Question 1

Under this view,groups able to assert their political power use the law and criminal justice system to advance their economic and social positions.Criminal laws are viewed as acts created to protect the haves from the have-nots.

Accepted Answer

This view aligns with the conflict theory which holds that social inequality and power imbalances are the main drivers of societal development. According to this theory, dominant groups use the law and criminal justice system to maintain their power and suppress the less privileged groups who would challenge their authority. Criminal laws are seen as a tool of oppression and social control used by the powerful to maintain their position in society.

Question 2

Research conducted on the links between different crimes and criminals is known as _____________.

Accepted Answer

Crime typology is the study of the links between different crimes and criminals. Phrenology is the study of the shape and size of the human head to determine personality traits, and it is not used in modern criminology. Sociology and psychology are related fields but they are broad social sciences, while crime typology is a specific field within criminology.

Question 3

The consensus view of crime links illegal behavior to the concept of:

Accepted Answer

The consensus view of crime links illegal behavior to the concept of social harm, which involves actions that are considered harmful to individuals, groups, or society as a whole. This view recognizes the negative impact of criminal behavior on society and aims to prevent these harms through law enforcement and other forms of social control.

Question 4

Failure to act can be considered a crime under all but which of the following circumstances?

Accepted Answer

Failure to act is generally not a crime unless there is a legal duty to act, such as when parties are bound by a relationship, a statute requires aid, or a contractual obligation exists. Trusting someone to act in one's best interest does not create a legal duty to act.

Question 5

_________________ serve as models or frameworks for understanding human behavior and the forces that shape its content and direction.

Accepted Answer

Theories are frameworks that help us understand human behavior and the factors that influence it, such as psychological, social, and environmental factors. Social control mechanisms, while they may influence behavior, are not specific frameworks for understanding it. Research methods are tools used to study behavior but do not provide overarching frameworks. Corrections are systems used to punish or rehabilitate individuals who break societal norms, but do not explain behavior or its causes.

Question 6

The perspective that views crime as the reflection of the preferences and opinions of people who hold social power in a particular legal jurisdiction is:

Accepted Answer

The interactionist view sees crime as a reflection of the preferences and opinions of those in social power, emphasizing the role of social interactions and perceptions in defining what is considered criminal.

Question 7

The intent to commit the criminal act is known as:

Accepted Answer

Mens rea refers to the mental state or intent of a person when committing a crime. It is an essential element in the prosecution of most crimes. Actus reus refers to the physical act of committing a crime. Mala in se refers to acts that are inherently wrong or evil, such as murder or theft. Mala prohibitum refers to acts that are only considered wrong because they are prohibited by law, such as traffic violations.

Question 8

Common law was developed after the Norman conquest of England in 1066 through the verdicts of _________ who used local customs and rules of conduct as guides for decision-making.

Accepted Answer

Common law was developed through the verdicts of royal judges who interpreted and applied existing customs and rules of conduct in their decisions. Juries did not play a significant role in the development of common law until much later. Popes and kings were not involved in the development of English common law.

Question 9

Trials by ordeal were based on the principle that:

Accepted Answer

Trials by ordeal were often used in ancient legal systems where an accused person was subjected to a painful or dangerous test, such as walking barefoot over hot coals or being thrown into a body of water. It was believed that divine forces would intervene to protect the innocent, so if the accused was unharmed, they were considered innocent. This practice was based on the belief that there was some higher power that would prevent an innocent person from suffering during the ordeal.

Question 10

Criminal law is shaped by all but which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Criminal law is shaped by shifts in culture and social conventions, judicial decision-making, and legislative statutes. Social control mechanisms are not a factor in shaping criminal law as they are the methods used to enforce criminal law and maintain social order.

Question 11

Which of the following is not a social goal the government expects to achieve via contemporary criminal law?

Accepted Answer

Encouraging revenge is not a social goal that the government expects to achieve via contemporary criminal law. In fact, revenge is not a goal that criminal law seeks to achieve at all. The other answer choices - maintenance of social order, deterrence of criminal behavior, and expression of public opinion - are commonly cited as goals of contemporary criminal law.

Question 12

Studying the correction and control of known criminal offenders is:

Accepted Answer

Penology is the study of the correction and control of known criminal offenders.

Question 13

The sub-area of criminology concerned with the role social forces play in shaping criminal law and the role criminal law plays in shaping society is known as:

Accepted Answer

The sub-area of criminology that deals with the role of social forces in shaping criminal law and the impact of criminal law on the society is known as the sociology of law. Victimology is a subfield that focuses on the study of victims and their experiences, while penology concentrates on the punishment and management of criminals. Criminal statistics, on the other hand, deals with collecting and analyzing data on crime rates and trends. Therefore, the most appropriate choice is D, the sociology of law.

Question 14

The rules of evidence,the law of search and seizure,questions of appeal,jury selection,and the right to counsel fall under what category of criminal law?

Accepted Answer

The rules of evidence, law of search and seizure, questions of appeal, jury selection, and the right to counsel all pertain to the procedures followed in criminal cases, hence fall under the category of procedural law.

Question 15

The branch of the law that defines crimes and their punishment is known as ______________.

Accepted Answer

Substantive law defines the rights and obligations of individuals, as well as the crimes and punishments associated with illegal behavior.

Question 16

Crimes less serious in nature and punished with a fine or a period of incarceration in a jail are referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Misdemeanors are crimes less serious in nature and are punishable by a fine or a period of incarceration in a local or county jail. Strict liability offenses are crimes where intent is not necessary for prosecution, felonies are more serious crimes with harsher penalties, and wrongful offenses is not a commonly used term in criminal law.

Question 17

Public welfare offenses,such as traffic offenses,are crimes that do not require mens rea to prove legal guilt because they endanger public welfare or violate safety regulations.They are also referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Public welfare offenses, such as traffic offenses, are considered strict liability crimes because they do not require mens rea, or criminal intent, to prove guilt. These crimes are based on the simple fact that the accused committed the act in question, such as running a red light or speeding, and do not require the prosecution to prove intent. Mala prohibita refers to crimes that are illegal because they have been prohibited by law, and limited liability crimes do not exist as a defined category. Felonies are serious crimes that can include violent crimes, property crimes, and white-collar crimes.

Question 18

This type of law is used to resolve,control,and shape such personal interactions as contracts,wills and trusts,property ownership,and involves tort law.

Accepted Answer

Civil law deals with the rights and duties of individuals among themselves, including contracts, property, and torts.

Question 19

The Code of Hammurabi established a system of crime and punishment based on physical retaliation.But,the severity of this physical retaliation depended upon one's:

Accepted Answer

The severity of physical retaliation in the Code of Hammurabi depended upon one's class standing, as the code established different punishments for different classes of people. For example, a noble who killed another noble would face a lesser punishment than a commoner who killed a noble.

Question 20

______________ law governs the regulation of city,county,state,and federal government agencies.

Accepted Answer

Administrative law governs the regulation of city, county, state, and federal government agencies. It is the body of law that governs the activities of administrative agencies of the government, including rulemaking, adjudication, enforcement of regulatory agendas, and the appeals process for adjudication decisions.

Quiz 1: Crime and Criminology