Exam 3: Criminal Law and the Criminal Justice Process

The term actus reus refers to the 'guilty mind' or conscious decision to commit a criminal act.

A defense designed to prevent the government from manufacturing crime by setting traps for unwary citizens.

A defense in which a person claims to have engaged in criminal conduct because of a threat of immediate and serious bodily harm by another person.

The term __________ refers to the fundamental principles of a society that guide the enactment of specific laws and the application of those laws by courts.

The ______ Amendment of the United States Constitution provides protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.

'Battered woman syndrome' is an ongoing pattern of severe physical abuse that constitutes a continual threat of harm

A(n)__________ is a formal accusation of a crime based on the vote of a grand jury.

Mental illness can play a role in a criminal case in more than one way.Please explain and describe these ways.

The term __________ refers to the formal rules that regulate disputes between private parties.

A ___________ refers to an investigation by the probation department that seeks information regarding the offender's personal and social background,criminal record,and any other information that may help the judge match the sentence to the offender.

What is the difference between mens rea and actus reus? How are these both related?

(A[n])__________ is set at the initial appearance in order to ensure that the arrestee will appear in court for trial.

The term 'jurisdiction' refers to the authority of a state,county,or city to apply its own laws within its own territory.

The term ___________ refers to conscious purposiveness in conduct;a factor in the determination of criminal responsibility.

The term ___________ refers to the body of unrecorded decisions made by English judges in the Middle Ages,reflecting the values,customs,and beliefs of the period.

The term __________ refers to the formal rules designed to maintain social control.

In certain cases defendants admit to unlawful conduct but claim that an overriding rationalization or explanation makes their actions lawful.Five defenses involving __________ are duress,necessity,mistake of fact,ignorance of law,and entrapment.

The judicial application and interpretation of law as it applies in a given case is called __________.

A defense in which a defendant claims that a law is not widely known and that the person could not have been expected to be aware of it.

A(n)__________ is a hearing where the defendant is informed of the charges and of his or her rights and enters a plea.