Elements of Crime
What does the term "actus reus" mean?
The guilty act; required to convict someone of a crime
What Amendment governs excessive force by police?
What is the most common sentence where an offender serves time in the community rather than going to prison?
Probation
What happens to juvenile records when they become an adult?
They are sealed or expunged
What type of policing focuses on identifying the causes of crime, not just reacting to incidents?
Community Policing
What are the three elements prosecutors must prove for most crimes?
Actus reus, mens rea, concurrence
If a suspect is actively aggressive against an officer, how may they respond?
Intermediate weapons
What type of sentence has a fixed amount of time determined by law?
A determinate sentence
What is the main goal of juvenile justice?
Rehabilitation
This legal term means "the authority to hear a case"
What kind of crime requires no intent- only the act itself?
Strict Liability
What factors are taken into consideration when judging whether an officer's force was reasonable?
Severity of the crime, threat to others/themselves, resisting, etc.
An indeterminate sentence
What is the difference between common law and statutory law?
What level of proof shows that a fact is simply "more likely to be true?"
ie: The officer has the ability to search you or your belongings
Probable cause
Provide three examples each of aggravating and mitigating factors.
A: violent, weapon used, young victim, no remorse, vulnerable victim, etc.
M: offender was young, apologized, under coercion, etc.
This term refers to the idea that officers must continually reassess the threat and adjust their force level accordingly
Use of force continuum
What is it called when an offender is required to pay the state for the harm they have caused?
Restitution
A burglary is an example of a crime against
What is the highest standard of proof required to convict someone of a crime? State one crime that would require this level of proof.
Beyond a reasonable doubt
Murder, terrorism, felony crimes, etc.
What is an inchoate crime? Provide an example.
A crime that was planned but not completed;
conspiracy to commit _______________, attempted murder, etc.
A police officer stops a teenager walking home late at night because they appear nervous and keep glancing over their shoulder. The officer does not see a crime but asks to search the teen’s backpack. The teen refuses.
Based on legal standards, what should the officer do next?
Let the teen go unless there is reasonable suspicion to approach OR probable cause to search
Restorative Justice
What are the three levels of courts in the United States?
District, appellate, supreme
This term means that evidence obtained illegally cannot be used in court
Fruit of the poisonous tree;
exclusionary rule