Principal of Law
Chapter 1
Vocabulary Terms
Assault
A threat or an attempt to do violence to another person that
causes that person to fear immediate physical harm
Burglary
The act of breaking into or entering a structure (such as a
home or office) without permission for the purpose of
committing a felony.
Conflict model
A criminal justice model in which the content of criminal
law is determined by the groups that hold economic,
political, and social power in a community
Consensus model
A criminal justice model in which the majority of citizens
in a society share the same values and beliefs. Criminal acts
are acts that conflict with these values and beliefs and that
are deemed harmful to society
Crime control model
A criminal justice model that places primary emphasis on
the right of society to be protected from crime and violent
criminals
Criminal justice system
The interlocking network of law enforcement agencies,
courts, and corrections institutions designed to enforce
criminal laws and protect society from criminal behavior
Deviance
Behavior that is considered to go against the norms
established by society
Due process model
A criminal justice model that places primacy on the right of
the individual to be protected from the power of
government
Homeland security
A concerted national effort to prevent terrorist attacks
within the United States and reduce the country’s
vulnerability to terrorism
Morals
Principles of right and wrong behavior, as practiced by
individuals or by society
Organized crime
Illegal acts carried out by illegal organizations engaged in
the market for illegal goods or services, such as illicit drugs
or firearms
Psychoactive drugs
Chemicals that affect the brain, causing changes in
emotions, perceptions, and behaviors
Public order crime
Behavior that has been labeled criminal because it is
contrary to shared social values, customs, and norms
Wedding cake model
A wedding cake-shaped model that explains how different
cases receive different treatment in the criminal justice
system. The cases at the “top” of the cake receive the most
attention, while those cases at the “bottom” are disposes of
quickly and are largely ignored by the media
White collar crime
Non-violent crimes committed by business entities or
individuals to gain a personal or business advantage