Chapter 1 Section 1.2

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Appellate court

Back 1

A court that is empowered to rehear cases originatingin a trial court

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Bureau of justice statistics

Back 2

The mission of BJS is to collect, analyze, publish, 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

Back 3

A comprehensive set of laws arranged by subject

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Common law

Back 4

The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States; realize heavily on judicial decision.

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Congress of the United States

Back 5

The Legislative branch of the United States government, composed of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S Senate Petition constitution constitution

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Constitution

Back 6

A body of fundamental principles by which a nation or state governed.

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Criminal code

Back 7

A portion of the United States code or the code of an individual state that deals with criminal law.

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Decisions (Courts)

Back 8

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

Back 9

A term describing the American governmental structure characterized by having both state courts and federal courts.

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Dual federalism

Back 10

A system of government like that of the United States where there are both national and state governments.

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Due process

Back 11

The constitutional guarantee that a defendant will receive a fair and impartial treatment by the criminal justice system.

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Effectiveness

Back 12

Carrying out justice system activities with proper regard for equality, proportionality, constitutional protections afforded defendants and convicted offenders, and public safety.

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Efficiency

Back 13

Economically applying available resources to accomplish statutory goals as well as to improve public safety.

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Executive branch

Back 14

The branch of the government tasked with the administration of public affairs, and the enforcement of laws and policies.

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Fairness

Back 15

Justice issues such as assuring equal treatment and handling of like offenders and given equal weight to legally relevant factors and sentencing

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Federal rules of criminal procedure

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Rules promulgated by the SCOTUS the govern how federal criminal prosecutions are conducted.

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Hierarchical

Back 17

An organizational structure where elements are arranged by rank

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Infancy defense

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A 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

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The power of a Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of legislative in the enactments

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Judiciary

Back 20

The court system of the country or state; judges taken collectively

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Juvenile justice

Back 21

Elements of the criminal justice system designed to deal with lawbreaking by those who are not old enough to enter the adult system.

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Legislature

Back 22

And elected body, such as Congress, that has the constitutional authority to make the laws.

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Nonsystem argument

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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

Back 24

A body of statutes that specify crimes and punishments; more commonly referred to as the substantive criminal law or the criminal code

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Plea bargain

Back 25

A negotiated agreement between the prosecution and the defendant where the defendant agrees to plead guilty to a lesser crime than originally charge, or a lesser sentence then can normally be expected if the case goes to trial.

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Procedural due

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The constitutional idea that the criminal justice system must treat people in a fundamentally fair way

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SCOTUS

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Supreme Court of the United States

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System

Back 28

A group of interrelated parts that work together to accomplish a common set of objectives

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Three branches of government

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The three branches of the American government established by the constitution are the executive, legislative, judicial branches

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Trial court

Back 30

A court having original jurisdiction in a criminal matter as opposed to an appellate court

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Unconstitutional

Back 31

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

Back 32

The highest court in the United States; composed of eight associate justices and one Chief Justice.