Question 1

Prison populations in this nation began to increase dramatically, despite the fact that crime rates were relatively stable, in the

Accepted Answer

The increase in prison populations began in the mid-1970s, with factors such as tough-on-crime policies, mandatory minimum sentences, and the war on drugs contributing to the growth of the prison industrial complex. Crime rates were relatively stable during this time period, but public fears of crime and political pressures to appear tough on crime led to increased incarceration rates.

Question 2

Which single group of offenders have accounted for most of the growth in both the state and federal prison systems?

Accepted Answer

Drug law offenders have accounted for most of the growth in both the state and federal prison systems. This is because of the war on drugs declared by the US government in the 1980s and the subsequent mandatory minimum sentencing laws for drug offenses, leading to longer prison sentences for drug offenders.

Question 3

The idea of removing the highest-risk offenders from contact with the general population is called selective

Accepted Answer

Incapacitation refers specifically to removing high-risk offenders from the general population in order to prevent them from committing further crimes. Selective removal is more general and can refer to a variety of strategies, while imprisonment and diversion are not specific to high-risk offenders.

Question 4

Which form of sentencing dominating the legal scene in the United States until the abandonment of rehabilitation and the advent of the new penology and mass imprisonment?

Accepted Answer

Indeterminate sentencing was the form of sentencing dominating the legal scene in the United States until the abandonment of rehabilitation and the advent of the new penology and mass imprisonment. Indeterminate sentencing involved a flexible range of sentencing options, with release conditional on rehabilitation progress. Judges had discretion in setting the length of the sentence and parole boards had discretion in determining when a prisoner was ready for release. This sentencing model fell out of favor in the 1970s due to concerns about inconsistency and leniency, leading to the adoption of determinate sentencing.

Question 5

In California, an offense often linked to "Three-Strikes" prosecutions that can be filed as either a misdemeanor or a felony is called

Accepted Answer

The offense often linked to Three-Strikes prosecutions that can be filed as either a misdemeanor or a felony is called a "wobbler" in California. This means that the prosecutor has discretion in deciding whether to charge it as a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances surrounding the case.

Question 6

Which of the following represents a problem with the use of determinate sentencing?

Accepted Answer

The use of determinate sentencing provides limited incentives for inmates to participate and complete rehabilitation programs because they know exactly how long they will be in prison regardless of their behavior or progress in the programs. This can hinder their ability to successfully reintegrate into society after their release.

Question 7

What is one of the problems with mandatory minimum sentences?

Accepted Answer

Mandatory minimum sentences often allow prosecutors to have discretion with their application, which can result in unjust outcomes. For example, mandatory minimums for drug offenses have disproportionately affected minorities and non-violent offenders, leading to overcrowding in prisons and excessive punishment for minor offenses.

Question 8

Who has the ultimate decision over whether to prosecute a case or not?

Accepted Answer

The ultimate decision to prosecute a case or not lies with the prosecutor. It is their responsibility to evaluate the evidence, determine if there is enough evidence to present a case, and then decide whether to proceed with prosecuting the case or not. The judge and grand jury do not have the final say in this matter, and probation officers are not typically involved in the decision to prosecute a case.

Question 9

The main two parties involved in the plea-bargaining process are the

Accepted Answer

The defense attorney and the prosecutor are the main two parties involved in the plea-bargaining process. The defense attorney represents the defendant's interests, while the prosecutor represents the state's interests. They negotiate the terms of the plea agreement and present it to the judge for approval. The probation officer may be involved in the process, but they are not a main party. The judge's role is to approve or reject the plea agreement, but they are not directly involved in the negotiations.

Question 10

The net effect of sentencing guidelines is that they

Accepted Answer

The answer of The net effect of sentencing guidelines is...

Question 11

The United States has the world's highest incarceration rate.

Accepted Answer

The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world, with approximately 655 people per 100,000 population in prison or jail. This is higher than any other country in the world.

Question 12

The incarceration rate for the United States, when compared to other "First World" nations, is four to five times higher.

Accepted Answer

According to data from the World Prison Brief, the United States has an incarceration rate of 655 per 100,000 people, while other First World nations such as Canada, Japan, and Western European countries have rates ranging from 45 to 150 per 100,000 people. This means that the incarceration rate in the United States is four to five times higher than in other First World nations.

Question 13

After subtracting all of the drug offenders behind bars, our incarceration rate would be about equal to that of England.

Accepted Answer

Even after removing all drug offenders from the U.S. incarceration statistics, the United States would still have a significantly higher incarceration rate compared to England (and most other countries), due to higher rates of imprisonment for other crimes, longer sentences, and different criminal justice policies.

Question 14

It is estimated that almost 60 percent of African-American males will be arrested by their twenty-third birthday, while 45 percent of white males will have been arrested by that age.

Accepted Answer

Studies and statistics do not support the claim that 60 percent of African-American males and 45 percent of white males will be arrested by their twenty-third birthday. Arrest rates vary by location, year, and methodology of the study, making such specific percentages inaccurate without citing a specific research source.

Question 15

The imprisonment of women has decreased significantly over the past several decades.

Accepted Answer

The imprisonment of women has actually increased significantly over the past several decades, with the rate of female incarceration rising at a faster pace than that of men in many places around the world.

Question 16

A presentencing report based largely on extralegal factors is likely to discriminate against offenders with little prior work experience and poor educational histories.

Accepted Answer

Presentencing reports that rely heavily on extralegal factors (such as race, gender, and socioeconomic status) are more likely to disadvantage offenders with less education and work experience, as these factors are often used as proxies for criminality in the report. This can lead to discriminatory outcomes in the sentencing process.

Question 17

The prosecuting attorney as perhaps the most powerful individual in the criminal justice system.

Accepted Answer

The prosecuting attorney has the power to determine which cases are brought to trial, what charges are filed, whether to accept a plea bargain, and what sentence to recommend if the defendant is convicted. They also have the ability to influence the outcome of the trial through the presentation of evidence and arguments. This makes them a highly powerful individual in the criminal justice system.

Question 18

The United States locks up more people per capita than any other first-world nation. Yet, with the exception of homicide, most industrialized nations have property and violent crime rates very similar to America.

Accepted Answer

The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world, including among first-world nations, but the rates of property and violent crimes in the U.S. are comparable to those in other industrialized countries, with the notable exception of higher homicide rates in the U.S.

Question 19

When courts within one's state hand out harsher punishments to persons from another state, researchers call these outcomes justice by geography.

Accepted Answer

Justice by geography refers to variations in legal outcomes based on geographic location, not specifically harsher punishments for out-of-state individuals.

Question 20

High imprisonment rates are a result of a complex interplay of our fear of crime and punitive values that are moderated by American political processes.

Accepted Answer

The answer of High imprisonment rates are a result of...

Quiz 7: Sentencing