Section 1.1: Major Components

Front 1

Adversarial System

Back 1

A legal system of common law origin where two parties advocate opposing positions and a neutral finder of fact such as a judge or jury determines the truth in the matter.

Front 2

Bench Trial

Back 2

A trial without a jury, in which the judge serves as the fact-finder.

Front 3

Bill of Rights

Back 3

The first ten Amendments to the Constitution which guarantee many fundamental rights.

Front 4

Civil Liberties

Back 4

Individual rights protected by law from violation by the government.

Front 5

Corrections

Back 5

The various methods and institutions by which society deals with criminal offenders, such as prisons, jails, probation, and parole.

Front 6

Court

Back 6

Government entity authorized to resolve legal disputes.

Front 7

Crime

Back 7

An act or omission that is prohibited by law and has an associated punishment.

Front 8

Criminal Justice System

Back 8

The several sets of agencies and processes established by governments to prevent and control crime and impose penalties on those who violate laws.

Front 9

Defendant

Back 9

In a civil case, the person or organization against whom the plaintiff brings suit; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.

Front 10

Defense Counsel

Back 10

A lawyer retained for and usually specializing in the defense of a person accused of a crime.

Front 11

Discretion

Back 11

The freedom of a criminal justice agent to decide what should be done in a particular situation based on professional judgement.

Front 12

Due Process

Back 12

In criminal law, the constitutional guarantee that a defendant will receive a fair and impartial trial.

Front 13

Due Process Clause

Back 13

Both the Fifth and the Fourteenth Amendments contain Due Process clauses that protect people from fundamentally unfair practices by the criminal justice system.

Front 14

Equality

Back 14

Treating everyone the same.

Front 15

Equity

Back 15

Giving everyone what they deserve.

Front 16

Exclusionary Rule

Back 16

Doctrine that says evidence obtained in violation of a criminal defendant's constitutional or statutory rights is not admissible at trial.

Front 17

Fifth Amendment

Back 17

The Fifth Amendment imposes restrictions on the government's prosecution of people accused of crimes.

Front 18

Finder of Fact

Back 18

A person (such as a judge) or a group of people (such as a jury) who are responsible for determining the facts in a trial or other legal proceeding.

Front 19

Fourteenth Amendment

Back 19

An Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that prohibits states from violating people's due process rights.

Front 20

Incarceration

Back 20

Imprisonment

Front 21

Individual Rights

Back 21

Rights related to an individual's freedom to pursue goals without interference from government.

Front 22

Jail

Back 22

A secure confinement facility that holds persons accused of crimes and persons convicted of minor crimes.

Front 23

Judge

Back 23

An official of the Judicial branch with authority to decide lawsuits brought before courts.

Front 24

Jury

Back 24

The group of people selected to hear the evidence in a trial and render a verdict on matters of fact.

Front 25

Just Deserts

Back 25

A deserved punishment.

Front 26

Justice

Back 26

A complex concept involving the ideas of fairness and conformity to the law.

Front 27

Lex Talionis

Back 27

A Latin legal phrase signifying the law of retaliation, whereby criminals are punished to the same degree and kind as the harm done by their crimes.

Front 28

Parole

Back 28

A type of early release from prison where the parolee must abide by certain specified conditions and be supervised in the community by a parole officer.

Front 29

Police

Back 29

A civil (rather than military) force tasked with the prevention and detection of crime and disorder, as well as many service functions.

Front 30

Prison

Back 30

An institution designed for the confinement of persons found guilty of serious crimes.

Front 31

Probation

Back 31

Instead of sending an individual to prison, the court releases the person to the community and orders him or her to complete a period of supervision and to abide by certain conditions.

Front 32

Procedural Justice

Back 32

Sometimes called procedural fairness; a synonym of due process.

Front 33

Prosecutor

Back 33

An attorney who conducts cases against criminal defendants in the name of the state.

Front 34

Retributive Justice

Back 34

A model of criminal justice based on the punishment of offenders rather than other goals such as rehabilitation.

Front 35

Rule of Law

Back 35

The principle of government by established law rather than the will of a group or individual.

Front 36

Sheriff

Back 36

The chief law enforcement officer of a county; the office originated in feudal England as the shire-reeve.

Front 37

Sheriff's Deputies

Back 37

Sworn law enforcement officers working under the direction of a county sheriff.

Front 38

Statute

Back 38

A law passed by a legislature.

Front 39

Trial by Jury

Back 39

A type of trial where a jury (usually composed of 12 citizens) decides if the prosecutor has proven guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Front 40

U.S. Code

Back 40

A collecton of all the laws passed by the Congress of the United States, organized by subject.