Deck 3: How Much Delinquency Is There, and Is Delinquency Increasing

Question 1

Of the approximately 1 million juvenile arrests in 2014, the majority were for:

A) Part I crimes
B) violent crimes
C) serious crimes
D) minor crimes
E) weapons-related crimes

Answer 1

D

Question 2

The number of juvenile arrests in 2014 for Part I crimes is _____ the number of crimes cleared by the arrest of juveniles.

A) less than
B) equal to
C) greater than
D) not comparable to

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Arrest rates show the number of juvenile arrests per 100,000 juveniles ages:

A) 17 and under
B) 18 and under
C) 13 to 17
D) 10 to 17
E) 5 to 18

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Juvenile arrest rates for Part I offenses are:

A) similar for property and violent offenses
B) slightly higher for violent offenses
C) slightly higher for property offenses
D) several times higher for violent offenses
E) several times higher for property offenses

Question 5

According to victimization data, persons most likely to be victimized are those aged:

A) 12 to 17
B) 18 to 24
C) 25 to 34
D) 40 to 55
E) 65 and older

Question 6

All data sources indicate that _______ offenses are more common than _______ offenses.

A) property; violent
B) drug; property
C) violent; property
D) serious; minor

Question 7

According to Agnew and Brezina, _______ data probably provide the most accurate estimates of the extent of delinquency.

A) arrest
B) self-report
C) victimization
D) court
E) media

Question 8

The juvenile arrest rates for murder more than doubled between 1987 and 1993. This dramatic increase was entirely due to an increase in:

A) school shootings
B) media violence
C) gun-related murders
D) less parental supervision of children
E) graphic video games

Question 9

Information provided in the text indicates that high school seniors' self-reported illicit drug use has currently:

A) started to decrease by a modest amount in the past few years
B) started to increase by a modest amount in the past few years
C) remained very stable since the 1980s
D) been the highest rate of illicit drug use since the early 1980s

Question 10

Self-reported delinquency data from the Monitoring the Future survey indicate that the rate of property crime:

A) increased during the late 1980s and remained at a high level through the 2000s
B) increased during the late 1980s and 1990s, then gradually declined during the 2000s
C) declined during the late 1980s and remained at a low level through the 2000s
D) declined throughout the 1980s, 1990s, and into the 2000s

Question 11

Given the strengths and weaknesses of the various measures of delinquency, Agnew and Brezina draw the following conclusion about trends in delinquency:

A) rates of serious property crime increased from the mid- to late 1990s to 2014
B) rates of serious property crime decreased from the mid- to late 1990s to 2014
C) rates of serious violence increased in the mid- to late 2000s
D) none of the above

Question 12

Agnew and Brezina offer which of the following explanations for the dramatic decline in serious crime since the mid-1990s?

A) improvements in judicial processing
B) tougher firearms laws
C) decline in crack use
D) zero-tolerance policies
E) all of the above

Question 13

Self-report surveys typically find that ____ or more of all juveniles have engaged in at least some forms of delinquency.

A) 20%
B) 50%
C) 70%
D) 90%

Question 14

In 2014, over half of Part I crimes were for:

A) rape
B) aggravated assault
C) drug use
D) larceny-theft

Question 15

Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding juvenile arrests in 2014?

A) The number of arrests tends to be higher for serious crimes than for minor crimes.
B) The number of arrests tends to be higher for minor crimes than for serious crimes.
C) The number of arrests tends to be relatively equal for minor crimes and serious crimes.
D) none of the above

Question 16

Clearance data:

A) are reported for Part II crimes
B) allow us to estimate the number of Part I crimes committed by juveniles
C) include arrests for multiple offenders involved in one crime
D) are not included in the Uniform Crime Reports

Question 17

Much of the latest decrease in violent crime is due to a lower rate of juvenile arrest for:

A) aggravated assault
B) murder
C) rape
D) battery

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT one of the factors listed by Agnew and Brezina that may have contributed to the decline in juvenile crime rates:

A) improvements in the economy
B) decline in gangs
C) technological developments
D) increase in single-parent families

Question 19

By 2014, the juvenile arrest rate for ________ crime was at its lowest level in more than three decades.

A) property
B) drug
C) violent
D) vice

Question 20

Explain why the number of juveniles arrested differs from the number of crimes cleared by the arrest of juveniles.

Question 21

Briefly explain why arrest data and self-report data are widely discrepant in their estimates of the extent of delinquency.

Question 22

Describe the characteristics of the most likely victims of violent crime.

Question 23

Provide a summary of the extent of juvenile property offending and violent offending.

Question 24

The three data sources discussed in the text yield different estimates of the extent of delinquency in the United States. Indicate the data set that provides the lowest estimate and the one that gives the highest estimate. Explain why these estimates differ (i.e., identify advantages/disadvantages of the two data sources and explain how these yield different estimates of delinquency).

Question 25

Based on arrest data, discuss the extent of delinquency and trends in delinquency for both property and violent offenses.

Question 26

Based on self-report data, describe the extent of delinquency and trends in delinquency for both property and violent offenses.

Question 27

Discuss trends in illegal drug use since 1980. Why do Agnew and Brezina state that self-report data provide more accurate information on such trends?

Question 28

Evaluate the accuracy of the following statements and correct where inaccurate (if accurate, simply write the word "accurate").
a. Juveniles are most often arrested for the crime of fighting or simple assault.
b. 90% or more of all adolescents engage in delinquency, according to self-report data.
c. Serious juvenile violence has declined since 1994.
d. The most likely victim of a violent crime is an older, white female.

Question 29

Provide three explanations for the dramatic decline in serious crime since the mid-1990s. Indicate the strength of each factor in explaining the decline.

Question 30

Discuss a few reasons given by Agnew and Brezina for why the juvenile arrest rate for gun-related murders increased so dramatically during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Question 31

Are today's youth more violent than previous generations? Provide evidence to help support your argument.

Question 32

Discuss the "superpredator" myth that originated in the mid-1990s. Why did this myth develop, and did this "superpredator" myth turn out to be accurate?

Question 33

How could improvements in the economy during the 1990s potentially contribute to the decline in crime rates?

Question 34

Discuss the role of immigration in the crime decline. Has immigration in the United States increased or decreased, and how has this contributed to the decline in crime?

Question 35

Explain how recent improvements in police practices may have contributed to the decline in crime rates.

Question 36

If someone asked you, "Is juvenile delinquency increasing?," how would you answer that question? Explain your answer.

Question 37

Imagine that you are the mayor of a large city in your home state. What measures or practices would you try to implement (or continue to fund) in your city to encourage declines in serious crime?

Question 38

Under what circumstances would juvenile incarceration lead to a decrease in offending?