Criminal Justice Test 3

Front 1

Change of venue

Back 1

The movement of a trial or lawsuit from one jurisdiction to another within the same jurisdiction. This may be made in a criminal case to ensure that the defendant receives a fair trial.

Front 2

Subpoena

Back 2

A written order issued by a judicial officer or grand jury requiring an individual to appear in court and to give testimony or to bring material to be used as evidence. Some mandate that books, papers, and other items be surrendered to the court.

Front 3

Probation

Back 3

A sentence of imprisonment that is suspended. Also, the conditional freedom granted by a judicial officer to a convicted offender, as long as the person meets certain conditions of behavior.

Front 4

Parole

Back 4

The status of a convicted offender who has been conditionally released from prison by a paroling authority before the expiration of his or her sentence, is placed under the supervision of a parole agency, and is required to observe the conditions of parole.

Front 5

Exculpatory evidence

Back 5

Any information having a tendency to clear a person of guilt or blame.

Front 6

Prosecutor

Back 6

An attorney whose official duty is to conduct criminal proceedings on behalf of the state or the people against those accused of having committed criminal offenses. Also called "county attorney", "district attorney (DA)", "state's attorney", and "US attorney".

Front 7

Adversarial system

Back 7

The two-sided structure under which American criminal trial courts operate. This pits the prosecution against the defense. In theory, justice is done when the most effective adversary is able to convince the judge or jury that his or her perspective on the case is the correct one.

Front 8

Direct evidence

Back 8

Evidence that, if believed, directly proves a fact. Eyewitness testimony and videotaped documentation account for the majority of all of this heard in the criminal courtroom.

Front 9

Circumstantial evidence

Back 9

Evidence that requires interpretation or that requires a judge or jury to reach a conclusion based on what the evidence indicates. From the proximity of the defendant to a smoking gun, for example, the jury might conclude that he or she pulled the trigger.

Front 10

Real evidence

Back 10

Evidence that consists of physical material or traces of physical activity.

Front 11

Work release

Back 11

A prison program through which inmates are temporarily released into the community to meet job responsibilities.

Front 12

Classification system

Back 12

A system used by prison administrators to assign inmates to custody levels based on offense history, assessed dangerousness, perceived risk of escape, and other factors.

Front 13

Sequestered jury

Back 13

A jury that is isolated from the public during the course of a trial and throughout the deliberation process.

Front 14

Aggravating circumstances

Back 14

Circumstances relating to the commission of a crime that make it more grave than the average instance of that crime.

Front 15

Mitigating circumstances

Back 15

Circumstances relating to the commission of a crime that may be considered to reduce the blame-worthiness of the defendant.

Front 16

Reentry

Back 16

The managed return to the community of an individual released from prison. Also, the successful transitioning of a released inmate back into the community.

Front 17

Prison subculture

Back 17

The values and behavioral patterns characteristic of prison inmates. Prison subculture has been found to be surprisingly consistent across the country.

Front 18

Diversion

Back 18

The official suspension of criminal or juvenile proceedings against an alleged offender at any point after a recorded justice system intake, but before the entering of a judgment, and referral of that person to a treatment or care program administered by a nonjustice or private agency. Also, release without referral.

Front 19

Gain time

Back 19

The amount of time deducted from time to be served in prison on a given sentence as a consequence of participation in special projects or programs.

Front 20

Good time

Back 20

The amount of time deducted from time to be served in prison on a given sentence as a consequence of good behavior.