CJ Basics
The three main components of the criminal justice system
What are law enforcement, courts, and corrections?
The highest court in the United States
What is the Supreme Court?
This courtroom professional represents the government in a criminal case
What is a prosecutor (or district attorney)?
The standard of proof needed for police to make an arrest
What is probable cause?
The first court appearance where charges are formally read to the defendant
What is an arraignment?
The two main types of correctional supervision in the community
What are probation and parole?
This term describes the principle that no one is above the law
What is the rule of law?
The two types of jurisdiction a court must have to hear a case
What are subject matter jurisdiction and personal jurisdiction?
A law enforcement officer who works at the federal level investigating serious crimes
What is an FBI agent (or federal agent)?
Physical objects collected at a crime scene used to prove facts in court
What is evidence?
A formal accusation issued by a grand jury
What is an indictment?
This early form of punishment involved public humiliation and physical pain
What is corporal punishment?
The two models of criminal justice that debate efficiency vs. rights
What are the Crime Control Model and the Due Process Model?
This type of federal court handles disputes between states or cases involving the U.S. Constitution
What is a U.S. District Court?
This court officer is responsible for maintaining order in the courtroom
What is a bailiff?
This legal document authorizes law enforcement to search a specific location
What is a search warrant?
This pre-trial hearing determines whether enough evidence exists to go to trial
What is a preliminary hearing?
The first modern penitentiary in the U.S., built in Pennsylvania
What is Eastern State Penitentiary?
This amendment protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures
What is the Fourth Amendment?
The number of justices on the U.S. Supreme Court
What is nine?
The professional who prepares legal documents and manages court records
What is a court clerk?
The process of recording the chain of custody ensures this doesn't happen to evidence
What is tampering or contamination?
The agreement where a defendant pleads guilty in exchange for a lesser charge
What is a plea bargain?
This federal agency oversees the operation of federal prisons
What is the Bureau of Prisons (BOP)?
The philosophical idea that punishment should deter future crime
What is deterrence?
The legal term for a higher court reviewing a lower court's decision
What is an appeal?
This corrections career involves supervising offenders who are released into the community
What is a probation or parole officer?
This landmark Supreme Court case requires police to inform suspects of their rights
What is Miranda v. Arizona?
The standard of proof the prosecution must meet to convict in a criminal trial
What is beyond a reasonable doubt?
A current trend in corrections focused on preparing inmates for successful release
What is reentry or rehabilitation programming?