Deck 4: The Role of the Police

Question 1

Because they determine who comes into the system and who stays out, the police are often described as the ______ of the criminal justice system.

A) focal point
B) backbone
C) gatekeepers
D) cornerstone

Answer 1

gatekeepers

Question 2

Another way of saying that the police enforce the law is saying that they ______ the law.

A) implement
B) adjudicate
C) interpret
D) mediate

Answer 2

implement

Question 3

Which of the following offenses is most likely to result in an officer enforcing the law?

A) arson
B) jaywalking
C) littering
D) going 3 miles per hr over the speed limit

Answer 3

arson

Question 4

The ability of police officers to use their own judgment to determine the appropriate course of action to take in any given situation is called ______.

A) prudence
B) discretion
C) assertion
D) moderation

Question 5

______ is an example of a crime control tactic employed by police.

A) Custodial interrogation
B) Crime scene investigation
C) DNA analysis
D) Stopping, questioning, and frisking

Question 6

The police have ______ control over the conditions that cause criminal behavior.

A) minimal
B) no
C) absolute
D) a lot of

Question 7

There are two approaches to crime control, incapacitation and ______.

A) deterrence
B) rehabilitation
C) retribution
D) restoration

Question 8

______ means making it impossible for people to commit crime because the opportunity for criminal behavior has been taken away.

A) Deterrence
B) Retribution
C) Rehabilitation
D) Incapacitation

Question 9

Which of the following would be an example of incapacitation?

A) 300 hours of community service
B) US$1,000 fine
C) 6 months of incarceration
D) 3 years of probation

Question 10

For punishment to be an effective deterrent, it must be swift, certain, and ______.

A) severe
B) individually meaningful
C) extensive
D) rehabilitative

Question 11

Getting someone to choose one behavior over another, when both behaviors are an option, is called ______.

A) rehabilitation
B) retribution
C) incapacitation
D) deterrence

Question 12

The most important tool available to the police is the ability to ______.

A) execute search warrants
B) use force
C) seize property
D) patrol 24 hours a day

Question 13

The idea that the police must use only as much force as is necessary to overcome the resistance offered by a resisting subject is the basis for the ______.

A) the Active Police Agenda
B) the Continuing Law Enforcement Assistance Training Program
C) the Continuum of Force
D) the Reactionary Defense Agenda

Question 14

The initial steps of the continuum of force consist of ______.

A) officer presence and verbal commands
B) use of bodily force
C) use of "less-likely-to-be-lethal" weapons
D) use of deadly force

Question 15

The second stage of the continuum of force most often consists of ______.

A) officer presence and verbal commands
B) use of deadly force
C) use of bodily force
D) use of "less-likely-to-be-lethal" weapons

Question 16

The third stage of the continuum of force most often consists of ______.

A) use of deadly force
B) use of bodily force
C) use of "less-likely-to-be-lethal" weapons
D) officer presence and verbal commands

Question 17

The last stage of the continuum of force most often consists of ______.

A) use of bodily force
B) use of deadly force
C) officer presence and verbal commands
D) use of "less-likely-to-be-lethal" weapons

Question 18

______ is a "less-likely-to-be-lethal" weapon, which utilizes an inflammatory agent naturally found in cayenne peppers.

A) OC spray
B) Tear gas
C) Taser
D) Flashbang grenade

Question 19

______ is an electronic stun device utilized by police which resembles a gun and can discharge probes that send electrical current through the subject's body.

A) Taser
B) OC Spray
C) High Impact Munitions
D) ASP Baton

Question 20

The three primary responsibilities of the police include _____.

A) law enforcement, information gathering, and national security
B) order maintenance, detection of terrorists, and service
C) homeland security, information gathering, and national security
D) law enforcement, order maintenance, and service

Question 21

Performing well-checks on elderly citizens is an example of which primary police responsibility?

A) law enforcement
B) information gathering
C) service
D) order maintenance

Question 22

Providing a security presence at public demonstrations or protests is an example of which primary police responsibility?

A) law enforcement
B) information gathering
C) service
D) order maintenance

Question 23

Conducting undercover operation into drug trafficking is an example of which primary police responsibility?

A) law enforcement
B) information gathering
C) service
D) order maintenance

Question 24

Order maintenance is the top priority in police departments that utilize the ______ style of policing.

A) legalistic
B) watchman
C) service-oriented
D) diplomatic

Question 25

Citizen satisfaction is the top priority in police departments that utilize the ______ style of policing.

A) legalistic
B) watchman
C) service-oriented
D) diplomatic

Question 26

Issuing citations and making arrests are the top priority in police departments that utilize the ______ style of policing.

A) legalistic
B) watchman
C) service-oriented
D) diplomatic

Question 27

The way officers view their role as police officers is called ______.

A) reflexive identity
B) self-image
C) material vision
D) occupational outlooks

Question 28

Studies suggest that ______ occupies the greatest amount of police officers time.

A) patrol
B) noncriminal calls for service
C) criminal calls for service
D) administrative matters

Question 29

When officer presence and verbal commands are not successful, and when appropriate, which of the following techniques would be an appropriate use of force?

A) use of a firearm
B) use a Taser
C) use of bodily force
D) use of OC spray

Question 30

When a subject is armed and poses a serious and immediate threat to an officer, which of the following would be the highest level of force allowed?

A) deadly force
B) use of "less-likely-to-be-useful" weapons
C) verbal commands
D) bodily force

Question 31

Without the police, the entire criminal justice system would cease to operate.

Question 32

Without enforcement, laws have little meaning.

Question 33

Regardless of severity, all laws are enforced equally.

Question 34

Research shows that violations of driving-under-the-influence laws are automatically enforced by police officers.

Question 35

Police officers can decide what laws to enforce, when to enforce them, and against whom they should be enforced.

Question 36

Stopping, questioning, and frisking is a common crime control strategy employed by many police departments.

Question 37

The police seek to control only the behavior of criminals.

Question 38

The police have little or no influence over the conditions associated with criminal behavior.

Question 39

Comparing crime rates is the best way to measure police effectiveness.

Question 40

The two approaches to crime control are rehabilitation and retribution.

Question 41

Rehabilitation means making it impossible for people to commit crime because the opportunity for criminal behavior has been taken away.

Question 42

Incarcerating someone would be an example of "incapacitation."

Question 43

For punishment to be an effective deterrent, it must be swift, certain, and individually meaningful.

Question 44

A fine of US$50 would be "individually meaningful" for all citizens.

Question 45

It is difficult to effectively measure the police's ability to deter crime.

Question 46

Not all people are equal in their crime tendencies.

Question 47

The central feature of the police function is their ability to search citizen's homes.

Question 48

The "continuum of force" outlines the appropriate escalation of force officers should use in response to a resisting subject.

Question 49

Oleoresin Capsicum spray is an example of "less-likely-to-be-lethal" weapon.

Question 50

Tasers may be used in "dry-stun" mode, which when placed in contact with the body, delivers a direct electrical shock.

Question 51

Conducting criminal investigations is an example of the order maintenance function of the police.

Question 52

Helping stranded motorists is an example of the service function of the police.

Question 53

Police departments are required to equally emphasize law enforcement, order maintenance, and service.

Question 54

Discuss why the police are critical to the existence of the entire criminal justice system.

Question 55

Explain how the police give the law meaning and give an example.

Question 56

Explain why not all laws are enforced equally.

Question 57

Explain the two main reasons why crime control is such a controversial aspect of policing.

Question 58

Why is it often suggested that police officers have an "impossible mandate?"

Question 59

Describe what is meant by "conditions of crime."

Question 60

Are crime rates a good measure of police effectiveness?

Question 61

Explain the crime control approach of incapacitation and provide an example.

Question 62

Identify and explain the three qualities that must be present for a punishment to be an effective deterrent.

Question 63

Discuss why it is said that not all people are equal in their crime tendencies.

Question 64

Explain the basic concept behind the "continuum of force."

Question 65

Identify the four stages of the continuum of force.

Question 66

Please list at least two types of "less-likely-to-be-lethal" weapons employed by police officers.

Question 67

Identify and explain the three primary responsibilities of the police.

Question 68

Identify and briefly describe the three styles of policing.