Landmark Criminal Law Cases, Dates and Legal Terms

Case Holdings

• Gideon v. Wainwright — challenge right to counsel if poor.
• Sperling v. Teplizky — temporary restraining order.
• Keatins v. Dr. Bolander — sued for medical expenses, loss of income, medical distress.
• In re Gault (Juvenile case) — juveniles have the right to counsel, same as adults.
• Hurley v. ACPD — compensatory damages and punitive damages.
• State v. Marquez — court finds him guilty of the restraining order; burglary charge dismissed.
• R v. Sundown — the appeal should be dismissed.
• Brown v. Board of Education — segregation in American public schools was inherently unequal.
• Miranda v. Arizona — suspects must be informed of their constitutional right to an attorney and against self-incrimination.
• Mapp v. Ohio — evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment is inadmissible.
• Escobedo v. Illinois — criminal suspects have a right to counsel during police interrogations under the Sixth Amendment.
• Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson — unwelcome sexual harassment in the workplace is unconstitutional.
• Powell v. Alabama (Scottsboro case) — right to counsel denied; established right to effective counsel.

Important Dates

• 1965 — California required state law for victim compensation.
• 1973 — first international conference in Jerusalem.
• 1973 — Stockholm syndrome v. Sweden case.
• 1957 — Margery Fry from Great Britain proposed legislation for victim compensation.
• 1941 — Homs, founder of victimology.

Terms and Concepts

• Bestiality — sexual intercourse with an animal.
• Necrophilia — sexual activity with a dead or deceased person.
• Zoophilia — sexual attraction to animals; seeking sexual gratification.
• Sadist — derives gratification from torturing or inflicting injury on others.
• Frottage — arousal from rubbing or touching others, often in crowded settings.
• Masochist — enjoys receiving pain or torture.
• Inconfident — deep psychological problems; low self-confidence.
• Voyeurism — peeping or observing others without their consent.
• Cycle of violence — arguments, fighting, honeymoon phases repeat in abusive relationships.
• Three biases — personal, disciplinary, social environment.
• Types of homicide — justifiable and excusable.
• Double Indemnity — restitution and community restitution.
• Concept: judgment-proof — an individual who does not have funds or assets to satisfy a judgment.
• Stalking — typically a fourth-degree offense; repeated violations can escalate to a third-degree offense.
• Three tendencies — conservative, liberal, radical.
• Types of exhibitionists — compulsive, intentional, inconfident, professional.
• Civil remedies — plaintiff = victim; defendant = offender; contingent fee basis = compensation method.
• Types of restitution — victim-oriented programs and offender-oriented programs.
• Preponderance — standard in civil cases.
• Beyond a reasonable doubt — standard in criminal cases.