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32 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Appellate Court
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A court that is empowered to rehear cases originating in a trial court. |
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Bureau of Justice Statistics |
The mission of BJS is to collect, analyze, publish, and disseminate information on crime, criminal offenders, victims of crime, and the operation of justice systems at all levels of government. |
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Code |
A comprehensive set of laws arranged by subject. |
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Common Law |
The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States; relies heavily on judicial decisions. |
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Congress of the United States |
The legislative branch of the United States government, composed of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Sentate. |
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Constitution |
A body of fundamental principles by which a nation or state is governed. |
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Criminal Code |
The portion of the United States Code or the Code of an individual state that deals with criminal law. |
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Decisions (courts) |
The written opinions of appellate courts that have the force of law in common law countries like the United States. |
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Dual Court System |
A term describing the American governmental structure characterized by having both state courts and federal courts. |
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Dual Federalism |
A system of government like that of the United States where there are both national and state governments. |
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Due Process |
The constitutional guarantee that a defendant will receive fair and impartial treatment by the criminal justice system. |
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Effectiveness |
Carrying out justice system activities with proper regard for equity, proportionality, constitutional protections afforded defendants and convicted offenders, and public safety. |
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Efficiency |
Economically applying available resources to accomplish statutory goals as well as to improve public safety. |
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Executive Branch |
The branch of government tasked with the administration of public affairs, and the enforcement of laws and policies. |
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Fairness |
Justice issues such as assuring equal treatment and handling of like offenders and giving equal weight to legally relevant factors in sentencing. |
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Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure |
Rules promulgated by the SCOTUS that govern how federal criminal prosecutions are conducted. |
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Hierarchical |
An organizational structure where elements are arranged by rank. |
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Infancy Defense |
The common law doctrine that very young children were incapable of forming a culpable mental state, and thus were not subject to criminal prosecution. |
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Judicial Review |
The power of the Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of legislative enactments. |
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Judiciary |
The court system of a country or state; judges taken collectively. |
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Juvenile Justice |
Elements of the criminal justice system designed to deal with lawbreaking by those not old enough to enter the adult system. |
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Legislature |
An elected body, such as Congress, that has the constitutional authority to make laws. |
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Nonsystem Argument |
An argument that the components of the criminal justice system are in conflict, and that there is actually no system at all. |
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Penal Code |
A body of statutes that specify crimes and their punishments; more commonly referred to as the substantive criminal law or the criminal code. |
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Plea Bargain |
A negotiated agreement between the prosecution and the defendant where the defendant agrees to plead guilty to a lesser crime than that originally charged, or to a lesser sentence than can normally be expected if the case goes to trial. |
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Procedural Due Process |
The constitutional idea that the criminal justice system must treat people in a fundamentally fair way. |
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System |
A group of interrelated parts that work together to accomplish a common set of objectives. |
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Three Branches of Government |
The three branches of the American government established by the Constitution are the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. |
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Trial Court |
A court having original jurisdiction in criminal matters as opposed to an appellate court. |
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Unconstitutional |
Not in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the United States or the Constitution of a particular state. |
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United States Supreme Court |
The highest court in the United States; composed of eight associate Justices and one Chief Justice. |
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SCOTUS |
Supreme Court of the United States |