Question 1

Actual or threatened force directed at a victim for the purpose of obtaining money or other property is an example of mayhem.

Accepted Answer

Mayhem refers to the crime of maliciously injuring or maiming someone, thus disabling or disfiguring them permanently, rather than the act of using force to obtain money or property, which is more accurately described as robbery or extortion.

Question 2

Under some circumstances, a defendant can be convicted of and punished for murder even if he or she personally never killed anyone.

Accepted Answer

In legal systems that recognize the concept of felony murder or participate in a crime leading to someone's death, a defendant can be convicted of murder even if they did not personally commit the act of killing, as long as the death occurred during the commission of a felony they were involved in.

Question 3

The Patriot Act Increased the federal government's ability to legally prevent terrorist suspects from entering the country and to detain or deport these foreign suspects.

Accepted Answer

The Patriot Act, enacted in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, expanded the federal government's powers for the surveillance, detention, and deportation of suspected terrorists, including provisions that made it easier to prevent their entry into the country and to detain or deport foreign suspects.

Question 4

The federal "exclusionary rule," prohibiting the use in court of evidence wrongfully obtained by the prosecution, was created by

Accepted Answer

The exclusionary rule, which prohibits the use of evidence obtained in violation of a defendant's constitutional rights, was created by the U.S. Supreme Court. This rule was established to ensure that evidence collected in violation of the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable searches and seizures is not admissible in court.

Question 5

The felony-murder rule refers to situations in which

Accepted Answer

The felony-murder rule allows for a defendant to be charged with murder if they or their accomplices kill someone (intentionally or not) while committing a dangerous felony, even if they did not intend to commit murder.

Question 6

Police may search a person, including his clothes and effects, without a search warrant if

Accepted Answer

Police are allowed to search a person, including his clothes and effects, without a search warrant if the person has been lawfully arrested. This is to ensure officer safety and prevent the destruction of evidence.

Question 7

In some states, a mistaken but reasonable belief that a minor is 18 years old or older is a complete defense to the crime of statutory rape. In most other states, it is no defense to the crime.

Accepted Answer

In some jurisdictions, a defendant may argue a "mistake of age" defense, asserting they reasonably believed the minor was of legal age, which can be a complete defense to statutory rape charges. However, in many other states, statutory rape is a strict liability offense, meaning the defendant's belief about the victim's age, no matter how reasonable, is not a defense.

Question 8

At the borders of the U.S., customs officials can lawfully conduct a "strip" or "skin" search.

Accepted Answer

At U.S. borders, customs officials have broad authority to conduct searches without the need for probable cause. This includes "strip" or "skin" searches if there are clear indications of criminal activity, if the individual matches a drug carrier profile, acts nervously, or wears bulky clothing. These measures are part of the efforts to prevent illegal substances and contraband from entering the country.

Question 9

Personal invasion is a crime involving an unwelcome or intrusive long-term pattern of threat or harassment directed repeatedly toward a specific individual that triggers fear or concern in that person.

Accepted Answer

Personal invasion as described is more accurately defined as stalking, which involves unwanted, repeated surveillance by an individual or group towards another person, causing fear or concern. Personal invasion is not a commonly used term for this behavior.

Question 10

Trevor heard a burglar entering through a living room window. He grinned as he picked up his gun. Crouching behind the sofa in his darkened home, he ambushed and killed the intruder with several well placed shots. He then added another notch in his trusty side-arm. Trevor most probably

Accepted Answer

Trevor's actions, as described, suggest premeditation and excessive force, especially with the detail of adding a notch to his gun, which implies a level of pride or accomplishment in the act. This behavior aligns more closely with voluntary manslaughter or homicide rather than a clear-cut case of self-defense, as self-defense typically requires a reasonable perception of imminent danger and a proportional response.

Question 11

A law created to use against organized crime the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) includes the forfeiture of any ill-gotten monetary gains form illegal activity including real and personal property.

Accepted Answer

The RICO Act allows for the forfeiture of assets obtained through racketeering activity, which includes both real and personal property derived from illegal activity.

Question 12

The corpus delicti is the body of the deceased who is the victim of a homicide.

Accepted Answer

Corpus delicti refers to the principle that a crime must be proven to have occurred before a person can be convicted of committing that crime, not specifically to the body of a deceased victim.

Question 13

A motor vehicle can be searched by police without a search warrant if

Accepted Answer

Police can search a motor vehicle without a warrant if they have probable cause to believe it contains contraband or evidence of a crime.

Question 14

Following arraignment for a felony, the accused will be given the opportunity to enter a plea to the charges. Which of the following is not a plea with a legal basis?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Following arraignment for a felony, the accused...

Question 15

Some states are turning to private companies to run certain of the states prisons as way of holding down costs.

Accepted Answer

Many states have turned to private companies to operate some of their prisons, aiming to reduce operational costs and address overcrowding by leveraging the efficiency and innovation that private firms claim to offer.

Question 16

Criminal intent is an essential element of every crime, except

Accepted Answer

Regulatory offenses, also known as strict liability offenses, do not require proof of criminal intent for a conviction. These offenses are designed to ensure compliance with laws and regulations in areas such as public health, safety, and welfare.

Question 17

Voluntary (or first-degree) manslaughter is an accidental killing committed in the heat of passion.

Accepted Answer

Voluntary manslaughter involves an intentional killing that occurs in the heat of passion or during a sudden quarrel, not an accidental killing.

Question 18

Specific intent requires the intent to accomplish the precise act and harm that the law

Accepted Answer

Specific intent crimes require the defendant to have a particular purpose or objective in mind when committing the act, which includes intending to bring about a specific result or harm that the law seeks to prevent.

Question 19

Generally, the right to self-defense extends to defending others who are

Accepted Answer

The answer of Generally, the right to self-defense extends to...

Question 20

The governor of a state believes that a felon has "paid his dues" and should be forgiven for his or her crime. An executive directive to implement that belief is called

Accepted Answer

A pardon is an executive action that forgives a felon for his or her crime and eliminates the legal penalties associated with the conviction, aligning with the governor's belief that the felon has "paid his dues."

Quiz 6: Crimes: Public Wrongs

Actual or threatened force directed at a victim for the purpose of obtaining money or other property is an example of mayhem.

Under some circumstances, a defendant can be convicted of and punished for murder even if he or she personally never killed anyone.

The Patriot Act Increased the federal government's ability to legally prevent terrorist suspects from entering the country and to detain or deport these foreign suspects.

The federal "exclusionary rule," prohibiting the use in court of evidence wrongfully obtained by the prosecution, was created by

The felony-murder rule refers to situations in which

Police may search a person, including his clothes and effects, without a search warrant if

In some states, a mistaken but reasonable belief that a minor is 18 years old or older is a complete defense to the crime of statutory rape. In most other states, it is no defense to the crime.

At the borders of the U.S., customs officials can lawfully conduct a "strip" or "skin" search.

Personal invasion is a crime involving an unwelcome or intrusive long-term pattern of threat or harassment directed repeatedly toward a specific individual that triggers fear or concern in that person.

Trevor heard a burglar entering through a living room window. He grinned as he picked up his gun. Crouching behind the sofa in his darkened home, he ambushed and killed the intruder with several well placed shots. He then added another notch in his trusty side-arm. Trevor most probably

A law created to use against organized crime the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) includes the forfeiture of any ill-gotten monetary gains form illegal activity including real and personal property.

The corpus delicti is the body of the deceased who is the victim of a homicide.

A motor vehicle can be searched by police without a search warrant if

Following arraignment for a felony, the accused will be given the opportunity to enter a plea to the charges. Which of the following is not a plea with a legal basis?

Some states are turning to private companies to run certain of the states prisons as way of holding down costs.

Criminal intent is an essential element of every crime, except

Voluntary (or first-degree) manslaughter is an accidental killing committed in the heat of passion.

Specific intent requires the intent to accomplish the precise act and harm that the law

Generally, the right to self-defense extends to defending others who are

The governor of a state believes that a felon has "paid his dues" and should be forgiven for his or her crime. An executive directive to implement that belief is called