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SOCL 3371 Exam 2
Trial
114
Sociology
Undergraduate 3
03/24/2013

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Term
types of criminal law
Definition
substantive
procedural
the state brings suit or case
Term
substantive law
Definition
what conduct is criminal
punishments for crimes
Term
procedural law
Definition
rules of practice in criminal justice system. implement substantive law
Term
problems with law
Definition
humans make mistakes in process of interpretation of laws
Term
civil law
Definition
law governing phases of human enterprise.
person who suffered harm brings case
Term
torts
Definition
laws of personal injuries and most related to criminal law. types:
intentional
negligent
strict liability
Term
intentional tort
Definition
injuries a person inflicts on another person where they knew or show have known that through there actions it would occur
Term
negligent tort
Definition
unreasonably safe actions causing injury to someone else
Term
strict liability tort
Definition
-particular action that has law against it
-like manufacturing company making a defective toy with lead in it
-or bartender serving underage when he didn't know she was underage.
-mens rea is not essential.
Term
if victim doesn't press charges...
Definition
state will still bring case for benefit of society in criminal court
Term
if innocent in criminal court...
Definition
can still seek damages in civil court because of differing standards of evidence
Term
criminal law evidential standard of proof
Definition
beyond a reasonable doubt
Term
civil law evidential standard of proof
Definition
preponderance of evidence
Term
beyond a reasonable doubt
Definition
moral certainty. conclusive/complete proof, w/o leaving any reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the defendant;allowing the defendant the benefit of any possibility of innocence
Term
preponderance of evidence
Definition
greater weight of evidence in terms of credibility;just enough evidence to make it more likely than not
Term
mala in se
Definition
behaviors that are crimes because they are inherently evil and depraved
Term
male prohibitum
Definition
behaviors that are crimes because they are prohibited by law
Term
cause of bad law
Definition
too vague or over broad like status as drug addict can't be illegal
Term
xe post facto
Definition
retroactive enforcement or punishment
Term
sources of criminal law
Definition
constitutional laws
common law practices
statutes written by legislature
court case decisions
administrative rules and regulations
Term
actus reus
Definition
the physical element of the crime
Term
can there be occasions where failure to act is a crime
Definition
yes like parent not feeding child
Term
mens rea
Definition
mental element of crime. intent.
Term
largest portion of crimes are these type
Definition
misdemeanor
Term
what is not protected status and reason
Definition
age due to juvenile system
Term
equal protection under law
Definition
law cannot treat people in same situations or for the same conduct differently, on the basis of a protected status
Term
due process of law
Definition
substantial protects against unfair, biased, or discriminatory laws.
procedural ensures no deprivation of life, liberty, or property w/o proper process
Term
what does right to grand jury insure
Definition
prosecution has enough evidence to proceed with the case
Term
4th amendment
Definition
search and seizures
Term
5th amendment
Definition
plead the fifth
Term
what protects double jeopardy
Definition
4th and 5th amendment
Term
why have public trial
Definition
keep judges honest
Term
6th amendment
Definition
speedy public trial
Term
8th amendment
Definition
no cruel unusual punishment
Term
what amendment to use for/against death penalty
Definition
8th amendment
Term
when can a person commit an act that would ordinarily be a crime
Definition
when there is a recognized defense for their act under the law
Term
two general defenses
Definition
excuses
justifications
Term
excuses
Definition
ignorance or mistake
insanity:incapable of mens rea
intoxication
age
Term
justifications
Definition
consent on the part of the victim
self defense
"stand your ground": not obliged to retreat if in your own home
entrapment:police originated criminal idea
duress:forced into committing the crime
necessity:could not have behaved in any other way
Term
how do changes in society change law
Definition
new technology like computers
Term
components of state courts
Definition
state supreme court(last resort)
appellate courts (appeals to review cases for errors)
circuit courts (felony)
district courts (lowest;misdemeanors)
Term
how many cases in state courts
Definition
100 million
Term
components of federal courts
Definition
us supreme court (highest)
us courts of appeals
us district courts
Term
amount and components of judicial courts
Definition
13 each with own appeals court. with 40,000 appeals
Term
who conducts arraignments, grand juries, and ball hearings
Definition
district courts
Term
federal court jurisdiction
Definition
violations of federal criminal law
civil suits between citizens of different states
suits between a citizen and an agency of the federal govt
Term
amount of cases appealed and seen at highest level
Definition
5000 cases appealed
100 out of 300 get seen by 9 lifetime judges of supreme court
Term
in bench trial, judge role...
Definition
to decide the guilty or not guilty and punishment
Term
quality of to be judge
Definition
resident of state
license to practice law
25 to 70 age
Term
who has burden of proof in case
Definition
prosecution
Term
reasons of dismissal of a criminal case
Definition
insufficient evidence
witness problems
in interest of justice
due process issues
drop one charge for plea of guilty on another
pretrial diversion like addiction program
referral for other prosecution for more serious punishment
Term
when most trials are resolved
Definition
at pretrial. after arrest and before trial
Term
nolle prosequ
Definition
prosecutor does not want to proceed after case has been made
Term
complaint
Definition
the formal written document identifying the criminal charge, the date and place where the crime occurred, and the circumstances of the arrest. sworn to and signed under oath by the complainant
Term
what happens for felony crime after arrest before trial
Definition
grand jury or preliminary hearing
Term
grand jury
Definition
prosecution justify having a trial whereby jury decides whether probable cause of crime exists.
only prosecutor and not defense is present.
Term
preliminary hearing
Definition
conducted before a judge and is open to the public unless the defendant requests otherwise. more favorable. defense and judge are there
Term
arraignment
Definition
the judge informs the defendant of the charges against him and appoints counsel if one has not yet been retained.
defendant enters plea.
then either ball is set or defendant is released on own rocognizance
Term
nolo contendere
Definition
no contest
same consequences as guilty plea except no civil court proof after criminal trial
Term
is plea bargain constitutionally a right or legal term in court room
Definition
no
Term
how much % of criminal convictions are plea bargained
Definition
90
Term
different plea bargains
Definition
reduction of initial charges
reduction of number of counts
recommendation of a lenient sentence
lessened negative label attached to charge
arrange appearance before lenient judge
Term
can court reject a plea
Definition
yes
Term
is the defense counsel required to tell all plea bargaining offers to client
Definition
yes
Term
why plea bargain
Definition
prosecutors don't have to risk a not guilty plea.
Term
problem with plea bargain
Definition
coercive way to get guilty sentence. someone who is innocent could be tempted to plea guilty out of fear
Term
bail
Definition
form of security for courts. helps person get ready for court
Term
when is bail not offered
Definition
if crime is punishable by death
Term
what changes amount of bail
Definition
amount of income
prior record
type of crime
Term
full cash bail
Definition
the defendant pays the full bail amount
Term
deposit bail
Definition
defendant deposits a percentage of the bail amount
Term
surety bail
Definition
defendant pays a percentage of the bond to a bonding agent, who posts the full bail
Term
conditional bail
Definition
defendant is released after promising to obey some specified conditions in lieu of cash
Term
unsecured bond
Definition
defendant is released with no immediate requirement of payment
Term
release on recognizance
Definition
eligible defendants are released w/o bail upon their promise to return for trial
Term
bail reform act
Definition
no constitutional right to have a bail so this allows for no money bail.
Term
percent of people out on bail
Definition
5 percent of all murders out on bail
10% of all rapes out on bail
18% drug charges out on bail
Term
are more people in jail or bail
Definition
in jail
Term
is it better to have someone guilty out on streets or innocent who is incarcerated
Definition
the guilty out on streets
Term
why have right to confront witness before trial
Definition
restrict admissibility of hearsay evidence from third parties
Term
when doesn't court guarantee self representation
Definition
appeals court
Term
speedy trial act 1974
Definition
if person has felony, indictment has to be filed within 30 days of arrest; 10 days til arraignment; trial in 60 days
Term
rights at criminal trial
Definition
right to counsel
right to be competent at trial
right to confront witness
right to jury trial
right to self representation
right to speedy trial
right to press coverage
Term
state level televised coverage at who's discretion
Definition
judges
Term
steps in jury trial
Definition
-voir dire
-prosecutor's opening statement to the jury
-defense attorney's opening statement to the jury
-prosecutor's presentation of evidence and direct examination
-defense attorney's cross examination
-defense attorney's presentation of evidence and direct examination
-prosecutor's cross examination
-defense attorney's closing statement to the jury
-prosecutor's closing statement to the jury
-judge's instructions to the jury
-jury deliberation and voting
-pronouncement of the verdict
-judicial sentencing
Term
voir dire
Definition
the process in which a potential jury panel is questioned by the prosecution and defense
Term
challenge for cause
Definition
dismiss person if have bias or stakes in case or impartial and no limits on challenges
Term
peremptory challenge
Definition
don't have to tell reason for dismissing jury member and has limit on how many members you can dismiss
Term
14th amendment equal protection clause
Definition
no removal of jury member based on race or sex
Term
who can't be on jury
Definition
no convicted felons, medical doctors, attorneys, public officials
Term
types of evidence
Definition
testimonial;witness tells about crime
real;physical evidence
documentary;government reports or documents
circumstantial:prove indirectly a crime happened but may not be enough to convict
Term
direct examination
Definition
the initial questioning of one's own witness during a trial. witness says what prosecutor hopes will convict defender
Term
cross examination
Definition
the questioning of a prosecution's witness by the defense or vice versa
Term
rebuttal evidence
Definition
evidence presented by the prosecution to rebut or disprove defense evidence
Term
surrebuttal evidence
Definition
evidence presented by the defense to refute the prosecution's rebuttal evidence
Term
motions
Definition
formal request of court to act
Term
motion for discovery
Definition
request to examine the physical evidence, evidentiary documents, and lists of witnesses in the possession of the prosecutor
Term
why motion for change of venue
Definition
hard to find impartial jury
Term
motion for suppression
Definition
request evidence be suppressed
Term
motion for severance of charges
Definition
request charges be separated in trial
Term
motion for severance of defendants
Definition
severe people who worked together on crime
Term
motion for continuance
Definition
postpones trial
Term
motion for dismissal
Definition
defense try to get it thrown out because prosecution has failed to produce sufficient evidence
Term
motion for a directed verdict
Definition
a judge's order directing a jury to acquit because the state has not proven the elements of the crime
Term
when double jeopardy active
Definition
jury in place and judge hears defense during bench trial
Term
hung jury
Definition
no unanimous decision. can bring case against defendant a second time
Term
jury nullification
Definition
jury believes law is unjust and won't convict
Term
as applied jury nullification
Definition
law is unjustly applied
Term
classic jury nullification
Definition
law has to strict punishment
Term
symbolic jury nullification
Definition
find person not guilty to send political message
Term
what cases do sentencing come immediately
Definition
misdemeanor cases
Term
how many appeals are a right
Definition
only first
Term
what makes effects felonies pre sentencing
Definition
investigate background of person to make best punishment
Term
primary sentence for misdemeanors
Definition
probation
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