Foundations & Rights
What name is given to the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution?
The Bill of Rights.
Name two primary purposes of patrol.
Maintaining public order and preventing/responding to crime.
List the three broad levels of courts.
Trial courts, appellate courts, and supreme courts (state or U.S. Supreme Court).
What is the difference between probation and parole?
Probation is court-ordered community supervision; parole is supervised release after prison.
Which Supreme Court case guaranteed the right to counsel for defendants who cannot afford an attorney?
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
Which amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures?
The Fourth Amendment.
Define probable cause.
Facts and circumstances leading a reasonable person to believe a crime has been, is being, or will be committed.
o carries the burden of proof in a criminal trial and to what standard?
The prosecution; beyond a reasonable doubt.
What are the two main categories of juvenile offenses?
Status offenses (age-based violations) and criminal minor (delinquent) offenses (crimes that would be illegal for everyone).
Which case established that police may conduct a stop-and-frisk with reasonable suspicion?
Terry v. Ohio (1968).
Name the two models that balance public safety and individual rights in criminal justice.
The crime control model and the due process model.
What is the key difference between a stop and an arrest.
A stop requires reasonable suspicion and is brief; an arrest requires probable cause and involves custody.
Name three members of the courtroom workgroup.
Judge, prosecutor, defense attorney (others include jury, victim/witness).
What is the difference between concurrent and consecutive sentencing?
Concurrent sentences run at the same time; consecutive sentences run one after the other.
Which Supreme Court decision requires police to inform suspects of their rights during custodial interrogation?
Miranda v. Arizona (1966).
What legal requirement compels police to advise suspects of their right to remain silent and to an attorney?
Miranda warnings (from the 5th and 6th Amendments).
Name one ethical breach that can undermine public trust in policing.
Abuse of power, corruption, or biased enforcement.
What happens at an arraignment?
Charges are read, rights explained, and the defendant enters a plea.
What is a status offense in juvenile justice? Give one example.
A noncriminal act illegal only because of the youth’s age (e.g., truancy, running away, curfew violations).
What major federal law expanded government surveillance powers after the September 11 attacks?
The USA PATRIOT Act (2001).
What doctrine excludes evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment?
The exclusionary rule.
For a Miranda waiver to be valid, how must it be given?
Knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily.
What pretrial motion asks the court to exclude unlawfully obtained evidence?
A motion to suppress.
What is the primary difference between determinate and indeterminate sentencing?
Determinate = fixed term; indeterminate = range of time allowing parole board discretion.
What era of U.S. history outlawed alcohol, leading to increased organized crime and federal law enforcement expansion?
Prohibition (1920–1933