Criminal Justice Key Concepts and Definitions
mala in se - ANSWERtraditionally unaccepted crimes that are wrong in
themselves, or by nature. (sexual assault, murder)
mala prohibita - ANSWERoffenses prohibited by law but not wrong in
themselves (gambling, drug possession)
goals in criminal justice - ANSWER1. doing justice
2. controlling crime
3. preventing crime
advancing goals in criminal justice system - ANSWERevidence-based crime
federalism - ANSWERpower is divided between national and state
governments
2 justice system - ANSWERfed. gov prosecutes violations of fed law
state & local gov prosecutes violations of state laws
discretion - ANSWERofficials' authority to make decision using own
judgement
, charging - ANSWERProsecutor decides if the case will be adjudicated
Preliminary Hearing/Grand Jury - ANSWERPreliminary hearing: is when a
judge decides if there is probable cause that the accused committed the
alleged crime
The grand jury: decides whether there is enough evidence to file an
indictment
indictment - ANSWERA formal charge by a grand jury
arraignment - ANSWERa hearing in which a suspect is charged and pleads
guilty or not guilty
bench trial - ANSWERa judge alone hears the case
jury trial - ANSWERA trial before a judge and a jury.
appeal - ANSWERTo ask a higher court to review the decision and determine
if justice was done
prison vs. jail - ANSWERPrison: long term confinement (2 years to death)
Jail: short term confinement (30 days to 2 years)
Wedding Cake Model - ANSWERLayer 1: celebrated cases (high profile)
Layer 2: serious felonies (violent felony)
Layer 3: lesser felonies (less-threat offenders)
mala in se - ANSWERtraditionally unaccepted crimes that are wrong in
themselves, or by nature. (sexual assault, murder)
mala prohibita - ANSWERoffenses prohibited by law but not wrong in
themselves (gambling, drug possession)
goals in criminal justice - ANSWER1. doing justice
2. controlling crime
3. preventing crime
advancing goals in criminal justice system - ANSWERevidence-based crime
federalism - ANSWERpower is divided between national and state
governments
2 justice system - ANSWERfed. gov prosecutes violations of fed law
state & local gov prosecutes violations of state laws
discretion - ANSWERofficials' authority to make decision using own
judgement
, charging - ANSWERProsecutor decides if the case will be adjudicated
Preliminary Hearing/Grand Jury - ANSWERPreliminary hearing: is when a
judge decides if there is probable cause that the accused committed the
alleged crime
The grand jury: decides whether there is enough evidence to file an
indictment
indictment - ANSWERA formal charge by a grand jury
arraignment - ANSWERa hearing in which a suspect is charged and pleads
guilty or not guilty
bench trial - ANSWERa judge alone hears the case
jury trial - ANSWERA trial before a judge and a jury.
appeal - ANSWERTo ask a higher court to review the decision and determine
if justice was done
prison vs. jail - ANSWERPrison: long term confinement (2 years to death)
Jail: short term confinement (30 days to 2 years)
Wedding Cake Model - ANSWERLayer 1: celebrated cases (high profile)
Layer 2: serious felonies (violent felony)
Layer 3: lesser felonies (less-threat offenders)
