CCJS 100- Midterm Exam Guide - Comprehensive Notes for the exam ( 16 pages long!)

• School: University of Maryland
• Department: Criminology and Criminal Justice
• Course: CCJS 100
• Professor: Justine Madoo

Document Summary

Adjudication: the process of determining whether the defendant is guilty. Arrest: the physical taking of a person into custody on the grounds that there is a reason to believe that he or she has committed a criminal offense. Police are limited to using only reasonable force in making an arrest. The purpose of the arrest is to hold the accused for a court proceeding. Crimes: actions that violate laws defining which socially harmful behaviors will be subject to the government"s power to impose punishments. Discretion: the authority to make decisions without references to specific rules or facts, suing instead ones own judgment, allows for individualization and informality in the administration of justice. Discrimination: differential treatment of individuals or groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or economic status. Disparity: a difference between groups that may be explained either by legitimate factors or by discrimination.