174 Police Academy Ld5 Glossary

Front 1

Accessory

Back 1

one who knowingly assists a perpetrator after the felony has been committed.

Front 2

Accomplice

Back 2

A principal becomes an accomplice when the principal testifies for the prosecution against another principal.

Front 3

Aids & Abets

Back 3

Actively assisting, supporting, promoting, encouraging, strengthening, or instigating in the commission of a crime by act or advice

Front 4

Breach of contract

Back 4

Failure to comply with the terms of a contract

Front 5

Case law

Back 5

Laws that are based upon appellate court decisions

Front 6

Civil law

Back 6

Noncriminal violations of the law

Front 7

Codes

Back 7

All current statues or ordinances enacted by a legislative body

Front 8

Constitutional law

Back 8

Rules and provisions found in the federal and state constitutions

Front 9

Crimes

Back 9

Violations of a criminal statute

Front 10

Criminal intent

Back 10

A mental state or frame of mind that the person knowingly did the particular criminal act (break the law). May be general, specific or transferred intent

Front 11

Criminal law

Back 11

Criminal statutes that describe crime and punishment

Front 12

Criminal Negligence

Back 12

A negligent act that is aggravated or reckless, and constitutes indifference to the consequences

Front 13

Elements of the crime

Back 13

The basic facts that must be proven by the prosecution to sustain a conviction

Front 14

Ex post facto crime

Back 14

Laws written after the fact to punish an action that has already taken place and was not illegal at the time of commission

Front 15

Felony

Back 15

The most serious crime, punishable by a fine and/ or imprisonment in a state prison, removal from office, or death

Front 16

General intent crimes

Back 16

intent is presumed and does not have to be proven. Definition of a crime consists only of the description of a particular act, without reference to intent

Front 17

Infraction

Back 17

A public offense punishable by only a fine

Front 18

Judicial review

Back 18

The power held by the judicial branch that permits it to review action of the legislative and executive branches of government and declare void acts it finds are in violation of the constitution

Front 19

Letter of the law

Back 19

When the law is applied in accordance with the literal meaning of the statute, leaving no room for interpretation

Front 20

Misdemeanor

Back 20

A crime of lesser gravity than a felony, punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment in a county jail

Front 21

Ordinances

Back 21

County and municipal codes or statutes

Front 22

Precedent

Back 22

Previous appellate court decisions that become binding on later court decisions

Front 23

Principals

Back 23

All persons involved in the commission of a felony or misdemeanor

Front 24

Redress

Back 24

To right a wrong

Front 25

Specific intent crimes

Back 25

An element of a crime that must be proven and cannot be presumed;the requirement of the specific intent element varies according to the definition of a crime

Front 26

Spirit of the law

Back 26

Interpreting law in accordance with the intent of the legislative body rather than the literal meaning of the words of the statute

Front 27

Statutory law

Back 27

The written law enacted by a legislative

Front 28

Tort

Back 28

Private wrong committed by one person against another

Front 29

Transferred intent

Back 29

When an unlawful act affects a person other than, or in addition to, the person it was intended to affect

Front 30

Wobbler

Back 30

A crime that can be punished either as a felony or misdemeanor