Introduction to Crime Definitions

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Questions and Answers

Match the following terms with their definitions:

Mala en se = Acts that are inherently evil Mala prohibita = Acts declared bad by legal statutes Deviance = Behaviors that violate social norms Criminology = The scientific study of crime

Match the following concepts with their perspectives:

Consensus perspective = Assumes agreement on laws in society Conflict perspective = Assumes disagreement on what the law should be Criminal justice = Refers to institutions like police and courts Deviance = Includes unusual behaviors both legal and illegal

Match the following types of police agencies with their descriptions:

State police = Enforces state laws and investigates major crimes Highway patrol = Focuses on enforcing laws on highways Local police = Handles law enforcement in city or town Federal agencies = Investigate crimes crossing state lines

Match the following terms with their types of jurisdiction:

Limited jurisdiction = Authority to hear specific types of cases Geographic jurisdiction = Authority to decide cases in a specific area Concurrent jurisdiction = Authority shared by multiple courts Appellate jurisdiction = Authority to review lower court decisions Signup and view all the answers

Match the following concepts with their examples:

Probation = Arrangement for offenders to comply with terms Jail = Houses individuals awaiting trial Prison = For individuals convicted of serious crimes Community service = Alternative sentencing option Signup and view all the answers

Match the following examples with their criminal categories:

Murder = Mala en se Speeding = Mala prohibita Robbery = Mala en se Gambling = Mala prohibita Signup and view all the answers

Match the following roles with their functions in the criminal justice system:

Police = Enforce laws and maintain order Courts = Interpret the law and adjudicate cases Corrections = Supervise offenders after sentencing Defense attorney = Represents the accused in legal proceedings Signup and view all the answers

Match the following illegal acts with their societal implications:

Murder = Universally considered wrong Robbery = Acts against individuals and property Drug possession = Varies by jurisdiction and law J-walking = Minor offense usually overlooked Signup and view all the answers

Match the following terms with their descriptions:

Crime = Violation of the law Deviance = Behavior that strays from norms Criminology = Study of crime motivations Criminal behavior = Actions that violate laws Signup and view all the answers

Match the following terms with their processes:

Probation = Monitored freedom for offenders Jail = Detention before trial for minor offenses Arraignment = Initial court appearance for charges Sentencing = Judicial determination of punishment Signup and view all the answers

Match the following terms with their definitions:

Prison = Generally for individuals convicted of serious crimes and with longer sentences Parens patriae = A philosophical perspective that recognizes the state's obligation to intervene on behalf of its citizens Judicial waiver = Authority to transfer a juvenile case to adult criminal court Concurrent jurisdiction = Original jurisdiction shared by both adult and juvenile courts Signup and view all the answers

Match the following legal concepts with their descriptions:

Statutory exclusion = Excludes certain juvenile offenders from juvenile court; cases go to adult court Comparative criminology = Study of crime patterns across various cultures Victim precipitation = Increased likelihood of victimization due to personal actions Compensation = Payments to victims of violent acts by the government Signup and view all the answers

Match the following aspects of a good theory with their meanings:

Parsimony = The fewest possible propositions or concepts Scope = The range of criminal behavior that a theory explains Logical consistency = The coherence of a theoretical model's concepts Testability = The ability to be scientifically tested through observation Signup and view all the answers

Match the following causal criteria with their explanations:

Temporal ordering = Variable x precedes variable y Correlation or covariation = Variable x is associated with a change in variable y Spuriousness = Appearance of causation when caused by another variable Empirical validity = Support for a theoretical model by scientific research Signup and view all the answers

Match the following terms related to victim compensation with their definitions:

Restitution = Ordered payment by the offender to the victim Victim impact statement = Formal statements given by victims in court Compensation = Payments to victims by the government Victim precipitation = Risk of victimization due to personal actions Signup and view all the answers

Match the following types of juvenile court concepts with their meanings:

Judicial waiver = Authority to transfer juvenile cases to adult court Concurrent jurisdiction = Shared original jurisdiction between courts Statutory exclusion = Juvenile cases automatically going to adult court Parens patriae = State's obligation to protect its citizens Signup and view all the answers

Match the following theoretical characteristics with their importance:

Testability = Can be empirically tested through observation Logical consistency = Makes sense and is consistent with known trends Temporal ordering = Helps determine causality Correlation or covariation = Requires consistent association between variables Signup and view all the answers

Match the following terminology used in criminology:

Comparative criminology = Studying crime across cultures Prison = For serious crime convictions Empirical validity = Research support for a theory Victim impact statement = Used in court for sentencing decisions Signup and view all the answers

Match the following definitions with their terminology:

Spuriousness = Other factors causing two variables to coincide Empirical validity = Support for a theory backed by research Parens patriae = State intervention on behalf of citizens Victim precipitation = Risk of becoming a victim due to actions Signup and view all the answers

Match the following descriptions with their corresponding terms:

Prison = Facility for individuals convicted of crimes Restitution = Court-ordered payment to a victim Statutory exclusion = Prevention of juvenile court jurisdiction Judicial waiver = Transfer authority from juvenile to adult court Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Definitions of Crime

Crime violates laws; varies based on legal interpretations.
Mala en se: Inherently evil acts (e.g., murder, rape, robbery).
Mala prohibita: Acts labeled as crimes due to legal statutes, not moral failings (e.g., speeding, gambling).

Concepts in Criminology

Deviance: Behavior that deviates from societal norms; may include illegal acts and unusual behaviors.
Criminology: Scientific study of crime and the motivations behind criminal behavior.
Criminal Justice: System involving law enforcement, courts, and corrections, focused on crime management.

Theoretical Perspectives

Consensus Perspective: Assumes societal agreement on laws and norms with minimal conflict.
Conflict Perspective: Argues laws reflect interests of powerful groups, leading to societal disagreement on legal issues.

Law Enforcement Agencies

State Police: Enforce state laws and investigate significant crimes.
Highway Patrol: A model for statewide departments focusing on road law enforcement.

Jurisdiction Types

Limited Jurisdiction: Authority of courts to handle specific legal areas or geographical regions.
Geographic Jurisdiction: Courts' authority to adjudicate cases within defined geographic boundaries.

Sentencing and Corrections

Probation: Supervised release requiring compliance with specific conditions instead of imprisonment.
Jail: Facilities for minor offenses or individuals awaiting trial.
Prison: Incarceration for serious crimes and longer sentences.

Juvenile Justice

Parens Patriae: Doctrine emphasizing the state's responsibility to protect citizens, especially minors.
Judicial Waiver: Transfers juvenile cases to adult criminal court as determined by authority.
Concurrent Jurisdiction: Shared authority between juvenile and adult courts; discretion on where to file cases.
Statutory Exclusion: Automatically channels specific juvenile offenders to adult court by law.

Comparative Criminology

Analyzes crime across cultures to discern patterns and differences globally.

Research and Theory Evaluation

Parsimony: Good theories should be straightforward, using minimal propositions.
Scope: Range of behaviors explained by a theory.
Logical Consistency: Theoretical coherence with known crime data.
Testability: Ability for a theory to be scrutinized through empirical research.
Empirical Validity: Support from scientific studies confirming a theory's claims.

Causality Criteria

Temporal Ordering: Establishes causality; variable x precedes variable y.
Correlation/Covariation: Requires consistent association between predictor (x) and explanatory variable (y).
Spuriousness: Occurs when two variables seem related but both are influenced by a third variable (z).

Victimology

Victim Precipitation: Victim's actions or inactions increase risk of victimization.
Compensation: Payments made to victims by the government for violent acts.
Restitution: Court-ordered payments from offenders directly to victims.
Victim Impact Statement: Victim's accounts presented in court that may influence sentencing outcomes.

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Description

This quiz explores various definitions of crime, highlighting the differences between mala en se and mala prohibita. Additionally, it examines the concept of deviance and its relation to illegal activities. Test your understanding of legal classifications and societal norms.