US Constitution
What is the Bill of Rights?
The first 10 amendments of the Constitution
What defines a crime?
An act that goes against a law and can or will be punished
What is the 1st amendment?
What are the roles of the police?
Make arrests
Investigate the crime scene
Take witness statements
What drug is derived from cannabis?
What are the 3 branches of the government and their functions?
Executive: Enforces laws
Judicial: Interprets laws
What is civil law?
Governs disputes between private parties
Usually smaller cases like violations of private acts or contracts
What is the 4th amendment?
Protects against unlawful searches and seizures
Must have probable cause to collect evidence
What are the 3 factors of the CJ system?
Courts
Corrections
What TV show has been credited with the change in juries and forensic evidence?
CSI
What powers are listed for the branches of government?
Enumerated: Explicitly stated powers
Implied: Powers not listed but needed to carry out stated powers
Inherent: Powers granted simply b/c it is a government
Prohibited: Denied powers
What is mens reas? What is actus reas?
Men rea: A guilty mind/conspiracy
Actus reas: Guilty act/following through with the crime
What is the 5th amendment?
Grants due process
Protects against double jeopardy
What is/What does a jury do?
Group of citizens responsible for reviewing evidence
In charge of determining the sentence for the guilty offender (in CAPITAL CASES)
What is the burden of proof required for criminal cases?
Beyond a reasonable doubt
What is ex-post-facto law?
What is the age-crime curve?
A bell shaped curve that shows the relationship between ones age and their likelihood of being a victim of crime.
This curve shows a peak in the late teens and drops off near the early 20's
What is the 14th amendment?
Grants due process
Allows equal protection for all under the law
What are the roles of judges?
Resolve disputes between prosecution and defendant
Can decide guilty or not guilty in some cases
Impartial moderator of the court process
Determines sentence in most criminal cases
What is the necessity defense?
Refers to when the defendant had to break a law in order to prevent further harm
What is Article 1 Section 8?
Listed powers of Congress. This includes regulating commerce, ex-post-facto law, creating a militia
What is a misdemeanor? What is a felony?
Misdemeanor: Lower level crimes that are punished by less than a year in jail
Felony: Serious crimes that are punished by more than a year in prison
Protects against excessive fines
What is the role of the prosecutor?
Determines what charges will be filed against the defendant (if any)
Must prove probable cause
Choose to take cases to trial
What is the term for when actus reas combines with mens reas?
Concurrence