Question 1

________ argues that punishing an offender will prevent that offender from committing the same crime again.

Accepted Answer

Specific deterrence focuses on deterring the specific individual from committing a crime again by imposing a punishment on them.

Question 2

According to Bentham, the purpose of law is to produce and support the total happiness of the community it serves.

Accepted Answer

Jeremy Bentham, a founder of utilitarianism, believed that the purpose of law is to maximize happiness and reduce suffering within a community, thereby supporting the total happiness of that community.

Question 3

The philosophy of justice that asserts that those who violate the rights of others deserve to be punished is known as:

Accepted Answer

The answer of The philosophy of justice that asserts that...

Question 4

The three components of deterrence theory are severity, certainty, and speed of legal sanctions (punishment). Of these components, deterrence theorists tend to believe that which component of punishment seems to have the strongest impact?

Accepted Answer

Deterrence theorists generally believe that the certainty of being caught and punished has a stronger deterrent effect than the severity or speed of the punishment. This is because the perceived likelihood of being caught and punished directly influences an individual's decision-making process regarding committing a crime.

Question 5

Rational choice theory has roots in the positivist school of criminology developed by Lombroso.

Accepted Answer

Rational choice theory is primarily derived from classical criminology, particularly the work of Cesare Beccaria, and not from the positivist school developed by Cesare Lombroso, which focused on the biological determinants of criminal behavior.

Question 6

The concept of "just desserts" has been proposed by Von Hirsch as a theoretical model to guide justice policy. Which statement reflects that just desserts theory is concerned with the rights of the accused?

Accepted Answer

The just desserts theory emphasizes that punishment should be proportionate to the offense, reflecting a concern for treating the accused fairly and not assigning blame beyond what is warranted by their actions.

Question 7

British philosopher Sir Lawrence Driscoll wrote the book On Crimes and Punishment , from which the Classical School was developed.

Accepted Answer

The book "On Crimes and Punishments" was written by Italian philosopher Cesare Beccaria, not Sir Lawrence Driscoll, and it laid the foundation for the Classical School of criminology.

Question 8

After the famous Minneapolis domestic violence study, other studies and analyses have been conducted. Overall, what are the implications of these domestic violence studies?

Accepted Answer

These studies indicate that even if punishment can produce a short-term, specific, deterrent effect, it fails to produce longer-term behavioral change.

Question 9

Evaluations of incarceration strategies reveal that their impact may be less than expected. Why might incarceration not work?

Accepted Answer

Incarceration may not work as expected because young, impressionable offenders are exposed to higher-risk, more experienced inmates in prison. This exposure can influence their lifestyle and shape their attitudes in a negative way, potentially leading to further criminal behavior rather than rehabilitation.

Question 10

According to Von Hirsch's view on "just deserts," why is punishment based on deterrence or incapacitation wrong?

Accepted Answer

Von Hirsch's "just deserts" model argues that punishment should be proportionate to the severity of the crime committed, rather than based on the potential future actions of the offender. Punishments based on deterrence or incapacitation focus on preventing future crimes, which involves speculation about an individual's future actions, rather than on the crime already committed.

Question 11

What do immediate impact studies indicate about capital punishment's deterrent effect on murder?

Accepted Answer

Impact studies indicate that the overall impact of executions might actually increase the incidence of homicide.

Question 12

According to rational choice theory, why might a criminal decide not to commit crime?

Accepted Answer

Rational choice theory suggests that individuals weigh the costs and benefits before making decisions. If a criminal perceives that the risks of committing a crime outweigh the potential benefits, they may decide not to commit the crime.

Question 13

The view that proposes placing offenders behind bars during their prime crime years in order to lessen their opportunity to commit crime is known as:

Accepted Answer

The incapacitation effect refers to the idea of reducing crime by detaining offenders, particularly during their prime years for committing crimes, thereby physically preventing them from engaging in criminal activities.

Question 14

The Kansas City, Missouri, police department's study of patrol effectiveness convinced criminologists that:

Accepted Answer

The Kansas City Preventive Patrol Experiment, a landmark study, found that the mere presence of patrol officers on the street did not significantly deter crime, challenging previous assumptions about the effectiveness of visible police patrols.

Question 15

Some rational choice theorists believe that all criminal behavior, no matter how destructive or seemingly irresponsible, is actually a matter of thought and decision making.

Accepted Answer

Rational choice theory posits that individuals, including criminals, make decisions by weighing the costs and benefits of their actions, suggesting that even seemingly irrational or destructive behavior is the result of conscious decision-making processes.

Question 16

Which statement best reflects the effect of informal sanctions aimed at shame and humiliation?

Accepted Answer

Their effectiveness often hinges on the social dynamics and cohesiveness of the community. In tightly knit communities, informal sanctions such as shame and humiliation can have a significant impact on behavior because the opinions and judgments of community members carry more weight. Conversely, in less cohesive communities, these sanctions might be less effective because the social bonds and concerns about reputation are weaker.

Question 17

Criminologists argue that three-strikes policies will not work because:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Criminologists argue that three-strikes policies will not...

Question 18

To deter people from committing more serious offenses, Beccaria believed punishment should be as severe as possible regardless of the offense.

Accepted Answer

Beccaria argued that punishment should be proportionate to the crime, advocating for the least severe punishment necessary to deter the crime, rather than excessively harsh penalties.

Question 19

Crackdowns are sudden changes in police activity designed to lower crime rates through an increase in the communicated threat or certainty of punishment. What does research indicate about the effectiveness of crackdowns?

Accepted Answer

Research shows that crackdowns can initially deter crime due to the increased presence and activity of police. However, this effect tends to diminish once the crackdown ends and police activity returns to normal levels.

Question 20

British philosopher Jeremy Bentham helped popularize the view of utilitarianism.

Accepted Answer

Jeremy Bentham was a British philosopher, jurist, and social reformer regarded as the founder of modern utilitarianism, a principle which evaluates actions based on their outcomes, specifically the greatest happiness for the greatest number.

Quiz 4: Rational Choice Theory