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Courts and Legal Procedures
Test 3
65
Criminology
Undergraduate 4
05/04/2013

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Cards

Term
What are the two ways a person may challenge a conviction?
Definition
-Appeal
-File a habeas corpus petition
Term
Habeas corpus means...
Definition
"You have the body"
Term
What does a habeas corpus writ require?
Definition
It requires the person to whom it is directed to either produce the person named in the writ or release that person from custody.
Term
Is there a federal constitutional right to an appeal?
Definition
No, but every state allows a direct appeal, either by statute or state constitutional provision
Term
Why is the writ of habeas corpus considered an indirect appeal?
Definition
Because it does not directly challenge the defendant's conviction but instead challenges the authority of the state to incarcerate the defendant
Term
What is the State's defense against a writ of habeas corpus?
Definition
The conviction itself–that is why the defendant has been incarcerated
Term
Is there a time limit for filing a habeas corpus petition?
Definition
No, but there is for direct appeals
Term
What is precedent?
Definition
A judicial decision that should be followed by a judge when deciding a later, similar case
Term
What is "stare decisis?"
Definition
The judicial practice of looking to the past for pertinent decisions and deferring to them; Latin for "let the decision stand"
Term
To whom is precedent binding?
Definition
Only on those courts within the jurisdiction of the court issuing the opinion, and not on any courts superior to the court making the decision.
Term
What is ratio decidendi?
Definition
"The reason for the decision;" A legal principle used by the courts to arrive at their decisions
Term
What is obiter dicta?
Definition
"Things said by the way;" Other legal or nonlegal arguments used to support the ratio decidendi and do not set a precedent
Term
What does judicial review mean?
Definition
The power of the court to examine a law and determine whether it is constitutional
Term
Is judicial review expressly provided for in the Constitution?
Definition
No, the courts' authority to make judge-made law came from Marbury v. Madison
Term
When a person convicted of a crime appeals that decision to a higher court, what are they saying, in essence?
Definition
The the lower court made a legal error that prevented that person from receiving a fair trial
Term
In McKane v. Durston, the Supreme Court held that appeals were or were not a necessary element of due process?
Definition
They are not
Term
What are the three decisions appeal courts typically reach?
Definition
-Affirm
-Reverse
-Remand (hand it back to the lower courts to do it again, this time correctly)
Term
When a higher court reverses a lower court's decision, does the defendant automatically get acquitted?
Definition
No, instead the defendant is only granted a new trial
Term
What did Griffin v. Illinois allow for indigent defendants?
Definition
Access to trial transcripts
Term
Why are trial transcripts so important?
Definition
They are the basis for an appeal
Term
Douglas v. California established that indigent defenders be provided with what during an appeal?
Definition
Legal counsel
Term
Evitts v. Lucey established that not only must counsel be provided for indigent defendants, but that the counsel must be...
Definition
Effective
Term
North Carolina v. Pierce established that during a defendant's appeal, the government may not ________ (like being punished _______ harshly the second time around)
Definition
Retaliate; more
Term
What is an interlocutory appeal?
Definition
An appeal filed prior to adjudication of a criminal case. This type of appeal focuses on critical constitutional questions that have no bearing on the defendant's guilt or innocence
Term
The final judgement rule limits...
Definition
Appeals until the court hands down its final judgement as to the defendant's guilt
Term
What is the harmless error rule?
Definition
A rule that states that an error that would not have altered the outcome of the case does not require the appellate court to overrule he offender's conviction or sentence
Term
Name and describe the two types of sentence justification
Definition
Retributive- People who violate the law are punished because they did something wrong

Utilitarian-Focus on the future behavior of both the person being punished and other members of society
Punishment is in order to promote good in the future
Term
Are female offenders punished more harshly than male offenders?
Definition
No, they are punished more leniently
Term
What kind of victim will affect the most serious outcome in death penalty cases?
Definition
White women
Term
Who decides the appropriate punishment for offenders convicted of crimes?
Definition
Judges
Term
Lincoln did what to the habeas corpus writ during the Civil War?
Definition
Suspended
Term
Define incapacitation
Definition
Locking up, or otherwise physically disabling, dangerous or high-risk offenders to prevent them from committing crimes in the future
Term
Define general deterrence
Definition
Potential offenders "learn the consequences of criminal involvement" from others and decide not to engage in the criminal activity lest they be punished as well
Term
Define specific deterrence
Definition
Someone who has been legally punished ceases offending because of fear of future punishment
Term
What is the difference between collective and selective incapacitation?
Definition
Collective imprisons any offender whereas selective imprisons only those with a past history (ie those that commit the most crimes)
Term
Define rehabilitation
Definition
Any measure taken to change an offender’s character, habits, or behavior patterns so as to diminish his criminal propensity
Term
Describe restoration (restorative justice)
Definition
Views punishment as a means to repair the harm and injury cased by the crime and focuses on the victim and community as well as the offender
Term
Define probation
Definition
Punishment that does not entail confinement in jail or prison
Term
The death penalty today is imposed almost exclusively for what type of crime?
Definition
First-degree murder
Term
What are the two stages in a death penalty case?
Definition
-Determination of guilt or innocence

-Sentencing proceedings
Term
Define indeterminate sentencing
Definition
The legislature specifies a minimum and a maximum sentence for a particular offense or category of offense
Term
Define determinate sentencing
Definition
Fixed term sentences that may be reduced if the offender behaves while incarcerated
Term
What are some reasons a judge may not be able to sentence probation?
Definition
If he believes:
-The offender is likely to commit additional crimes if released
-The offender is in need of treatment that can be provided more effectively in jail or prison
-Probation would be inappropriate give the seriousness of the offender’s crime
Term
What does conventional boot camp emphasize?
Definition
Strict discipline, military drill and ceremony, and hard labor and physical training
Term
Judges’ sentencing decisions are based on...
Definition
The seriousness of the offense and the offender’s prior criminal record
Term
The final judgement rule does what?
Definition
Limits the timing of an appeal until after the court hands down its final judgement as to the defendant's guilt
Term
What were the conclusions of the reading "The Interactive Effects of Victim Race and Gender on Death Sentence Disparity Findings?"
Definition
-Female victim homicides are disproportionately represented in death sentences
-Black victims are underrepresented in death penalty cases
Term
"The Juvenile Penalty" found that in terms of juvenile and young adult punishments...
Definition
Overall, juveniles appear to be more likely than young adults to be incarcerated for lesser offenses and they tend to receive considerably longer sentence lengths for more serious offenses
Term
Under the common law system, a final decision by an appeals court creates a what?
Definition
Precedent
Term
Precedent is binding only on...
Definition
Those courts within the jurisdiction of the court issuing the decision
Term
Is precedent permanent?
Definition
Stare decisis is not an inflexible doctrine, but merely the general rule. Until a decision is expressly overruled, it stands as an accurate statement of legal principles, or “good law”
Term
Judicial Review means...
Definition
the power of the court to examine a law and determine whether it is constitutional
Term
The Supreme Court decided that indigent defendants must be given access to trial transcripts in what court case?
Definition
Griffin v. Illinois
Term
Interlocutory Appeals are those filed...
Definition
-Prior to the reading of the verdict
-The only interlocutory appeals likely to succeed are those addressing critical constitutional questions and those that have no bearing on the defendants guilt
Term
Can a lower courts’ “harmless errors” may lead to the reversal of a conviction?
Definition
No
Term
Who can seek a writ of habeas corpus?
Definition
Only incarcerated people
Term
Why is the habeas corpus process much more restrictive than the appellate process?
Definition
-Several types of writs will not be issued
-Habeas Corpus petitions also must raise constitutional questions
-There are timing restrictions for habeas corpus petitions
Term
Do people filing a writ of habeas corpus have the right to an attorney?
Definition
No
Term
Clemency is also known as a...
Definition
Pardon
Term
The power to grant a power or clemency rests with the...
Definition
Chief executive
Term
Large states with large inmate populations have _____ habeas corpus petitions filed in federal court
Definition
Fewer
Term
Habeas corpus positions constitute what is called in the law ________ attacks upon state criminal judgments
These attacks are supplemental to and occur after direct attacks
Definition
Collateral
Term
Innocence movement began when ____ testing first exonerated convicted defendant in 1989
Definition
DNA
Term
What are the different causes of wrongful conviction?
Definition
-False confessions
-Eyewitness identification procedures
-Forensic evidence
-Jailhouse informants
-Defense counsel practices
-Investigative policies and personnel
-Prosecution practices
Term
What other structural changes in criminal justice system influenced the innocence movement?
Definition
-Increasing professionalism of law enforcement
-Rise of law school clinical education
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