CJCENTRAL: Criminal Justice Brief, 5E: Glossary

radical criminology
A conflict perspective that sees crime as engendered by the unequal distribution of wealth, power, and other resources which it believes is especially characteristic of capitalist societies. Also called "critical criminology."

rape (generic)
Unlawful sexual intercourse, achieved through force and without consent. Broadly speaking, the term "rape" has been applied to a wide variety of sexual attacks, and may include same-sex rape and the rape of a male by a female. The term "forcible rape" has a more concise meaning. See also, forcible rape and sexual battery.

rated capacity
The number of inmates that a correctional facility can house without overcrowding, determined by comparison with some set of explicit standards applied to groups of facilities.

reasonable doubt
(in legal proceedings) an actual and substantial doubt arising from the evidence, from the facts or circumstances shown by the evidence, or from the lack of evidence. Also, that state of the case which, after the entire comparison and consideration of all the evidence, leaves the minds of the jurors in that condition that they cannot say they feel an abiding conviction of the truth of the charge.

reasonable doubt standard
that standard of proof necessary for conviction in criminal trials.

reasonable force
A degree of force that is appropriate in a given situation and is not excessive. The minimum degree of force necessary to protect oneself, ones' property, a third party, or the property of another in the face of a substantial threat.

recidivism
The repetition of criminal behavior.

recidivist
A person who has been convicted of one or more crimes and who is alleged or found to have subsequently committed another crime or series of crimes.

reckless behavior
Activity which increases the risk of harm.

recreational drug user
A person who uses drugs relatively infrequently, and whose use occurs primarily among friends and within social contexts which define drug use as pleasurable. Most addicts began as recreational users.

reformatory concept
A late-nineteenth-century correctional model based upon the use of the indeterminate sentence and belief in the possibility of rehabilitation, especially for youthful offenders. The reformatory concept faded with the emergence of industrial prisons around the turn of the century.

rehabilitation
The attempt to reform a criminal offender. Also, the state in which a reformed offender is said to be.

release on recognizance (ROR)
The pretrial release of a criminal defendant on their written promise to appear. No cash or property bond is required.

reprieve
An executive act temporarily suspending the execution of a sentence, usually a death sentence. A reprieve differs from other suspensions of sentence not only in that it almost always applies to temporary withdrawing of a death sentence, but also in that it is usually an act of clemency intended to provide the prisoner with time to secure amelioration of the sentence.

research
The use of standardized, systematic procedures in the search for knowledge.

reasonable suspicion
1. That level of suspicion which would justify an officer in making further inquiry or in conducting further investigation. Reasonable suspicion may permit a simple "stop and frisk." 2. A belief, based upon a consideration of the facts at hand and upon reasonable inferences drawn from those facts, which would induce an ordinarily prudent and cautious person under the same circumstances to generally conclude that criminal activity is taking place, or that criminal activity has recently occurred. See also, probable cause.

resident
A person required by official action or his own acceptance of placement to reside in a public or private facility established for purposes of confinement, supervision, or care.

residential commitment
A sentence of commitment to a correctional facility for adults, in which the offender is required to reside at night, but from which he or she is regularly permitted to depart during the day, unaccompanied by any official.

restitution
A court requirement that an alleged or convicted offender pay money or provide services to the victim of the crime or provide services to the community.

restoration
A goal of criminal sentencing that attempts to make the victim "whole again."

restorative justice
A sentencing model which builds upon restitution and community participation in an attempt to make the victim "whole again."

retribution
The act of taking revenge upon a criminal perpetrator.

revocation
The cancellation of a probationer's or parolee's freedom. Revocation usually results from the violation of at least one of the conditions of probation or parole and may be ordered only by a special hearing board constituted for that purpose.

revocation hearing
A hearing held before a legally constituted hearing body (such as a parole board) in order to determine whether or not a probationer or parolee has violated the conditions and requirements of his or her probation or parole.

RICO (Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization)
A federal statute that allows for the federal seizure of assets derived from illegal enterprise.

rights of defendant
Those powers and privileges which are constitutionally guaranteed to every defendant.

robbery (UCR)
The unlawful taking or attempted taking of property that is in the immediate possession of another by force or threat of force.

rules of evidence
Rules of court which govern the admissibility of evidence at a criminal hearing and trial.

runaway
A juvenile who has been adjudicated by a judicial officer of juvenile court, as having committed the status offense of leaving the custody and home of his or her parents, guardians, or custodians without permission and failing to return within a reasonable length of time.

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