Shared Flashcard Set

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16rcrc11-C,C,&P
Courts, Crimes, and Procedures section created by Brian Rister
39
Other
Not Applicable
05/05/2011

Additional Other Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
What are the two types of law that make up the origin of Criminal Law?
Definition
Statutory Law, and Common Law
Term
What are the six classes of felonies, according to South Carolina law?
Definition
Class A - F
Term
What are the three classes of misdemeanors, according to South Carolina law?
Definition
Class A - C
Term
Starting with Class A felonies, what is the maximum time, in years, of imprisonment associated with each class?
Definition
Class A - 30 years, Class B - 25 years, Class C - 20 years, Class D - 15 years, Class E - 10 years, Class F - 5 years
Term
Starting with Class A misdemeanors, what is the maximum time, in years, of imprisonment associated with each class?
Definition
Class A - 3 years, Class B - 2 years, Class C - 1 year
Term
What are the four main parties to a criminal action?
Definition
The State, the defendant, the principal, and the accessory
Term
The responsibilty, or burden, of proving a defendant guilty of a crime always belongs to who?
Definition
The State
Term
Municipal Courts have the same criminal powers as what?
Definition
Magistrate Courts
Term
Juvenile criminal/delinquency cases are heard by who?
Definition
Family Court judge
Term
What are the two divisions of the Circuit Court?
Definition
Court of General Sessions, and the Court of Common Pleas
Term
S.C. Court of Appeals can hear all criminal appeals except what?
Definition
Death Penalty cases
Term
What are the two ways South Carolina Supreme Court hears cases?
Definition
Direct Appeal, and Writ of Certiorari
Term
What is the first step in the criminal procedure?
Definition
Crime occurs
Term
What is the second step in the criminal procedure?
Definition
Arrest/Bond Hearing
Term
What is the third step in the criminal procedure?
Definition
Preliminary Hearing
Term
What is the fourth step in the criminal procedure?
Definition
Grand Jury
Term
What is the fifth step in the criminal procedure?
Definition
Arraignment
Term
Of the 18 jurors that make up the Grand Jury, how many must agree before there is a "true bill"?
Definition
12 jurors
Term
How many jurors are needed for a Bench Trial?
Definition
0
Term
How many jurors are needed for Circuit Court?
Definition
12 jurors
Term
Magistrate and Municipal courts require how many jurors?
Definition
6 jurors
Term
The acronym, PTI, stands for what?
Definition
Pretrial Intervention
Term
PTI applies to what type of crimes?
Definition
Minor, nonviolent crimes
Term
What is the difference between statory law and common law?
Definition
  • Statutory law is law enacted by the legislature
  • Common law is the law as developed in England from customs, usage, and court decisions
Term
Name the 6 categories of felonies and the maximum imprisonment associate with each.
Definition

Felonies in South Carolina

  • Class A - 30 years
  • Class B - 25 years
  • Class C - 20 years
  • Class D - 15 years
  • Class E - 10 years
  • Class F - 5 years

(S.C. Code 16-1-20)

Term
Name the 3 categories of misdemeanors and the maximum imprisionment associated with each.
Definition

Misdemeanors in South Carolina

  • Class A - 3 years
  • Class B - 2 years
  • Class C - 1 year

 

(S.C. Code 16-1-20)

Term
Name the 4 main parties to a criminal action and give a brief description.
Definition
  1. The State - prosecuting party
  2. The Defendant - person against whom the criminal action is brought
  3. Principal - chief actor in a crime
  4. Accessory - person involved in, to a certain degree, the committing of the crime
Term
Who bears the burden of proving the defendant guilty?
Definition
The State
Term
Name the 7 different criminal courts in South Carolina. 
Definition
  1. Summary Courts
  2. Magistrate Courts
  3. City or Municipal Courts
  4. Family Courts
  5. Circuit Court: General Sessions and Common Pleas
  6. South Carolina Court of Appeals
  7. South Carolina Supreme Court
Term
Name the two ways in which the South Carolina Supreme Court hears appeals and give a brief description.
Definition
  1. Direct Appeal - 5 categories (4 civil, 1 criminal), cases involving death penalty, public utility, public bonds, elections, and constitutional questions
  2. Writ of Certiorari - all other cases may be heared only if the Court agrees and will grant a Writ of Certiorari
Term
Name (in order) the 5 basic steps in a criminal procedure.
Definition
  1. Crime occurs
  2. Arrest/Bond hearing
  3. Preliminary hearing
  4. Grand Jury
  5. Arraignment
Term
Name the 5 different pleas a defendant may enter at arraignment.
Definition
  1. Guilty
  2. Nolo Contendere
  3. Not Guilty
  4. No Plea
  5. Double Jeopardy
Term

Name the number of jurors required for each of the following courts.

  1. Circuit Court
  2. Magistrate and Municipal Courts
  3. Grand Jury
Definition
  1. Circuit Court - 12 jurors
  2. Magistrate and Municipal Courts - 6 jurors
  3. Grand Jury - 18 jurors
Term
  1. What does PTI stand for?
  2. Name at least 2 situtations that do not allow for participation in PTI.
Definition
  1. PreTrial Intervention program
  2. Reasons for ineligibility: Previouly accepted into PTI, charged with DUI, charged with traffic offense punishable only by a fine or loss of points, charged with any crime of violence
Term
How many jurors must agree on a Grand Jury before there can be a "True Bill"?
Definition
12 jurors must agree for a "True Bill", if fewer than 12 jurors agree then there is a "No Bill"
Term
How many jurors are required for a Bench Trial?
Definition
0. A bench trial is overseen by the judge, there is no jury.
Term
A person charged with a bailable offense must have a bond hearing withing how many hours of his/her arrest?
Definition
24 hours and must be released within a reasonable amount of time
Term
True or False: All felonies fall into the felony classification system as set forth by S.C. Code 16-1-20.
Definition
False. There are approximately 40 felonies that are exempt from the classification system. These include crimes such as Murder, Homicide by Child Abuse, Burglary, First Degree, and numerouse offenses involving trafficking in illegal drugs, among other crimes
Term
Misdemeanors that are exempt from the classification system carry a term of imprisonment of how long?
Definition
Less than 1 year or greater than 3 years
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