Chapter 1
What are the 2 types of law?
Civil law and criminal law.
What is recurring victimization
When a person experiences victimization more than once.
What are the three levels of federal courts?
District Courts, Courts of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States.
What is a public defender
A government-employed attorney representing defendants who cannot afford a lawyer.
What are the four goals of punishment?
A: Retribution, deterrence, incapacitation, rehabilitation
What is due process?
The constitutional guarantee of fair procedures.
What is the NCVS
The National Crime Victimization Survey — collects data from victims, even if crimes weren’t reported.
What do U.S. Courts of Appeals do?
Review trial court decisions for legal error
What is assigned counsel?
A private attorney appointed by the court
What is deterrence?
Punishment meant to discourage future crim
What is jurisdiction?
A court’s authority to hear a case
What is NIBRS?
National Incident-Based Reporting System — more detailed police crime data
What do U.S. District Courts do?
They are trial courts (original jurisdiction)
What are extralegal factors
Politics, media attention, and resource
What is indeterminate sentencing?
sentence with a range of time.
What is precedent?
A prior court decision used to guide future cases.
What is the UCR
Uniform Crime Reports — crime data reported by police agencies
How many federal circuits are there?
13
Why is effective defense important?
It prevents wrongful convictions and ensures fairness.
What are mandatory minimums?
Required minimum sentences set by law.
What is risk heterogeneity?
The idea that some people are more likely to be victimized because of stable characteristics
(like lifestyle or environment).
Weakness of NCVS?
Doesn’t include homicide and relies on memory.
What is a writ of certiorari?
A: A request for the Supreme Court to hear a case.
What is the prosecutor’s ethical obligation
To seek justice, not just convictions.
What are sentencing disparities?
Differences in sentences based on race, class, or other factors.