Deck 13: Crime and Corrections Policy in Texas

Question 1

Which of the following makes the decision to grant parole?

A) a judge
B) a district attorney
C) the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles
D) the Texas Board of Prison Release
E) a defending attorney

Answer 1

C

Question 2

In regard to the rules of community supervision (probation) requirements, what are the results of compliance versus violation?

A) A criminal in compliance will likely have his or her record expunged, while a criminal in violation will likely be given a harsher sentence in the future.
B) A criminal in compliance will likely receive an early release of up to one-third the term, while a criminal in violation may be sent to jail for the remainder of his or her sentence.
C) A criminal in compliance will likely receive monetary compensation for his or her time, while a criminal in violation may be sent to jail for the remainder of his or her sentence.
D) A criminal in compliance will likely receive an early release of up to two-thirds the term, while a criminal in violation may be sent to jail for the remainder of his or her sentence, with an additional amount of time added to his or her initial sentencing.
E) A criminal in compliance will likely receive an early release after the first year of the term, while a criminal in violation may be sent to death row.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The highest fine an individual can receive upon criminal sentencing is ________.

A) $5,000
B) $10,000
C) $20,000
D) $50,000
E) $100,000

Answer 3

B

Question 4

A major criticism of the grand jury is that it

A) only considers "true bills."
B) usually rules "no bill."
C) consists of more men than women.
D) usually hears only what the prosecutor chooses to let it hear.
E) is a conviction.

Question 5

A serious criminal offense that subjects a person to state prison punishment is a(n)

A) felony.
B) indictment.
C) petty crime.
D) misdemeanor.
E) capital crime.

Question 6

A minor criminal offense, usually punishable by a small fine or a short jail sentence, is a(n)

A) felony.
B) indictment.
C) petty crime.
D) misdemeanor.
E) capital crime.

Question 7

The lowest class of misdemeanor is which of the following?

A) Class A
B) Class B
C) Class C
D) state jail
E) second degree

Question 8

In a situation in which the defendant may have committed his or her first offense, the judge is more likely to issue a punishment of ________.

A) probation
B) community service
C) temporary jail time
D) a reduction in sentence
E) absolution of crime

Question 9

The most serious felony is

A) aggravated assault.
B) capital murder.
C) aggravated kidnapping.
D) aggravated sexual assault.
E) manslaughter.

Question 10

In the state of Texas, what is the policy for felons' rights to vote?

A) Felons are allowed to vote upon full discharge of their sentences.
B) Felons are allowed to vote upon full discharge of their sentences and completed community service.
C) Felons are allowed to vote only if their convictions involved crimes lesser than third-degree felonies.
D) Felons are allowed to vote only upon governor approval.
E) Felons are never allowed to vote in the state of Texas.

Question 11

In Texas, felony juries are composed of ________ people and misdemeanor juries are composed of ________.

A) 9; 6
B) 12; 5
C) 12; 6
D) 6; 3
E) 6; 12

Question 12

For probation, certain requirements must be met EXCEPT

A) reporting to a probation office on a regular basis.
B) holding a steady job.
C) paying fines or restitution.
D) abstaining from alcohol or drug use.
E) being released from probation for good behavior after serving a quarter of the term.

Question 13

Which of the following groups of crimes are considered second-degree felonies?

A) aggravated sexual assault, robbery, bribery, and stalking
B) robbery, stalking, aggravated assault on a public servant, and violation of a protective order
C) manslaughter, bigamy, capital murder, and forgery of a check
D) bigamy, sexual assault, arson, and manslaughter
E) speeding and reckless driving

Question 14

Which of the following does the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles NOT handle?

A) revocation of parole
B) conditions of parole
C) decisions on which prisoners are due to be released on parole
D) recommendations on clemency to the governor
E) The board handles all of the above.

Question 15

Money that is provided by the defendant to assure his or her appearance in court is referred to as ________.

A) a court fee
B) bail
C) bounty
D) defendant compensation
E) a bond

Question 16

A crime defined as "aggravated" involves

A) the use of some sort of weapon.
B) sexual assault.
C) possession of 50 to 2,000 pounds of marijuana.
D) arson of a habitation.
E) capital murder.

Question 17

In cases in which the accused CANNOT provide bail or CANNOT pay a bondsman, what option may this individual have?

A) The individual can provide his or her home as collateral to the court.
B) The individual can work off his or her payment in community service.
C) The individual can voluntarily serve time to avoid bail costs.
D) The individual can be released on his or her personal promise to appear.
E) The individual has no options and must remain incarcerated.

Question 18

A grand jury consists of how many individuals to possibly hear a case?

A) 10-15
B) 12
C) 15-20
D) 20-30
E) at least 25

Question 19

When a person is arrested for a felony or misdemeanor and jailed rather than ticketed, he or she will be arraigned before a judge. What happens next?

A) At the arraignment the charges will be explained, he or she will be reminded of the due process rights, and bail will be set.
B) At the arraignment the charges will be explained, bail set, and he or she will be reminded of the due process rights.
C) At the arraignment, a date will be determined for the judge to review the charges against the defendant and bail will be set.
D) A date will be determined for the judge to review the charges against the defendant, he or she will be reminded of the due process rights, and bail will be set.
E) Bail will be set, the defendant will be reminded of the due process rights, and the charges will be explained.

Question 20

Jurors determine a guilty verdict in criminal cases

A) with a unanimous vote.
B) by a majority vote.
C) by a hung jury, declaring a mistrial.
D) by the judge determining their decision.
E) with a "50 percent plus one" vote.

Question 21

More than 100 death-row inmates in Texas have been represented by

A) court-appointed attorneys with successful records.
B) personal attorneys with poor records.
C) court-appointed attorneys with troubled histories whose performances became an issue on appeal.
D) private attorneys with troubled histories whose performances and payments became an issue on appeal.
E) court-appointed attorneys with private financial backing, which created an issue during the appeal.

Question 22

Which of the following best describes capital punishment in Texas?

A) The number of prisoners executed in Texas has been slowly decreasing since the 1970s.
B) Texas has both the highest rate of executions and the highest rate of successful death sentence appeals in the nation.
C) Texas executes more individuals than any other state and has a statistically low rate of successfully appealed capital cases.
D) The number of executions in Texas is double the number of executions in every other state combined.
E) Texas has had more death penalty cases overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court than any other state.

Question 23

In Texas, the legal standard of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt is used in which type(s) of cases?

A) felony
B) misdemeanor
C) civil
D) both felony and misdemeanor cases
E) "Beyond a reasonable doubt" is a standard used in federal, not state, court.

Question 24

Which of the following states does NOT have a higher incarceration rate than Texas?

A) Louisiana
B) California
C) Mississippi
D) Oklahoma
E) Florida

Question 25

What is one of the biggest issues in regard to perpetuating criminal activities in Texas?

A) The requirements placed on offenders are not difficult enough and can result in a lack of respect for the system.
B) The requirements placed on offenders allow for excessive interaction with fellow criminals, continuing the cycle of negative contacts.
C) The requirements placed on offenders are so difficult to comply with that offenders will likely disregard the requirements and hope to not get caught.
D) The structure of the criminal system allows for too many appeals and therefore encourages offenders to violate requirements.
E) Criminals are more likely to associate with other criminals, therefore perpetuating the cycle.

Question 26

For which type of offenses are Texas prison inmates most likely to be imprisoned?

A) property
B) drug
C) personal
D) violent
E) automobile

Question 27

Inmates at state jails served on average ________ percent of their sentences before being released.

A) 59.6
B) 98.5
C) 75.8
D) 61.1
E) 50.1

Question 28

All of the following reasons listed make adjustment to life outside prison an extremely difficult experience EXCEPT

A) lack of employment.
B) length of time in prison.
C) family members either moved on or died.
D) lack of education.
E) a lack of economic incentive to hire parolees.

Question 29

Over 90 percent of the Texas prisoners are male, and the average age of prisoners is only ________.

A) 25
B) 18
C) 30
D) 38
E) 45

Question 30

The ________ usually provides legal advice to the county commissioners.

A) county judge
B) district attorney
C) attorney general
D) county attorney
E) assistant attorney

Question 31

Which of the following is NOT likely to be included in a plea bargain?

A) a drop of some of the charges
B) a recommendation for a lighter sentence
C) a recommendation for a higher sentence with a lower fee
D) a reduction of some of the charges
E) a recommendation for a lower sentence with a higher fee

Question 32

In the 1972 case of Ruiz v. Estelle, the U.S. federal court determined that

A) inmates' constitutionally guaranteed rights had been violated in Texas prisons.
B) inmates' treatment was ethical and appropriate based on the sentences.
C) inmates' case based on crowding, security, supervision, and health care had no basis and was thrown out of court.
D) inmates' treatment was to match the crimes they had committed, taking on a policy of "eye for an eye."
E) inmates were to participate in a work-study program in order to receive an education in prison.

Question 33

A(n) ________ is a common method prosecutors use to maintain high conviction rates.

A) bench trial
B) jury trial
C) plea bargain between the defendant and the state
D) indictment from a grand jury
E) plea bargain between the defendant and the plaintiff

Question 34

For which type of offense are Texas prison inmates least likely to be imprisoned?

A) prostitution
B) drug
C) property
D) misdemeanor
E) theft

Question 35

The most prison-prone group in society is ________ between the ages of ________.

A) Black males; 15 and 25.
B) Hispanic males; 18 and 25.
C) males; 20 and 29.
D) females and high school dropouts; 18 and 25.
E) poor males; 18 and 45.

Question 36

A(n) ________ is a salaried lawyer funded by the government or by grants who represents indigents in Texas in some counties or for some types of cases.

A) assigned counsel
B) public defender
C) prosecutor
D) county attorney
E) district attorney

Question 37

What percentage of Texas prison inmates has been convicted of drug offenses?

A) 6 percent
B) 15 percent
C) 18 percent
D) 28 percent
E) 55 percent

Question 38

In the past 20 years, the costs of prison construction and maintenance have risen from approximately ________ to approximately ________.

A) $147 million; $3 billion
B) $147 million; $900 million
C) $1 billion; $5 billion
D) $609 million; $1.5 billion
E) $609 million; $2.8 billion

Question 39

Individuals that can not afford an attorney have a constitutional right to have one appointed to them. Which Supreme Court case was instumental in guaranteeing this right?

A) Ruiz v. Estelle
B) Gideon v. Wainwright
C) Powell v. Alabama
D) Betts v. Brady
E) Miranda v. Arizona

Question 40

The scandals and abuses of the Texas prison system led to the creation of a

A) Joint Committee on Prison Reform.
B) Blue Ribbon Committee on Prison Reform.
C) state prison board.
D) general prison manager.
E) warden.

Question 41

The Michael Morton Act established a uniform policy for district attorneys to make material that can help defendants' cases available to defense attorneys.

Question 42

Which of the following is NOT a reason that an individual can be given the death penalty in Texas?

A) murder for hire
B) murder during the commission of an aggravated rape
C) murder of a child under the age of 12
D) murder of a public safety officer, fireman, or correctional employee
E) murder by a prison inmate serving a life sentence

Question 43

A second-degree felony can be punishable by 2-20 years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000.

Question 44

What is the average amount of time an inmate spends on death row in Texas before execution?

A) 5.23 years
B) 10.26 years
C) 18.37 years
D) 22.45 years
E) 29.85 years

Question 45

Plea bargains are NOT often used in Texas criminal trials.

Question 46

Which of the following is NOT an explanation for why Texas has one of the most controversial death penalty systems in the United States?

A) The court of criminal appeals has overturned no death penalty cases.
B) The court-appointed lawyers the state provides for defendants have often been subpar.
C) There are racial and ethnic disparities in who receives the death penalty and who does not.
D) Texas has led the nation in the number of executions since 1976.
E) Since 1977, the electric chair has been the means for execution in Texas.

Question 47

Grand juries do rule on the accused's guilt or innocence.

Question 48

The most important actors in the Texas criminal justice system are the criminals.

Question 49

People serving time for capital crimes are eligible for parole.

Question 50

The average prison time served by those who have been exonerated was ________ years.

A) 8
B) 13
C) 19
D) 24
E) 31

Question 51

In most situations, the first driving-while-intoxicated charge is filed as a Class B misdemeanor.

Question 52

A felony is a serious criminal offense, punishable by a prison sentence or fine.

Question 53

Prior to 1910, the Texas prisons were leased to railroads, planters, and others who provided them with food and clothing and paid a stipend to the state.

Question 54

Misdemeanor crimes can only result in a fine of up to $4,000 and a sentence of over one year in jail.

Question 55

Wrongfully convicted individuals in the state of Texas can receive a lump sum of ________ for each year they wrongfully served prison time, plus some additional yearly payments of up to ________ per year.

A) $50,000; $50,000
B) $75,000; $100,000
C) $80,000; $80,000
D) $80,000; $100,000
E) $100,000; $100,000

Question 56

Stalking is an example of a third-degree felony.

Question 57

Which of the following is NOT a controversy that has led to the questioning of the integrity of the Texas criminal justice system?

A) the false drug arrests in Tulia
B) the false witness case in Burleson County
C) the Houston Crime Lab scandal
D) the Dallas DNA exonerations
E) the University of Texas corruption scandal

Question 58

In the state of Texas, which race/ethnicity is most likely to be on death row today?

A) Caucasian
B) African American
C) Hispanic
D) Asian American
E) Race/ethnicity does not raise one's likelihood of being given the death penalty.

Question 59

Which of the following states has NOT outright banned or considered a ban on the death penalty?

A) California
B) New Jersey
C) North Carolina
D) Texas
E) Illinois

Question 60

What is the process for granting clemency in Texas?

A) The governor has complete control of whether to grant clemency.
B) The governor must follow the recommendations of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.
C) The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles makes a unilateral collective decision.
D) There is no procedure for clemency in Texas.
E) The court of criminal appeals must overturn the case.

Question 61

One of the most controversial judicial issues in Texas is the death penalty. Explain some of the reasons for the controversy. How does race play a role in the controversy? What role does the court of criminal appeals play? What is the process by which clemencies are offered?

Question 62

Are the traditional Texan views on justice worth the burden to taxpayers? Is the shift to rehabilitation a good one for the state?

Question 63

The governor of Texas is unable to grant clemency to death-row inmates without the recommendation of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Question 64

Discuss the options a judge and prosecutor may have when addressing a criminal case. Review the levels of criminal charges and the possibility of a plea bargain and probation. Based on this knowledge, how "tough" is the Texas system?

Question 65

Texas is the home of more verified wrongful convictions than any other state.

Question 66

What is the controversy tied to criminal cases, in particular capital cases, in the state of Texas? Why is there such a controversy? What protections are put in place in order to help protect the defendants in these cases?

Question 67

Do concerns that Texas has executed innocent people make you reconsider your views on the death penalty? Why or why not?

Question 68

Lethal injection has been the means for execution in Texas since 1977.

Question 69

The integrity of the Texas judicial system has been called into question many times. Explain what events have caused these questions. Discuss the outcome of the situations and what the state of Texas is doing to combat future accusations.

Question 70

Texas leads the nation in the number of state-sanctioned executions.

Question 71

Explain and discuss Texas's correctional system. What is the history of the system? What presents hurdles to an effective system? Can Texas prisons ever be considered the best in the nation?

Question 72

The governor can alter a prisoner's sentence without the majority support of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.