Question 1

Both labeling and conflict theories emphasize the operation of power and discrimination in the criminal justice system.

Accepted Answer

Both labeling and conflict theories focus on how power dynamics and societal inequalities influence the criminal justice system, highlighting issues of discrimination and control.

Question 2

Law is differentiated from other types of social control by the fact that it is backed by the legitimate coercive authority of the political state.

Accepted Answer

Law is distinct from other social controls because it is enforced by the state, which has the legitimate authority to use coercion to ensure compliance.

Question 3

The pluralistic conflict model, although accepting that the criminal law embodies common values, proposes that the criminal justice system is controlled by a powerful elite.

Accepted Answer

False

Question 4

Donald Black contends that where informal controls are weak, formal controls are also likely to be weak.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Donald Black contends that where informal controls...

Question 5

Research has shown that there is considerable dissensus and disagreement in society regarding the wrongfulness of offenses such as public drunkenness and prostitution.

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that societal views on offenses like public drunkenness and prostitution vary widely, reflecting differing cultural, moral, and legal perspectives.

Question 6

Surveys of public opinion have found widespread agreement among all segments of society regarding the relative seriousness of criminal behavior.

Accepted Answer

Surveys of public opinion have found widespread agreement among all segments of society regarding the relative seriousness of criminal behavior.

Question 7

The preponderance of evidence from research on arrest, prosecution, and conviction supports the conclusion that these decisions are influenced to a much greater degree by the race and class of the offender than by legal considerations.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The preponderance of evidence from research on...

Question 8

Research has found that when factors such as offense seriousness and prior criminal record are controlled, the influence of factors such as race, class, and sex disappears or is reduced to statistically insignificant levels.

Accepted Answer

Research in criminology and sociology has shown that when controlling for legal factors like offense seriousness and prior criminal record, the impact of extralegal factors such as race, class, and sex on sentencing outcomes often diminishes or becomes statistically insignificant.

Question 9

The conflict approach does well as a general explanation of the enactment of the law and operation of the criminal justice system, but it does not do well as an explanation of criminal behavior.

Accepted Answer

The conflict approach focuses on how laws and the criminal justice system are used by powerful groups to maintain control, rather than explaining why individuals commit crimes.

Question 10

Research evidence supports the hypothesis in conflict theory that most crimes such as murder, theft, rape, and arson result from the clash of group interests.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Research evidence supports the hypothesis in conflict...

Question 11

According to conflict theory, the whole process of lawmaking, lawbreaking, and law enforcement is implicated in the conflict among social, economic, and political interest groups.

Accepted Answer

Conflict theory posits that laws and their enforcement are tools used by dominant groups to maintain power and control over less powerful groups, reflecting ongoing conflicts between different social, economic, and political interests.

Question 12

Akers and Sellers report that conflict theory receives support from the fact that most crime is intergroup-committed by members of one group against members of another group-rather than intragroup.

Accepted Answer

Akers and Sellers argue that conflict theory suggests crime is often intragroup, occurring within the same social group, rather than intergroup.

Question 13

According to conflict theory, the state acts as a neutral party, mediating disputes between competing interest groups.

Accepted Answer

Conflict theory posits that the state represents the interests of the dominant class and perpetuates inequality, rather than acting as a neutral mediator.

Question 14

Informal social control and formal social control are inversely related.

Accepted Answer

Informal social control is based on norms and values that are shared by members of a group, while formal social control is based on laws and regulations that are enforced by the government. As a result, informal social control is more likely to be effective in small, close-knit groups, while formal social control is more likely to be effective in large, diverse societies.

Question 15

The view that the law furthers the greater public good is a cornerstone of functionalist theory.

Accepted Answer

Functionalist theory posits that social institutions, including law, serve to maintain social order and promote the collective good.

Question 16

Conflict theorists contend that, compared with socially advantaged groups, minorities, the poor, and the young are more likely to be arrested, prosecuted, convicted, and incarcerated for violations of law.

Accepted Answer

Conflict theorists argue that the legal system is biased in favor of the powerful and privileged, leading to disproportionate legal consequences for marginalized groups.

Question 17

Turk and Vold are noted for the view that the economic and political elite constitute a monolithic, all-powerful class that perpetually gets its way in the lawmaking process.

Accepted Answer

Turk and Vold are known for their conflict theories, which suggest that lawmaking is a result of conflicts between different groups, rather than a monolithic elite always getting its way.

Question 18

Unlike the consensus approach to law and criminal justice, conflict theory implies support for fair representation of differing interests and values in the law and nondiscrimination with regard to race, gender, and class in the criminal justice system.

Accepted Answer

Conflict theory suggests that laws and the criminal justice system are tools used by dominant groups to maintain power and control, often leading to discrimination and inequality based on race, gender, and class.

Question 19

Do you think people's behavior is controlled more by informal or formal social control? Discuss how your answer could be used to change the criminal justice system to reduce recidivism.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Do you think people's behavior is controlled...

Question 20

Utilizing conflict theory, what kind of policy changes could be implemented to reduce class inequality? How would doing so affect arrest and incarceration rates?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Utilizing conflict theory, what kind of policy...

Quiz 10: Conflict Theory

Both labeling and conflict theories emphasize the operation of power and discrimination in the criminal justice system.

Law is differentiated from other types of social control by the fact that it is backed by the legitimate coercive authority of the political state.

The pluralistic conflict model, although accepting that the criminal law embodies common values, proposes that the criminal justice system is controlled by a powerful elite.

Donald Black contends that where informal controls are weak, formal controls are also likely to be weak.

Research has shown that there is considerable dissensus and disagreement in society regarding the wrongfulness of offenses such as public drunkenness and prostitution.

Surveys of public opinion have found widespread agreement among all segments of society regarding the relative seriousness of criminal behavior.

The preponderance of evidence from research on arrest, prosecution, and conviction supports the conclusion that these decisions are influenced to a much greater degree by the race and class of the offender than by legal considerations.

Research has found that when factors such as offense seriousness and prior criminal record are controlled, the influence of factors such as race, class, and sex disappears or is reduced to statistically insignificant levels.

The conflict approach does well as a general explanation of the enactment of the law and operation of the criminal justice system, but it does not do well as an explanation of criminal behavior.

Research evidence supports the hypothesis in conflict theory that most crimes such as murder, theft, rape, and arson result from the clash of group interests.

According to conflict theory, the whole process of lawmaking, lawbreaking, and law enforcement is implicated in the conflict among social, economic, and political interest groups.

Akers and Sellers report that conflict theory receives support from the fact that most crime is intergroup-committed by members of one group against members of another group-rather than intragroup.

According to conflict theory, the state acts as a neutral party, mediating disputes between competing interest groups.

Informal social control and formal social control are inversely related.

The view that the law furthers the greater public good is a cornerstone of functionalist theory.

Conflict theorists contend that, compared with socially advantaged groups, minorities, the poor, and the young are more likely to be arrested, prosecuted, convicted, and incarcerated for violations of law.

Turk and Vold are noted for the view that the economic and political elite constitute a monolithic, all-powerful class that perpetually gets its way in the lawmaking process.

Unlike the consensus approach to law and criminal justice, conflict theory implies support for fair representation of differing interests and values in the law and nondiscrimination with regard to race, gender, and class in the criminal justice system.

Do you think people's behavior is controlled more by informal or formal social control? Discuss how your answer could be used to change the criminal justice system to reduce recidivism.

Utilizing conflict theory, what kind of policy changes could be implemented to reduce class inequality? How would doing so affect arrest and incarceration rates?