01 Foundations of Criminal Justice Free Online FlashCards

What is the criminal justice system?

It is the network of laws, public institutions, and procedures through which government responds to conduct defined as crime.

What does it mean that U.S. criminal justice is decentralized?

Authority is divided among federal, state, tribal, and local governments. Most criminal justice activity is handled by state and local systems.

What are the three main areas of the criminal justice system?

Law enforcement investigates and makes legally justified arrests; courts handle charges and legal proceedings; corrections carries out sentences and supervises people.

How do jails generally differ from prisons?

Jails are generally local facilities for people awaiting court or serving shorter sentences. Prisons generally hold people serving longer sentences.

What is a typical criminal case pathway, and is every stage inevitable?

A case may proceed from report or investigation through arrest, charging, pretrial proceedings, adjudication, sentencing, and correctional supervision. It can end earlier through decisions such as diversion or dismissal.

What is discretion in the criminal justice process?

Discretion is the authority to make choices within legal limits. Officials exercise it at each stage of a case.

What commonly distinguishes the juvenile justice system?

It generally handles allegations involving minors through a distinct process that commonly emphasizes youth development, accountability, rehabilitation, and public safety.

What does the Fourth Amendment restrict in criminal cases?

The Fourth Amendment restricts unreasonable searches and seizures by the government.

What key protections do the Fifth and Sixth Amendments provide?

The Fifth Amendment protects against compelled self-incrimination. The Sixth Amendment provides rights including counsel and a speedy, public trial.

What limits does the Eighth Amendment place on punishment and bail?

The Eighth Amendment restricts excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment.

Why can criminal justice policy involve trade-offs?

The system pursues goals such as public safety, accountability, fairness, due process, rehabilitation, and efficiency. These goals can sometimes compete.

What does the National Crime Victimization Survey measure?

The NCVS asks people in sampled households about nonfatal victimizations, including incidents not reported to police.