Glossary

When an organization takes responsibility for its actions and the consequences of those actions.

Factors that make a crime more serious and warrant a harsher punishment.

The party who lost in the lower court and is appealing the decision to a higher court.

Courts that review decisions made by trial courts.

The party who won in the lower court and is defending the decision on appeal.

A trial where a judge, rather than a jury, decides the case based on the evidence presented.

Laws established by rulings of appellate courts, also known as precedent.

A violation of a legal duty that harms a person or entity, typically resulting in a lawsuit for damages.

A system that uses community-based programs and placements as alternatives to incarceration for all or part of a sentence.

A policing philosophy that emphasizes collaboration between police and community members to prevent crime and improve public safety.

An idea that all groups come together, regardless of social class, race, age, gender, and more, to determine what should be illegal.

Theories that explain why more people do not engage in illegal behavior. These theories often assume people are naturally selfish and, if left alone, would commit crimes.

Secure buildings that house individuals accused of or convicted of crimes.

A sworn officer responsible for maintaining safety and security, as well as potentially offering guidance and support, within a correctional facility.

An analysis that seeks to determine if the costs of a policy are justified by the benefits accrued.

The highest court in a court system, such as the U.S. Supreme Court or a state supreme court.

A lawyer assigned by the court to represent a defendant who cannot afford their own attorney.

The collaborative relationship between judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys who work together to move cases through the court system.

Courts that can hear a wide variety of cases, including both felonies and misdemeanors.

Courts that can only hear specific types of cases, typically minor offenses or civil matters.

A model that focuses on having an efficient system, with the most important function being to suppress and control crime to ensure that society is safe and there is public order.

Any action designed to reduce the actual level of crime and/or the perceived fear of crime.

Crimes that are often considered the most serious and may include homicide, rape, assault, kidnapping, and intimate partner violence

The criminal justice system is a major social institution that is tasked with controlling crime in various ways. It includes police, courts, and the correction system.

An act or omission that violates criminal law and is punishable by the state.

When a deviant act becomes criminal, and a law is written with defined sanctions that can be enforced by the criminal justice system.

Factors that contribute to an individual's risk of committing crimes. Addressing these needs can help reduce recidivism.

A phrase used to recognize that a large portion of crime each year is unreported.

Lawyers who represent defendants in criminal cases. They are responsible for investigating the case, advising the defendant, and presenting a defense in court.

The goal of discouraging criminal behavior through punishment or the threat of punishment.

Behavior that departs from or violates the established social norm.

Also known as a regular waiver, allows a judge to transfer a juvenile from juvenile court to adult criminal court. The burden of proof rests with the state to prove the juvenile is not amenable to treatment in juvenile court.

The sentence or punishment imposed by the court on a juvenile offender.

The phenomenon where juveniles of color are more likely to be involved in the juvenile justice system than white juveniles, even when accounting for differences in crime rates.

The process of directing someone away from the formal criminal justice system, often into social services or treatment programs.

The system in the United States where there are separate state and federal court systems. State courts handle state law violations, while federal courts handle federal law violations.

Using research and data to guide decisions about criminal justice policies and programs, with the goal of improving outcomes for individuals.

An 1838 court case that established the concept of parens patriae, the idea that the state has the authority to act in the best interests of a child.

Laws that retroactively apply to actions committed before the law was enacted. These are generally prohibited by the Constitution.

A jail design focused on space efficiency, with long hallways lined by cells holding a large number of people.

A jail design that emphasizes a more communal feel, with multiple cells facing a central living area allowing for easier supervision.

A critical framework that examines the relationship between gender, crime, and justice.

People who are blamed for being allegedly responsible for the threat to society.

Behaviors that are learned and shared by a social group. Often referred to as customs.

The amendment to the United States Constitution that prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures and requires warrants to be issued upon probable cause.

When the media focuses on the broad categories, segments, or angles through which a story can be told, such as factual and interpretive claims that allow people to organize events and experiences into groups.

The philosophical idea that pleasure is the primary good and that people naturally seek to maximize pleasure and avoid pain.

An investigation of what has changed after the introduction of a crime policy.

Removing an individual from society for a set period to prevent them from committing crimes.

Attempted crimes where a person takes a substantial step towards committing a crime, but the crime itself is not completed.

A facility that holds people accused of crimes awaiting trial or those convicted of minor offenses.

Laws in the United States, enacted between 1877 and the 1960s, that enforced racial segregation in the South.

A process where a juvenile court judge can transfer a case to adult criminal court.

The authority of a court to hear and decide a case.

A trial where a jury decides the facts of the case based on the evidence presented.

Antisocial or criminal behavior by a minor.

Theories that focus on the social construction of crime and why not everyone who commits a crime is labeled as a criminal. These theories point out that definitions of crime can vary over time and place.

A system of rules enforced through social institutions to govern behavior.

Theories that focus on how people learn criminal behavior through processes of reinforcement and imitation.

A law that automatically excludes certain offenses from juvenile court jurisdiction.

A process where a juvenile offender meeting certain criteria (like age and offense type) must be transferred to adult criminal court.

The phenomenon of the United States having the highest incarceration rate in the world.

A person's emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.

Constitutional rights in the United States that protect individuals during police questioning. These rights include the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney.

These are the least dangerous types of crimes which can include, depending on the location, public intoxication, prostitution, and graffiti, among others.

Circumstances that lessen the seriousness of a crime and may lead to a lighter sentence.

When public fears and state interventions greatly exceed the objective threat posed to society by a particular individual or group

An act or omission that is considered wrong according to personal beliefs or ethical codes, but not necessarily illegal.

Pictures and popular stories that the public accepts and perceives as correct.

Reported statistics, self-report statistics, and victimization statistics that are reported to various official government criminal justice agencies, such as the police and courts.

The authority of a court to hear a case for the first time, as opposed to reviewing a decision made by a lower court.

When the number of incarcerated individuals exceeds the capacity of correctional facilities.

A legal concept that gives the state the authority to act in the best interests of a child, including protecting them from neglect or abuse.

The release of a prisoner under supervision after serving a portion of their sentence.

A process that typically begins with identifying the issue to be addressed by the proposed policy, and ends with evaluation to see whether the policy has resolved the issues.

An approach to criminology that emphasizes the use of scientific methods to study crime and develop solutions.

A period of supervision following release from prison, with conditions similar to parole.

A process that shifts the burden of proof to the juvenile to demonstrate why they should remain in juvenile court.

The rule that only evidence presented in court can be considered by the judge or jury in making a decision.

A facility that houses people convicted of serious crimes and sentenced to long terms of incarceration.

A sentence that allows a convicted person to remain in the community under the supervision of a probation officer, instead of going to jail or prison.

Assessments that consider the implementation of a policy or program and involve determining the procedure used to implement the policy.

A government attorney who represents the state in criminal cases and is responsible for bringing charges against defendants and arguing for their conviction.

A system where prosecutors have the discretion to decide whether to file charges against a juvenile in juvenile or adult court.

A penalty imposed on someone who has committed a crime.

Involves exploring and understanding human experiences and behaviors by delving into in-depth narratives, like personal stories and interviews.

Uses numerical data and statistical analysis to identify patterns and draw conclusions, such as counting and measuring to uncover trends.

The process of helping someone who has committed a crime change their behavior and become a productive member of society.

Survey participants.

A community-based approach to justice that focuses on repairing harm, building relationships, and holding offenders accountable.

Punishment focused on revenge or payback for a crime.

The principle that everyone, including those in power, is subject to the same laws.

The phenomenon where disciplinary actions in school can lead students into the juvenile justice system.

The government’s authority to search for and take away evidence of crimes. The Fourth Amendment limits this power to protect people from unreasonable searches and seizures.

Data that are reported by individuals.

Strategies that aim to reduce crime by making opportunities for crime less attractive or increasing the perceived risk of getting caught.

A theory that suggests crime is more likely to occur in areas with weak social institutions (such as family, school, religion, or government) that cannot effectively control behavior.

Courts designed to handle specific types of cases, such as drug courts or mental health courts.

Offenses that are only illegal because of the age of the offender, such as underage drinking or truancy.

Theories that focus on how social and economic strain can push people into crime. These theories assume that human beings are naturally good but that bad things happen, which push people into criminal activity.

A media-created stereotype of a violent and uncontrollable juvenile offender, which influenced harsher juvenile justice policies.

A supervision approach where officers are stationed directly within the living unit with the incarcerated individuals.

A supervision approach where officers monitor the unit from a separate control room and have less direct contact with those incarcerated.

A quantitative and qualitative research method that asks participants (respondents) to report directly on their own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

An explanation that attempts to make sense of our observations about the world.

Intermediate appellate courts that review decisions of U.S. District Courts within their circuit.

The trial courts in the federal court system.

The highest court in the United States, with the authority to review decisions of all lower federal courts and state courts.

The level of physical force used by law enforcement officers to control a situation or apprehend a suspect. This can range from verbal commands to deadly force.

One who has suffered direct or threatened physical, financial, or emotional harm as a result of the commission of a crime.

Accounts by the victim, the victim’s family, or others affected by the offense that express the effects of the offense.

Surveys that ask people if they have been a victim of a crime in a given year.

A petition filed with the Supreme Court requesting that it review a lower court decision. The Supreme Court only grants certiorari in about 10% of the cases it is asked to review.

A legal document that challenges the legality of a person's imprisonment.