Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Origins and Organization of the Courts
1. In this chapter, criminal courts in the past and [criminal courts] today, were compared. Unlike in the past, defendants could not act as witnesses or take the stand in their own defense. However, today defendants are permitted to testify under oath.
2. U.S. Supreme Court- the highest court in the United States, which hears final appeals in cases involving federal law, suits between states, and interpretations of the U.S. Constitution.
--This chapter also discusses the participants in the Judicial Process.
3. Prosecutors- also called district, county, state, commonwealth, or U.S. attorneys, depending on the jurisdiction; elected or appointed officials who represent the community in bringing charges against an accused person.
4. Defense Counsel and Defendants (defense attorneys)- attorneys who represent the legal rights of the accused in criminal proceedings.
5. Judges- objectively assesses the strength of a case, rule on issues of law and procedure, and in many cases determines the disposition of a case.
6. Victims and witnesses- "the forgotten players" because no one specifically represents them; they [victims and witnesses] are not appropriately informed of the progress of criminal proceedings or the pending release of offenders from prison.
7. Juries- selected from voter registration records, property tax rolls, or motor vehicle records. The jury pool is supposed to represent the community.
8. Courtroom work group- the prosecutors, defense counsel, judges, and other courtroom personnel who represent distinct interests but share the goal of shepherding large numbers of cases through the adjudication process.
--Lastly, this chapter discusses how specialized and alternative courts have change the court systems. Specialized courts have emerged as a way for society to deal more effectively with the problem of drug-related crime.
9. Felony drug courts- courts that handle only drug offenses and attempt to correct underlying causes of the illegal conduct.
10. Dispute Resolution and Community Courts- Mediation and pretrial intervention programs have been instituted partly in response to high caseloads.
-Dispute resolutions: a method of handling complaints outside the judicial process through a mediator appointed by the court.
-Community prosecution: a program in which prosecutors intervene in all disorderly behavior that affects the quality of life in a neighborhood.
-Community courts: decentralized courts that respond to neighborhood conditions using citizen advisory committees, volunteers, and teen courts.