Policing & criminal justiceLesson 1 of 2 in the course Courts and prosecution

Criminal Justice: Institutions, Practices, and Theories

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Criminal justice is the way society responds when a crime is committed. This lesson introduces the system’s goals and the institutions that work together to uphold the law.

Criminal justice is the delivery of justice when a crime is committed. It includes the laws, government agencies, and procedures used to investigate suspected crimes, decide cases, and respond to people found guilty.

All flashcards

What is the rule of law?
The principle that public authority operates through laws and legal processes rather than arbitrary power.
What is incapacitation as a purpose of punishment?
Restricting a person’s freedom to limit their opportunity to commit crimes.
What is plea bargaining?
A process in which an accused person may plead guilty in exchange for an agreed outcome.
What is political legitimacy in criminal justice?
The public perception that a system’s authority is justified and its decisions deserve respect.
What is retributive justice?
An approach that focuses on deserved and proportionate punishment for wrongdoing.

Quiz questions

  1. What does jurisdiction mean in the context of a law enforcement agency?Answer: The legal or territorial area in which the agency has authority to act.
  2. What was CompStat developed to do in policing?Answer: Track and map crime patterns and hold agencies accountable for addressing problems.
  3. In the United States, what burden of proof must the prosecution meet to establish guilt?Answer: Proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
  4. How does parole generally differ from probation?Answer: Parole follows release from prison before a sentence is completed; probation generally does not.
  5. What does restorative justice primarily emphasize?Answer: Addressing harm, accountability, and, where possible, repairing relationships.

Based on the Wikipedia article Criminal justice, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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