Criminal Justice Process Overview

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Questions and Answers

What action is taken during booking after a suspect is arrested?

Recording charges and fingerprints (correct)

Conducting a trial

Issuing a cash bond

Acquiring witness statements

What is the purpose of a DNA swab in the process described?

To verify blood type

To release the suspect from custody

To gather genetic evidence against the suspect (correct)

To collect hair samples

What does the term 'pre-trial release' refer to?

Detaining the accused until trial

Allowing the accused to leave custody under certain conditions (correct)

Setting a trial date immediately

Arraigning the accused before charges are filed

What is required for a prosecutor to file charges against a defendant?

A complaint based on sufficient evidence (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of a pre-trial release agency?

To determine the conditions for release of defendants (C) Signup and view all the answers

What are the defendant's options for securing a bail according to the process described?

Bail can be secured through personal promise or cash (B) Signup and view all the answers

What must happen within 48 hours after an arrest?

The defendant must be confronted with charges (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a common action taken during interrogations by authorities?

Questioning about the crime (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is required for law enforcement to establish reasonable suspicion?

A 25% certainty that a crime may have occurred (D) Signup and view all the answers

How much certainty is needed to establish probable cause?

51% (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario exemplifies a misdemeanor arrest requirement?

If the officer observes the crime in progress (B) Signup and view all the answers

What can be concluded about a mistake in establishing probable cause?

Mistakes can lead to wrongful arrests. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the investigative period is true?

Investigation time can range from a few days to a few years. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What threshold must be crossed to justify reasonable suspicion?

Some indication that a crime may have occurred (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does probable cause rely on when identifying a suspect?

A reasonable belief that a specific person committed the crime (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best describes the difference between reasonable suspicion and probable cause?

Reasonable suspicion is based on a lesser certainty than probable cause. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between proactive and reactive crime detection?

Proactive involves police stumbling upon crimes, while reactive is driven by reports. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which stage of the criminal justice process involves determining whether to prosecute a case?

Prosecution stage (C) Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of crimes are often reported to the police?

Less than 10% (D) Signup and view all the answers

What role do citizens play in the criminal justice process when a crime occurs?

Citizens serve as the primary informants to police. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is often the most common reason for individuals not to report a crime?

Belief that police cannot help (B) Signup and view all the answers

During which stage does the determination of guilt or innocence take place?

Trial stage (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which factor primarily leads to more proactive crime detection?

Increased police visibility and patrols (A) Signup and view all the answers

What role do confidential informants (CIs) play in the criminal justice process?

They assist in crime detection and provide valuable information to law enforcement. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary principle of the 'code of Hammurabi' regarding crime and punishment?

Individuals should be punished based on the severity of the crime. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Who is recognized as the Father of the classical school of criminology?

Cesare Becarria (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which concept describes the belief that individuals are inherently bad and born with a criminal mind?

Born Bad Theory (A) Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of 'crime as a product of free will' imply?

Culpability arises from deliberate choices made by individuals. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is emphasized as a significant aspect of the criminal justice system's components?

The interaction between police, courts, and corrections. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What approach to crime does the 'retaliation/retribution' concept represent?

Punishing the offender in proportion to the crime committed. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not a component of the criminal justice system?

Legislation (C) Signup and view all the answers

Cesare Becarria’s writings focus on which aspect of criminology?

The relationship between crime and punishment. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does the 'cost-benefit model' imply about why individuals commit crimes?

Individuals perceive that the benefits outweigh the potential costs. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a key element in discouraging criminal behavior?

Making the potential costs greater than the benefits. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What could be considered a 'benefit' of committing a crime according to the cost-benefit model?

Material gain such as acquiring a scooter. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best exemplifies the concept of deterrence in crime control?

Establishing harsher penalties for criminal acts. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What role does 'opportunity' play in the decision to commit a crime?

It increases the likelihood of seeing potential benefits. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of crime control strategies focusing on deterrence?

To ensure the cost of crime exceeds any potential benefits. (A) Signup and view all the answers

How do potential costs influence a person's decision to commit a crime?

They must be perceived as outweighing the potential benefits. (B) Signup and view all the answers

In the context of crime, what can be considered a 'cost'?

The possibility of incarceration for unlawful activities. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Release

After an arrest, an individual can be released for various reasons, including lack of probable cause.
The booking process involves fingerprinting, recording charges, and possible DNA swabs.
Pre-trial release can occur after an arrest, and involves several options, including bail, release on recognizance (ROR), and pre-trial release agency assistance.

Early Legal Procedures

Proctoration is the process of transitioning a suspect to a defendant.
When a prosecutor believes there's enough evidence, they file a complaint, which leads to the defendant being formally charged with a crime.
The very first court appearance, where a defendant typically enters a plea of not guilty, happens within 48 hours of arrest, excluding weekends and holidays, according to law.

The Criminal Justice Process

The criminal justice system is divided into five stages: crime, arrest, prosecution, trial, and corrections.
There are two types of crime detection processes: proactive, where police discover a crime without a report, and reactive, where a crime is reported to the police.
Reactive crimes encompass 90% of all reported crime, with citizen complaints being the most frequent.
Reasonable suspicion means police have cause to suspect a crime, but not enough evidence to arrest.
Probable cause means there is a reasonable belief that a crime was committed and the suspect was involved.
Misdemeanor crimes, where officers must witness an offense to arrest, do not always require probable cause.

Key Theories and Thought Leaders:

The Hammurabi Code is an early example of a criminal justice system, emphasizing the "eye for an eye" philosophy, focused on retribution.
Cesare Beccaria, known as the father of the classical school of criminology, authored "On Crimes and Punishment", focusing on the criminal mind.
Beccaria believed that crime is a choice, guided by a "cost-benefit model" where individuals weigh potential consequences against potential gains.
Deterrence theory proposes that potential costs must outweigh benefits, emphasizing that potential consequences should limit crime.

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Description

This quiz covers the essential stages of the criminal justice process, from arrest to release. It examines legal procedures such as booking, early legal procedures, and types of pre-trial releases. Test your understanding of how the criminal justice system operates.