CJ 0852 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Human Behavior, First Amendment To The United States Constitution, Homicide

• School: Temple University
• Department: Criminal Justice
• Course: CJ 0852
• Professor: Cheryl L. Irons-Guynn

Document Summary

Fall 2020 || week 6 || exam 01. Mala in se: wrong in and of themselves. Mala prohibita: wrong because the laws say so. Felony (serious crimes punishable by more than 1 year confinement) Misdemeanor (less serious, punishable by less than 1 year) Some states, e. g. pa define crimes differently. Crime policy: defined, government response to a crime problem. Created on multiple levels: federal, state, local. Federal law: applies to federally defined crime, but can also apply to state and local crime. State and local law applies only to acts committed within their boundaries. The legislature at these levels creates the laws. The judicial branch interprets law, thereby actually creating rules. Crime is a rational choice based on cost/benefit analysis. Punishment should be harsh enough to deter but not overly punitive. Rules must be clear and written in advance in order to influence offender decisions. Human behavior is influenced by outside factors beyond their control.