Question 1

Within Bittner's broad definition of "what the police do," which of the following is a basic responsibility of the police?

Accepted Answer

Bittner's definition includes preventing crime as a basic responsibility of the police. Promoting double marginality is not a basic responsibility and predicting crimes is difficult to do accurately. Advocating for harsh penalties is a policy stance, not a basic responsibility.

Question 2

Which of the following ethnic groups is most likely to face the problem of double marginality?

Accepted Answer

Hispanics often face double marginality due to their distinct cultural identity and language, which can lead to marginalization both within mainstream society and within their own ethnic communities.

Question 3

Which of the following is true of police officers?

Accepted Answer

Police officers often spend a significant portion of their time providing various services to the community, such as responding to non-criminal emergencies, assisting in community events, and engaging in community policing efforts.

Question 4

There are low levels of women serving as police officers because female police officers:

Accepted Answer

Female police officers often face an added layer of scrutiny, which can contribute to the low levels of women serving in police forces. This scrutiny can come from both within the police force and from the public, making it a challenging environment for women.

Question 5

Which of the following is a benefit of having a diverse police force?

Accepted Answer

A diverse police force can help improve community-police relations by increasing understanding and empathy between officers and the communities they serve. This can lead to greater trust and cooperation, which is essential for effective crime prevention and investigation.

Question 6

The PredPol approach is known as _____ because it relies on data concerning past crime patterns to predict future crime patterns.

Accepted Answer

The PredPol approach is known as intelligence-led policing because it relies on data concerning past crime patterns to predict future crime patterns.

Question 7

The police department of a county spends a majority of its time apprehending drug peddlers. The policemen use a software that pinpoints the hot spots of drug activity in the county. After this, they focus on those areas instead of patrolling all the areas in the county. This scenario demonstrates the strategy of _____.

Accepted Answer

Intelligence-led policing involves using data analysis and intelligence to guide policing decisions, such as focusing on hot spots of criminal activity.

Question 8

The _____, run by either the state or a police agency, provides recruits with a controlled, militarized environment in which they receive their introduction to the world of the police officer.

Accepted Answer

The police academy is the institution where recruits receive training and introduction to the police profession in a controlled, militarized environment.

Question 9

According to Jerome Skolnick, co-director of the Center for Research in Crime and Justice at the New York University School of Law, which of the following is a predictable public response when crime rates rise in a community?

Accepted Answer

When crime rates rise, the public often demands stricter laws and harsher punishments for convicted criminals as a response to deter crime and increase safety.

Question 10

Which of the following is a true statement about information provided by the Uniform Crime Report?

Accepted Answer

The Uniform Crime Report (UCR) data indicates that a significant portion of arrests are for crimes of disorder, such as public intoxication and disorderly conduct, rather than serious property or violent crimes.

Question 11

Which of the following is true of academy training?

Accepted Answer

Academy training typically includes instruction on various scenarios, including how to respond to terrorist incidents, as part of preparing recruits for a wide range of situations they may encounter in the field.

Question 12

About two-thirds of all _____, or those officers with arrest powers, work in small- and medium-sized police departments serving cities with populations from 10,000 to one million.

Accepted Answer

Sworn officers are those who have taken an oath to uphold the law and have arrest powers. The statement refers to officers with arrest powers, which aligns with the definition of sworn officers.

Question 13

In the context of recruitment within the police force, which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

Most police agencies have specific physical requirements, including weight and eyesight standards, to ensure candidates can perform the duties required of law enforcement officers.

Question 14

Which of the following is true of officers with four-year degrees?

Accepted Answer

Officers with four-year degrees generally enjoy an advantage in hiring and promotion because many law enforcement agencies value higher education for its potential to enhance critical thinking, communication, and leadership skills.

Question 15

One of the challenges that counterterrorism provides to American law enforcement is:

Accepted Answer

Counterterrorism requires law enforcement to allocate limited resources to prevent rare but potentially catastrophic events, making it a significant challenge.

Question 16

Most of the negative attitudes toward women police officers are based on _____.

Accepted Answer

Negative attitudes toward women police officers are often based on prejudice, which involves preconceived opinions not based on actual experience or facts.

Question 17

For a person to become a police officer, one of the minimum requirements is that he or she:

Accepted Answer

To become a police officer, one of the minimum requirements is that the candidate must not have been convicted of a felony. A felony conviction is a serious offense and indicates that the individual may not be trustworthy or fit for a position of authority in law enforcement.

Question 18

Of the three levels of law enforcement, which of the following has the broadest authority to provide services to the community?

Accepted Answer

Municipal agencies have the broadest authority to provide services to the community as they are responsible for enforcing laws and ordinances within city or town limits, covering a wide range of local issues.

Question 19

Martin is a police officer from a minority community. Whenever he arrests a person from his community, the person deems it unfair stating that Martin targets people from his own community. On the other hand, if Martin arrests a white person, the other police officers believe that Martin is biased. In the scenario, Martin is facing _____.

Accepted Answer

Martin is facing double marginality, which occurs when individuals from minority communities are perceived as being biased against their own community by their community members and as being biased against the majority by members of the majority community.

Question 20

Officer Malloy is patrolling a neighborhood when he hears a gun shot. He rushes to the scene and sees a young man bleeding from a gunshot wound. He places the man in his car and drives to the hospital instead of waiting for an ambulance. This scenario demonstrates the strategy of _____.

Accepted Answer

Community policing involves officers engaging with the community and taking immediate action to help citizens, such as providing urgent medical assistance.

Quiz 4: Law Enforcement Today