Deck 7: Prisons and Prison Life

Question 1

At the end of 2010, there were __________ prisoners under federal or state jurisdiction.

A) 1,605,127
B) 708,677
C) 703,798
D) 1,127,605

Answer 1

A

Question 2

At the end of 2010, the prison population was __________ male and __________ female.

A) 80%; 20%
B) 90%; 10%
C) 7%; 93%
D) 93%; 7%

Answer 2

D

Question 3

In 2010, more than one-half of the prisoners in state prisons were incarcerated for a __________.

A) property offense
B) violent offense
C) drug offense
D) status offense

Answer 3

B

Question 4

In 2010, the largest group of federal prisoners was in prison for a __________.

A) violent offense
B) property offense
C) drug offense
D) status offense

Question 5

Austin and Irwin (2001) concluded that a little more than one-half of the persons being admitted to prison are actually being admitted for __________ crimes.

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

Question 6

These are "crimes with no aggravating features-that is, no significant amount of money, no injury, or any other feature that would cause ordinary citizens to view the crime as particularly serious."

A) violent
B) serious
C) petty
D) status

Question 7

Changes in federal sentencing policies have resulted in a dramatic increase in the percentage of federal prisoners convicted of __________ crimes.

A) drug
B) property
C) violent
D) all of the above

Question 8

For males, whites have an incarceration rate of ________ per 100,000 in the population.

A) 1,775
B) 4,347
C) 678
D) 260

Question 9

For males, blacks have a rate of more than __________ per 100,000 in the population.

A) 4,347
B) 678
C) 1,775
D) 260

Question 10

For males, Hispanics/Latinos have a rate of more than __________ per 100,000 in the population.

A) 260
B) 678
C) 4,347
D) 1,775

Question 11

White females have an incarceration rate of __________ per 100,000.

A) 91
B) 260
C) 133
D) 678

Question 12

Black females have an incarceration rate of __________ per 100,000.

A) 133
B) 91
C) 260
D) 678

Question 13

Hispanic/Latino females have an incarceration rate of __________ per 100,000.

A) 260
B) 133
C) 91
D) 678

Question 14

Women represent only a small percentage-approximately _______ of the prison population.

A) 5.7%
B) 7%
C) 4.1%
D) 10%

Question 15

Once a person has been convicted of a crime, he or she will be transferred from a __________ to a __________.

A) county jail; prison classification center
B) county jail; parole
C) prison; prison classification center
D) prison classification center; community corrections

Question 16

__________ prisons house inmates who are first-time offenders or have committed low-class felonies and present a low risk of escape.

A) Supermax
B) Maximum- security
C) Medium- security
D) Minimum- security

Question 17

__________ prisons house inmates with more serious felony charges and these inmates may be eligible for placement at a work camp but they must remain inside a secured perimeter.

A) Maximum-security
B) Minimum-security
C) Medium-security
D) Supermax

Question 18

Prisoners housed at __________ facilities usually represent the most serious felony offenders, including those convicted of armed robbery, rape, and murder.

A) maximum-security
B) supermax
C) minimum-security
D) medium-security

Question 19

These prisons are intended for the "worst of the worst" offenders, and are designed for prisoners who have broken the rules in a regular prison.

A) Supermax
B) Medium-security
C) Minimum-security
D) Maximum-security

Question 20

When prisoners are deprived of their liberty or freedom, it is referred to as _______.

A) deprivation of goods and services
B) deprivation of liberty
C) deprivation of autonomy
D) deprivation of security

Question 21

When prisoners are limited in their access to possessions and services, it is referred to as __________.

A) deprivation of autonomy
B) deprivation of security
C) deprivation of liberty
D) deprivation of goods and services

Question 22

This term refers the fact that most prisoners do not come out any worse than they were when they entered.

A) The culture barrier
B) The open room
C) The prison culture
D) The deep freeze

Question 23

This term usually refers to the provision of chaplains and official religious services.

A) Religious services
B) Spiritual adjustment
C) Faith-based programs
D) Religious-based programs

Question 24

__________ are based on the premise that religion can be a powerful force for change.

A) Spiritual adjustments
B) Religious services
C) Church services
D) Faith-based prison initiatives

Question 25

A specialized language or slang used by prisoners is referred to as _______.

A) prison slang
B) Ebonics
C) prison argot
D) specialized language

Question 26

The public fascination with crime has decreased greatly over the past 10 years.

Question 27

There was a slight decrease in the number of prisoners from 2009 to 2010.

Question 28

In 2010, the largest group of state prisoners was imprisoned for a drug offense.

Question 29

As the prison population was increasing, the crime rate was increasing.

Question 30

One of the basic issues concerning race in prison is the perception that the criminal justice system discriminates unfairly in law enforcement and sentencing.

Question 31

There are more women's prisons than men's prisons.

Question 32

A friend learns you are taking this corrections course and studying prisons. She remarks that "those prisoners have it made and should be put to work more and suffer more for the crimes they committed." Keeping Sykes's deprivations of prison life in mind and noting statistics on sexual victimization, how would you respond?

Question 33

Identify and discuss the prison argot roles and the prison sexual hierarchy. Which role is the most prestigious in prison? Explain why. Which one is the least prestigious? Explain why.

Question 34

Discuss victimization in prison. How and to what extent do prisoners victimize other prisoners? How do guards victimize prisoners?

Question 35

Imagine you are the commissioner of corrections in a state that has only one prison for males. What would your prison be like? What amenities would you provide for prisoners? What would a typical day's schedule be like? Justify your ideal prison.

Question 36

Ethics Focus: How Far Should We Go in Protecting Inmates from Each Other?
You are a correctional officer at a maximum-security prison. Recently, an inmate who was considered a bully and sexual predator was raped in the cellblock shower by four other inmates. The victim had himself participated in several previous sexual assaults on younger or weaker inmates. You heard about this assault through the prison grapevine and had confirmed that it had taken place through some reliable sources. The victim had not come forward and more than likely would not. Some of the other officers had indicated that if anyone ever deserved such an assault, it was the inmate in question. In addition, an investigation would require a lot of paperwork and a lot of your time.
-Do you have a duty to report the incident? Explain.

Question 37

Ethics Focus: How Far Should We Go in Protecting Inmates from Each Other?
You are a correctional officer at a maximum-security prison. Recently, an inmate who was considered a bully and sexual predator was raped in the cellblock shower by four other inmates. The victim had himself participated in several previous sexual assaults on younger or weaker inmates. You heard about this assault through the prison grapevine and had confirmed that it had taken place through some reliable sources. The victim had not come forward and more than likely would not. Some of the other officers had indicated that if anyone ever deserved such an assault, it was the inmate in question. In addition, an investigation would require a lot of paperwork and a lot of your time.
-If you decide not to report the incident, what are some of the potential consequences of your decision?

Question 38

Ethics Focus: How Far Should We Go in Protecting Inmates from Each Other?
You are a correctional officer at a maximum-security prison. Recently, an inmate who was considered a bully and sexual predator was raped in the cellblock shower by four other inmates. The victim had himself participated in several previous sexual assaults on younger or weaker inmates. You heard about this assault through the prison grapevine and had confirmed that it had taken place through some reliable sources. The victim had not come forward and more than likely would not. Some of the other officers had indicated that if anyone ever deserved such an assault, it was the inmate in question. In addition, an investigation would require a lot of paperwork and a lot of your time.
-Does the fact that the victim is himself a sexual predator play a role in your decision? Explain.