's only illegal for juveniles (e.g., truancy, curfew violations).

Substantive Criminal Law

• The body of law that defines crimes and elements.

Supremacy Clause

• Provision that federal law supersedes state law.

Tort

• A civil wrong causing harm to another.

United States Circuit Courts

• Intermediate appellate courts within the federal court system.

United States Sentencing Commission

• Independent federal agency establishing sentencing guidelines for federal courts.

Violation

• A minor offense usually punishable by a fine.

Appeal

• Request to a higher court to review a lower court's decision.

Bench Warrant

• Court order for the arrest of a person who failed to appear in court.

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

• The required standard of proof for a criminal conviction.

Constructive Possession

• Knowledge of and control over an illegal item.

Double Jeopardy

• Constitutional protection against double punishment for the same offense.

Duress

• A defense stating that the defendant was forced to commit a crime.

Evidentiary Standard

• The level of proof required to admit evidence in court.

Excuse

• A defense claiming that the defendant shouldn't be held responsible for a criminal act due to extenuating circumstances.

Insanity Defense

• A legal defense claiming that the defendant was not mentally responsible for a crime.

Lesser Included Offense

• A crime that is necessarily included in a more serious offense.

Mala in Se

• Crimes deemed inherently evil, regardless of law.

Mala Prohibita

• Crimes that are wrong solely due to being prohibited by law.

Monetary Fine

• A financial penalty for a crime.

Mutual Pledge System

• An early system of law enforcement relying on family groups for order.

Ordinance

• A law passed by a local government.

Police Brutality

• Excessive or unjustified force by law enforcement.

Pretrial Detention

• Holding a defendant in custody before trial.

Procedural Criminal Law

• Body of law governing the process of criminal justice.

Test your knowledge on key concepts in criminal justice including Actus Reus, Administrative Law, and various types of sentencing. This quiz covers essential terms and principles relevant to the field. Perfect for students or anyone interested in understanding the fundamentals of criminal law.