Term
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Definition
| the majority of citizens in a society share the same values and these are reflected in the crime definitions. |
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Term
|
Definition
what is considered criminal is decided by those with “power”.
o Integrated definition- Crime is an activity or action that is…
Punishable under criminal law that is decided by society or in some cases, a powerful individual.
Considered an offense against society as a whole and prosecuted by public officials, not the victim’s family/friends.
Crime is punished by statutorily determined laws (written down laws) |
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Term
Deviance vs. crime,
What are the similarities? |
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Definition
Both are acts contrary to the norms of society.
Both have some sort of consequence |
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Term
Deviance vs. crime
Differences? |
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Definition
Penalties are carried out by different parties.
Crime punishment is carried out by the law and the officials who enforce it. (I.e. police, judges, lawyers etc.)
Deviance punishment is carried out from sources other than the government. (i.e. public embarrassment, rejection etc.) |
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Term
Six categories of criminal behavior -
Violent crimes |
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Definition
Crimes against persons
o Homicide
o Sexual assault
o Aggravated assault
o Robbery |
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Term
Six categories of criminal behavior -
Property crimes |
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Definition
Crimes against property
o Theft
o Burglary
o Motor vehicle theft |
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Term
Six categories of criminal behavior -
Public order crimes |
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Definition
Non-victim crimes
o Drinking
o Gambling
o Prostitution |
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Term
Six categories of criminal behavior -
White collar crime |
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Definition
Non-violent crimes used to gain a business advantage
o Embezzlement
o Fraud |
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Term
Six categories of criminal behavior -
Organized crime |
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Definition
A conspiratorial relationship between and number of peoples in the market for illegal goods and services
o Prostitution
o Illegal drugs
o Firearms |
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Term
Six categories of criminal behavior -
High-tech/cyber crime |
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Definition
Crimes facilitated through the use of computers
o Hacking
o Piracy |
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Term
| What are the three primary goals of the criminal justice system |
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Definition
o Control Crime
o Prevent Crime
o Provide and maintain justice
The system tends to lean one way between control and prevent which then affects the system’s ability to provide justice |
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Term
What strategies are used for achieving the primary goals of the CJS?
o Deterrence |
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Definition
| use of punishment as a threat to deter people from committing crimes (relies on peoples rationality) |
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Term
What strategies are used for achieving the primary goals of the CJS?
o Rehabilitation |
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Definition
| restore to society through therapy and education (correctable deficiencies) |
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Term
What strategies are used for achieving the primary goals of the CJS?
o Incapacitation |
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Definition
| sentencing of a criminal to prevent future crimes (warehousing – keeping out of society) |
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Term
What strategies are used for achieving the primary goals of the CJS?
o Retribution |
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Definition
| punishment that is considered to be morally right and fully deserved. |
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Term
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Definition
| A form of government in which a written constitution provides for a division of powers between a central government and several regional governments |
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Term
What are the implications of federalism in terms of the structure of
o Law enforcement- |
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Definition
Local- duties of law enforcement a split between counties and municipalities (areas smaller than a state)
State- State police and highway patrol
Federal- expanded over last few decades. Many Federal Agencies have police powers. |
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Term
What are the implications of federalism in terms of the structure of
o Corrections |
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Definition
Probation
• The most common correctional treatment. Offenders may return to society under specific rules or face further penalty
Jails
• Hold those convicted of minor crimes with relatively short sentences and those awaiting trials or involved in certain court proceedings.
Prisons
• Intended to hold those of the most serious crimes for the longest periods
Community
• Alternatives to incarceration for those who will not benefit from it
o Halfway homes
o Residential centers
o Work-release centers
Parole
• Most frequent releasal from jail or prison. An inmate serves part of their sentence in a corrections facility. And is then allowed to spend the rest of the term in the community. |
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Term
Probation
• The most common correctional treatment. Offenders may return to society under specific rules or face further penalty
Jails
• Hold those convicted of minor crimes with relatively short sentences and those awaiting trials or involved in certain court proceedings.
Prisons
• Intended to hold those of the most serious crimes for the longest periods
Community
• Alternatives to incarceration for those who will not benefit from it
o Halfway homes
o Residential centers
o Work-release centers
Parole
• Most frequent releasal from jail or prison. An inmate serves part of their sentence in a corrections facility. And is then allowed to spend the rest of the term in the community.
o The courts |
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Definition
1 for each of the 50 states
• Trial courts – at local and state levels are charged with determining guilt or innocence
• Appellate Courts – At all levels are charged with the responsibility of determining whether due process was followed. |
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Term
| Formal criminal justice processing |
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Definition
| involves a series of routinized operations whose success is gauged primarily by their tendency to pass the case along to a successful conclusion.” |
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Term
| Informal criminal justice processing |
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Definition
| the authority to choose between and among alternative courses of action |
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Term
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Definition
| Judgment calls on whether or not to enforce a law or penalty |
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Term
Discretion
o Why it is important |
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Definition
| situations aren’t typical and therefore don’t have typical answers |
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Term
Discretion
o What types of discretionary decisions are made by Criminal justice officials |
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Definition
> Enforce laws
• > Investigate specific crimes
• > Search people or buildings
• > Arrest or detain people |
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Term
Discretion
o What types of discretionary decisions are made by Prosecutors |
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Definition
> File charges against suspects brought to them by the police
• > Drop cases
• > Reduce charges |
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Term
Discretion
o What types of discretionary decisions are made by Judges |
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Definition
• > Set conditions for pretrial release
• > Accept pleas
• > Dismiss charges
• > Impose sentences |
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Term
Discretion
o What types of discretionary decisions are made by Correctional |
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Definition
| > Assign convicts to prison or jail |
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Term
Discretion
o What types of discretionary decisions are made by Officials |
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Definition
• > Punish prisoners who misbehave
• > Reward prisoners who behave well |
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Term
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Definition
| places primary emphasis on the rights of society to be protected form crime and violent criminals |
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Term
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Definition
| emphasizes the rights of the individual to be protected from the power of the government. |
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Term
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Definition
| Theory is a set of interconnected ideas that explain why crime occurs across a variety of different circumstances. They must be testable. We evaluate by the consequences. |
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Term
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Definition
Choice theories contend that people are rational and make decisions based on a “hedonistic calculus” that involves weighing benefits against consequences.
Evidence has shown this to be weak because
o People with less to lose don’t follow deterrence
o Emotion takes over in violent crimes
o Crime policy can only alter the length of punishment after being caught, not increase the chance of being caught. |
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Term
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Definition
| theories that state that biological and psychological traits in individuals incline them toward criminal behavior given a certain set of circumstances |
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Term
| What do these theories propose is the cause of crime |
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Definition
| The cause of crime is in the circumstance, not specifically in the individual. However, individuals with certain traits are more or less prone to perform illegal acts in certain situations. |
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Term
| What are environmental/structural theories? |
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Definition
| These theories focus on environmental characteristics that make crime more likely in particular area. The emphasis in entirely on conditions that exist in the aggregate community, not the individuals inside. |
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Term
| why social disorganization theory is considered a “structural” theory |
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Definition
| they place the blame on the smaller structures of society such as family, work, and schools. |
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Term
| How do the learning theories explain crime? |
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Definition
| If one expects a positive outcome from a behavior, or thinks there is a high probability of a positive outcome, then they will be more likely to engage in that behavior. |
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Term
| How does social bonding theory explain crime? |
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Definition
| proposes that criminal and deviant acts result when an individual’s bond to society/conventional institutions becomes weak or broken. |
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Term
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Definition
| a set of rules designed to resolve disputes between private parties, including individuals, groups, and organizations. It is used to resolve, control, and shape interactions between parties such as contracts, wills, and property ownerships (also torts) |
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Term
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Definition
| Personal injuries or wrongs for which a party may seek damages through a civil action. Tort civil law is most relevant to criminal law. |
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Term
| Difference between Tort and Criminal |
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Definition
| Tort is private, Criminal is Public |
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Term
| Similarities between Tort and Criminal |
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Definition
Attempt to control unwanted behavior
Both impose legal action
Certain behaviors can be punished by both |
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Term
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Definition
| serious crimes punishable from 1 year in jail, all the way to death. |
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Term
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Definition
| serious crimes, punishable by a fine or jail term no more than 1 year |
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Term
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Definition
| Least serious. Involves breaking city or town ordinance (traffic laws) |
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Term
| Differences of first degree murder from second degree murder |
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Definition
| 1st degree is premeditated or deliberate, 2nd is when defendant acts with wanton disregard of the consequences |
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Term
| second degree murder from less serious forms of homicide |
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Definition
| when 1st and 2nd aren’t present but homicide is committed. |
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Term
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Definition
| Data obtained directly from criminal justice agencies and institutions |
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Term
| key sources of official data used in criminology |
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Definition
| police reports, records on convictions, records of prisoner. |
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Term
| What types of crime does the UCR measure well |
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Definition
| Most common is official data used in crime analyses are the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports: covers a vast majority of geographic areas in the US, excellent for looking at crime over time, good for studying certain forms of crime |
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Term
What is the NCVS?
Why was it started? |
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Definition
a collection of data that represents the actual amount of crime being committed, most of which is not actually reported.
o to get a handle on dark figure crime (1972) |
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Term
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Definition
| a branch of law that defines crimes and their punishments |
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Term
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Definition
| a branch of law which sets the rules of practice in the CJS (search and seizure, arrest, evidence, jury selection, trial and counsel) AKA DUE PROCESS |
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Term
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Definition
US supersedes state; aimed to strike down any criminal law that
Violates a person’s right to be treated fairly and equally |
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Term
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Definition
addresses statutes which are laws enacted by legislative bodies
Federal statutes- enacted by congress
State statutes – enacted by state legislatures
Ordinances are laws that are passes by cities and counties |
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Term
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Definition
Law that originates from the way a judge or judges interpret a particular statute.
Past precedents serve as examples for how to act in a certain situation (stare decisis grey zone) |
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Term
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Definition
| (guilty act) the physical act of committing a crime |
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Term
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Definition
| (guilty mind) it must be inferred from the actions of the accused. |
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Term
| Concurrence of Actus Reus and Mens Rea |
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Definition
| Both exist at the same time |
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Term
key excuse defenses allowed under the criminal law
o Ignorance/mistake |
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Definition
| didn't know it was against the law/unknowingly committed the offence |
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Term
key excuse defenses allowed under the criminal law
o Insanity |
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Definition
| A defense for criminal liability that asserts a lack of criminal responsibility b/c the person in incapable of forming criminal intent due to a defect of reason or mental illness. |
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Term
key excuse defenses allowed under the criminal law
o Intoxication |
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Definition
| defendant claims that the taking of intoxicants rendered him or her incapable to form the requisite intent to commit a criminal act |
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Term
key excuse defenses allowed under the criminal law
o Age |
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Definition
| in most states, people under a particular age are handled by a juvenile court and justice system |
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Term
key justification defenses under the criminal law.
o Self-defense |
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Definition
| the legally recognized privilege to protect one’s self or property from injury by another |
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Term
key justification defenses under the criminal law.
o Duress |
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Definition
the wrongful threat of one person induces another person to perform an act that she or he would otherwise not commit
Threat must be of serious bodily harm
The harm threatened must be harsher than the crime committed
Must be immediate in inescapable
Defendant must fall in to this situation under no fault of his own. |
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Term
key justification defenses under the criminal law.
o Necessity |
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Definition
| defendant asserts that circumstances required them to commit and illegal act |
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Term
key justification defenses under the criminal law.
o Entrapment |
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Definition
| claims that that were induced by a public official to commit a crime that he or she would not have otherwise not committed |
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Term
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Definition
protection from unreasonable searches and seizures
Probably cause |
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Term
|
Definition
Due process, double jeopardy, self incrimination
Equal protection under the law |
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Term
|
Definition
defendant has a right to
Speedy trial
Jury
Trial by public
Right to confront witness
Right to a lawyer |
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Term
|
Definition
Prohibition of excessive bail
Cruel and unusual punishment |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| prohibits state and local governments from depriving persons of life, liberty, or property without certain steps being taken to ensure fairness |
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Term
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Definition
| a form of corruption in which the political party is power hired and promotes police officers, receiving job-related “favors” in return. |
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Term
| motivation for professional model |
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Definition
| Numerous problems with corruption and brutality, which reached their worst during prohibition |
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Term
| changes of the Professional model |
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Definition
Centralized police organizations
Increased use of technology
• Police patrol cars
• Radio communication
• Fingerprinting
• Toxicology
• Forensics
A limitation of police discretion through regulations and guidelines. Discretion is the ability of justice officials to make judgment calls about how a particular case should be handled |
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Term
| What motivated the change to the community policing model |
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Definition
| social turmoil of the 1960’s based on negative interactions between police and civilians |
|
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Term
| key characteristics of community policing model |
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Definition
smaller police precincts that are physically closer to and therefore more “in touch” with local communities
o more foot patrols by police to encourage more proactive, “positive” contacts with community members and therefore better communication
o increased emphasis on proactive as opposed to reactive policing |
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Term
| problem oriented policing |
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Definition
| – problem solving policing is a (community) policing philosophy that requires police to identify potential criminal activity and develop strategies to prevent or respond to that activity |
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Term
|
Definition
| policing strategies are aimed at stopping crimes before they are committed |
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Term
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Definition
| Contacts most commonly initiated based on calls for service |
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Term
|
Definition
| areas of high criminal activity. Hot spots, once identified often draw a directed and/or more intense police response |
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Term
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Definition
| many police departments are using crime mapping technology to locate and identify hot spots |
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Term
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Definition
| proposes that a neighborhood in disrepair signals to potential offenders that criminal activity is tolerated in the area and thus encourages increased/more serious offending. In policy, “broken windows theory” suggests that addressing all minor forms of crime and community disrepair is essential to controlling crime. |
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Term
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Definition
| when police intensely focus their energies on a particular crime or set of crimes in a given area |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| Occurs when enforcement results in the relocation rather that elimination of crime to another area that is less heavily policed |
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Term
Police subculture
o Factors encouraging it |
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Definition
There is heavy media coverage
There is substantial stress and risk associated with policing
Police are often socially isolated from others in society - due to their law enforcement role many of the people that police interact with do not appreciate them and may even resent them for the work they do. |
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Term
Police subculture
o Consequences of it |
|
Definition
Media coverage often more negative
High degree of loyalty to the profession and other officers – this can have both positive and negative effects
Blue curtain – A term used to refer to the value placed on secrecy/confidentiality in things related to policing and the general mistrust of the outside world shared by some police officers |
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Term
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Definition
| is an evidentiary standard requiring that there is sufficient evidence to believe that an offense has been or is being committed and the person or place to be searched/arrested is materially involved in the crime |
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Term
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Definition
| is a court order issued by a judge directing police to search a specific place for specified objects and bring them before the court |
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Term
| Search warrant requirements |
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Definition
A police officer must request a warrant from the court
The officer must submit an affidavit – or a written statement of facts – to a judge establishing the grounds for the warrant
The affidavit must state the place to be searched and the property to be seized very specifically |
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Term
Understand evidentiary standards:
o Probable cause |
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Definition
| arrest seize property, longer detention |
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Term
Understand evidentiary standards:
o Reasonable suspicion |
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Definition
| stop and frisk, short duration freedom restriction |
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Term
Understand evidentiary standards:
o Beyond a reasonable doubt |
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Definition
| Conviction, incarceration, execution |
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Term
warrantless search
o Stop and frisk |
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Definition
– when reasonable suspicion exists, police officers are within their rights to stop and frisk a suspect
Where did this standard come from? – terry v. Ohio (1968) established Constitutionality of “stop and frisk” ruling |
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Term
warrantless search
o Search incident to arrest |
|
Definition
a search incident to arrest occurs almost every time a police officer makes and arrest because he or she typically then searches the suspect in order to:
• Find and confiscate any weapons a suspect may be carrying and
• Protect any evidence on the suspect’s person from being destroyed
Why is it allowed? – The Supreme Court has determined that during a search incident to arrest, police may search any area within the suspects “immediate control” which is typically within arm’s reach |
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Term
warrantless search
o Automobile Searches |
|
Definition
upon arrest in a car, police officers are allowed to enact an inventory search of entire front and back compartments.
Privacy is less protected in cars because although they are private property, that stance holds less value because cars are usually in public view |
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Term
warrantless search
o Consent Search |
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Definition
Take place when individuals give law enforcement officers permission to search their persons, homes, or belongings
in these situations, consent, if given of free will, validates a warrantless search |
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Term
warrantless search
o Plain-sight search |
|
Definition
involves the search (and potential seizure) of objects that are in a house or other area normally involving an expectation of privacy but because the object can be freely inspected by the police, it can be taken as evidence.
Plain view doctrine – Coolidge v. New Hampshire 1971 – the legal principle that objects in plain view of a law enforcement officer who has the right to be in that position may be seized without a warrant and introduced as evidence. |
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Term
warrantless search
o Seizure of non physical evidence |
|
Definition
if in a public place, nonphysical evidence (a conversation) can be collected/recorded by police and used in court
Exclusionary Rule – rule under which any evidence that is obtained in violation or the accused due process rights will not be admissible in a criminal court
• Weeks v. Ohio (1914)
• Mapp v. Ohio (1961) |
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Term
|
Definition
the direct questioning of a suspect to gather evidence of criminal activity and to try to gain a confession
o Supreme court first recognized that a confession could not be physically coerced in 1936
o Escobedo v. Illinois 1964 – you are allowed a lawyer during question |
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Term
|
Definition
the supreme court justices ruled that even without violence, interrogation by police in coercive (this is called inherent coercion). So no confession can be admissible in court unless a suspect has been made aware of his/her rights and waived them.
o Miranda is required if a suspect is in custody – which is the forceful detention of a person, or the perception that a person is not free to leave the immediate vicinity – and they are interrogated, they must be advised of their rights to an attorney and against self-incrimination
o Miranda warning
You have the right to remain silent
If you give up that right, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law
You have the right to speak with an attorney and to have that attorney present during questioning.
If you so desire and cannot afford one, an attorney will be appointed for you without charge before questioning.
o When a Miranda is not required
When the police do not ask the suspect any questions that are testimonial in nature
When the police have not focused on a suspect and are questioning witnesses at the scene of a crime.
When a person volunteers information before the police have asked a question
When the suspect has given a private statement to a friend or some other acquaintance
During a stop and frisk, when no arrest has been made
During a traffic stop. |
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Term
|
Definition
courts in which a trial takes place and where questions of fact are examined.
o Called courts of original jurisdiction as cases begin here. |
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Term
|
Definition
| courts that review decisions made by lower courts. These courts do not examine guilt or innocence, only procedure (questions of law, not fact) |
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Term
|
Definition
| the authority of the court to hear and decide cases within an area of the law of a geographic location |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| The separate but interrelated court systems of the United States made up of federal and state courts. All courts ultimately fall under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| the authority of the court to hear and decide cases within an area of the law of a geographic location |
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Term
|
Definition
| sometimes called municipal, district, or metropolitan courts. Usually more local in their jurisdiction and are referred to as lower courts b/c they handle only misdemeanors and minor civil cases. |
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Term
|
Definition
| also called felony courts, superior courts, or circuit courts. Courts of general jurisdiction have no restrictions on the subject matter they may address (but they typically deal with the most serious felonies and civil cases with potentially high damages – typically those of $10,000 or more |
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Term
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Definition
| A request from a higher court to a lower court asking for a record of a case; in essence, the request signifies that the higher court is willing to review the case. |
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Term
|
Definition
| trial lawyers who initiate and conduct cases in the governments name and on behalf of the people |
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Term
|
Definition
refers to the ability to prosecutors to decide how to handle cases.
o Whether the individual who has been arrested by the police will be charged with a crime
o The level of the charges to be brought against the suspect
o If and when to stop the prosecution
Legal issues
• Convictable - how convictable is the suspect
Extra legal issues – political affiliation, age, sex, etc.
Resource issues – weak cases dropped to keep open spaces in jail |
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Term
| The role of the defense attorney |
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Definition
| the lawyer representing the defendant. They can be public or privately hired by the defendant |
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Term
|
Definition
court-appointed attorney who is paid by the state to represent defendants who are unable to hire private counsel (the indignant)
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
In re gault (1967) in the matter of state takes responsibility for those who do not have a criminal mind |
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Term
| Shortcomings associated with appointed counsel |
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Definition
| currently there is not a single state that has met the standards developed by the American bar association for the appointment,, performance, and compensation of counsel for indigent prisoners. |
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Term
|
Definition
the first appearance of the accused before a judge or magistrate following arrest; during the appearance the defendant is:
o Informed of the charges
o Advised of the rights to counsel
o Told the amount of bail
o Given a date for the preliminary hearing |
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Term
|
Definition
| A monetary deposit assigned during the initial appearance to guarantee that the accused will appear in court. Bail can be denied |
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Term
|
Definition
| the retention of an accused person in custody due to fears |
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Term
|
Definition
| an initial hearing in which a magistrate decides of there if probable cause to believe that the defendant committed the crime |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| – occurs before a group of citizens called to decide whether probably cause exists to believe that the defendant committed the crime with which he/she has been charged |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| issued by a prosecutor if they can show probable cause |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| issued by a grand jury if they find probable cause exists |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| a court proceeding in which the suspect is formally charged with the criminal offense stated in the indictment/information; the suspect inters a plea at this point. |
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Term
|
Definition
accused works out a mutually satisfactory conclusion to the case, subject to court approval. Plea bargaining is crucial to the operation to the CJ system
o Prosecutor – less risk, less state-cost, guarantee of conviction
o Defense – often best they can do for the client
Less rick, gives some measure of control over fate. |
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Term
|
Definition
| is a process involving the questioning of potential jurors to try to determine if they are biased in some way |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| appeal to judge to deny jury member based on age, sex, biased views, social status. |
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Term
|
Definition
strategic challenges; can just not like the look of someone and get them dismissed.
Can’t use them on
•Basis of race – Batson v. Kentucky (1986)
•Basis of sex |
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Term
Know all the trial procedures and outcomes
Prosecutor - |
|
Definition
Plaintiff/state present evidence
• Testimony – verbal evidence given under oath
• Direct evidence – evidence that establishes the existence of a fact without relying on interference
• Circumstantial evidence – indirect evidence that establishes the likelihood of a fact via inference |
|
|
Term
Know all the trial procedures and outcomes
Defense - |
|
Definition
•Cross-examination – involves questioning of opposing witnesses, by the prosecution of defense, during trial
•Rebuttal – evidence presented to disprove/counteract evidence presented by the opposing side |
|
|
Term
Know all the trial procedures and outcomes
Ending - |
|
Definition
o Closing argument
o Charging/instructing the jury
o Jury deliberations
o Verdict – formal decision rendered by the jury
Hung jury – a jury whose members are so irreconcilably divided they cannot reach a verdict
Allen Charge – judge instructs jury to go back and re-deliberate about the trial |
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Term
|
Definition
| aka just desserts, the philosophy that those who commit criminal acts should be punished based on the severity of the crime to balance the scales of justice. It represents societal revenge on the offender |
|
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Term
|
Definition
the strategy of preventing crime through the threat of punishment
Assumes that potential criminal will weigh the costs of punishment versus the benefits of the criminal act (hedonistic calculus) |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| a strategy for preventing crime by detaining wrongdoers in prison in order to prevent any future offending (warehousing) |
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Term
|
Definition
| the philosophy that society is best served when wrongdoers are provided the resources needed to eliminate criminality from their behavioral pattern rather than simply being punished. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Results in an imprecise term of incarceration in which a judge determines the minimum and maximum terms of imprisonment (e.g. 3 to 9 years) more consistent with the rehabilitation philosophy. |
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Term
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Definition
| results in a fixed period of incarceration that is attached to a particular offense/situation. This sentence cannot be reduces by judges |
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Term
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Definition
| laws which REQUIRE people who are convicted of certain crimes to serve some time in prison. Probation is not an option. Length of sentence imposed may be indeterminate, but often it is fixed |
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Term
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Definition
The sentencing grid is a chart that shows the severity level of a conviction offense and also the sentencing term for the possible number of times that crime was committed.
o It is more consistent with determinate sentencing |
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Term
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Definition
| a reduction in time served by prisoners based on good behavior, conformity to rules, and other positive actions (one day “good time” counts as two days toward parole) |
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Term
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Definition
| laws and legislative attempts to ensure that convicts will serve all or nearly all of the terms to which they were sentenced in prison (no parole, parole only after 85%, etc.) |
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Term
| The pattern of incarceration in the Unites States over the last 30 years |
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Definition
o Violent crimes have been on the rise ever since (200,000 – 600,000 inmates)
o Property crimes were on the rise till about 2000, and have began dropping since (100,000 – 250,000, then down to 225,000)
o Drug crimes were relatively low till about the late 80’s when they spiked. Then in about 2000, they began a slight decline (’80-’90 50,000 – 150,000, ’90 – ’00 150,000 – 250,000, leveled/decline since 2000)
o Public order crimes result in the least amount of inmates in prison and consist of about a 20,000 – 125,000 change since 1980. |
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Term
| demographics (population characteristics) of the prison population |
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Definition
heavily concentrated among men, racial and ethnic minorities and people 20-30 years of age.
o One in three African American males will go to prison
o One in six Hispanic males will go to prison
o One in seventeen white males will go to prison |
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Term
| Front end attempts to regulate the prison population |
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Definition
reduce prison admissions
Diversion – in the context of corrections, a strategy to direct those offenders who qualify away from prison and jail and toward some form of community-based sanctions
probation – a criminal sanction in which a convict is allowed to remain in the community rather than be imprisoned, so long as they follow certain conditions set by the court
• Intensive supervision probation
• Suspended sentence
Electronic monitoring – a technique of probation supervision in which the offenders whereabouts, though mot his or her actions, are kept under surveillance by an electronic device; often used in conjunction with home confinement.
Home confinement – a community based sanction in which offenders report on a daily basis for purposes of treatment, education, and incapacitation
Day reporting centers – a community based corrections center to which offenders report on a daily basis for purposes of treatment, education, and incapacitation |
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Term
| back end attempts to regulate the prison population |
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Definition
reduce length of stay
Parole – the conditional release of an inmate before his or her sentence in hail has expired; the remainder of the sentence is served in a community under the supervision of correctional officers, and the offender can be returned to incarcerations if he or she breaks the conditions of parole, as determined by the parole board. May also involve intensive supervision
Intermediate sanctions (halfway house) – for parole violations
Work release – temporary release from a prison for purposes of vocational or educational training, employment, or to maintain family ties. The intent is to ease the shock of release and reduce the chance of recidivism and re-incarceration |
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Term
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Definition
| a goal of correction that focuses on preparing the offender for a return to the community. Sometimes this approach is evident in “prisoner re-entry” programs (helping inmates find jobs) |
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