Criminal Justice Terms PDF

​ Actus Reus: The guilty act or conduct that constitutes a crime. ​ Administrative Law: Rules and regulations created by government agencies that have the force of law. ​ Auburn System: A prison system that emphasized silent congregate labor during the day and solitary confinement at...

​ Actus Reus: The guilty act or conduct that constitutes a crime. ​ Administrative Law: Rules and regulations created by government agencies that have 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, typically a guilt phase and a sentencing phase. ​ 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: The 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 that depicts the flow of cases through the criminal justice system, illustrating attrition at each stage. ​ Criminal Law: The body of law that defines 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 can prevent future crime. ​ Discretion: The authority of criminal justice professionals to make decisions based on their judgment. ​ Dual Federalism: A system of government where power is divided between a central government and regional governments. ​ Felony: A serious crime typically punishable by imprisonment for a year or more. ​ Grand Jury: A group of citizens that determines whether there is enough evidence to indict a suspect. ​ Incapacitation: The theory that punishment should remove 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 of courts and agencies that handles cases involving minors. ​ Mens Rea: The guilty mind or intent required for a criminal conviction. ​ Misdemeanor: A less serious crime typically punishable by fines or jail time of less than a year. ​ Miranda Rights: The constitutional rights that suspects must be informed of before custodial interrogation. ​ Parole: The conditional release of an inmate from prison before the end of their sentence. ​ Pennsylvania System: A prison system that emphasized solitary confinement and penitence. ​ Plea Bargain: An agreement between the prosecution and defense where the defendant pleads guilty in exchange for a lesser charge or sentence. ​ Precedent: A previously decided case that serves as a guide for future cases. ​ Probable Cause: A reasonable belief that a crime has been committed or that evidence of a crime exists. ​ Probation: A sentence that allows a convicted offender to remain in the community under supervision. ​ Prosecutor: The government attorney who represents the state in a criminal case. ​ Rehabilitation: The theory that punishment should aim to reform offenders. ​ Retribution: The theory that punishment should be proportionate to the crime committed. ​ Sentence: The punishment imposed by a court on a convicted offender. ​ Sentencing Guidelines: Rules that specify 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: Opened in 1773, this Philadelphia jail is recognized as the first prison in the United States to incorporate features like individual cells and designated work areas. ​ Congregate System: Also known as the Auburn System, this penitentiary management philosophy involved inmates working in silence during daytime hours and being placed in solitary confinement during the night. ​ Lease System: This system gained prominence in the Southern states during the Reconstruction era. It entailed leasing convicts to private businesses to perform arduous labor tasks. ​ Declaration of Principles: These principles, established in 1870, served as the foundational guidelines for the National Prison Association (which later evolved into the ACA). They are regarded as a pivotal point in the professionalization of the field of corrections. ​ Special Populations: This category encompasses groups within the correctional system that necessitate particular attention or resources. Examples include individuals who are infirm, elderly, juveniles, and women. ​ Prison Programs: These activities aim to facilitate the reintegration of offenders back into society and minimize the likelihood of recidivism (re-offending). They encompass a range of programs such as those addressing substance abuse, anger management, and educational needs. ​ Private Prisons: These prison facilities are run by for-profit companies that operate under government contracts. ​ Reception Facility: Before being assigned to a more permanent facility, inmates or juveniles are initially sent to a reception facility for evaluation and screening. ​ Reformatory Movement: This movement, starting in the mid-1800s, advocated for the removal of juveniles from adult prisons and the establishment of specialized facilities focused on rehabilitation. ​ Rehabilitation Model: This model is based on the idea that criminal behavior is often driven by factors beyond an individual's conscious choice. The Rehabilitation Model suggests that through treatment, the underlying causes of crime can be addressed, and individuals can be rehabilitated, meaning they are made noncriminal. ​ Elmira Reformatory: Located in New York, this institution earned recognition as America's first reformatory, established in 1876. ​ Zebulon Brockway: This individual is acknowledged as a significant prison reformer and the "Father" of American Parole. ​ Penitentiary: This term for prison emerged when offenders were expected to be penitent. ​ Penitent: A penitent person repents wrongdoing and asks for forgiveness. ​ Pennsylvania System: This system of prison discipline used solitary confinement which was believed to foster penitence. It originated in the late 18th century. ​ Appeal: A request to a higher court to review a lower court's decision. ​ Bench Warrant: A court order for the arrest of a person who has failed to appear in court. ​ Beyond a Reasonable Doubt: The standard of proof required for a criminal conviction. ​ Constructive Possession: Having knowledge of and control over an illegal item, even if not physically possessing it. ​ Double Jeopardy: The constitutional protection against being tried twice for the same offense. ​ Duress: A defense that claims the defendant was forced to commit a crime. ​ Evidentiary Standard: The level of proof required to admit evidence in court. ​ Excuse: A defense that claims the defendant should not be held responsible for a crime due to extenuating circumstances. ​ Insanity Defense: A legal defense claiming 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 considered inherently evil, regardless of law. ​ Mala Prohibita: Crimes considered wrong because they are prohibited by law. ​ Monetary Fine: A financial penalty imposed as a punishment for a crime. ​ Mutual Pledge System: An early system of law enforcement where groups of families were responsible for maintaining order. ​ Ordinance: A law passed by a local government. ​ Police Brutality: The excessive or unjustified use of force by law enforcement officers. ​ Pretrial Detention: Holding a defendant in jail before trial. ​ Procedural Criminal Law: The body of law that governs the process of criminal justice, including arrests, trials, and sentencing. ​ Rational Choice Theory: The theory that criminals make decisions based on a cost-benefit analysis. ​ Restitution: Payment by an offender to a victim to compensate for losses. ​ Revocation: The cancellation of probation or parole due to a violation of conditions. ​ Search Warrant: A court order authorizing law enforcement to search a specific location for evidence. ​ Status Offense: An act that is only illegal for juveniles, such as truancy or curfew violations. ​ Substantive Criminal Law: The body of law that defines crimes and their elements. ​ Supremacy Clause: The constitutional provision that establishes federal law as supreme over state law. ​ Tort: A civil wrong that causes harm to another person. ​ United States Circuit Courts: The intermediate appellate courts in the federal court system. ​ United States Sentencing Commission: An independent agency that establishes sentencing guidelines for federal courts. ​ Violation: A minor offense typically punishable by a fine.