Question 1

The term dark figure of crime refers to ________.

Accepted Answer

The term dark figure of crime refers to crimes that go undetected or unreported to the police, such as a victim who does not report a crime because they fear retaliation or do not trust the criminal justice system.

Question 2

Historically, criminologists have tended to focus on the ________ definitions of youth crime.

Accepted Answer

Criminologists typically focus on the legal definitions of youth crime, as these definitions determine what constitutes criminal behavior and guide law enforcement and the justice system in responding to such behavior. While sociology, theology, psychology, and philosophy may offer useful frameworks for understanding the root causes or consequences of youth crime, legal definitions are foundational to the study of crime in the context of the justice system.

Question 3

Which of the following is not a limitation of using a strictly legal definition of crime?

Accepted Answer

All the options listed are limitations of using a strictly legal definition of crime, as they highlight issues like narrow scope, policy and administration variations, and differences in reporting rates.

Question 4

Although they make up just 7 per cent of the total population in Canada, youths aged 12-17 make up about ________ of those accused of crimes in 2015.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Although they make up just 7 per...

Question 5

Results of the Canadian Urbanization Victimization Study found that ________.

Accepted Answer

All of the statements are true based on the findings of the Canadian Urbanization Victimization Study. Young persons aged 15-24 had high rates of victimization and repeat victimization, both males and females experienced victimization at similar rates, and the 15-24 age group experienced higher rates of personal theft, violent incidents, robbery, sexual assault, and common assault.

Question 6

With the passing of the Young Offenders Act (YOA) in 1984, the term juvenile delinquency was replaced with young person.

Accepted Answer

The passing of the Young Offenders Act in 1984 did replace the term juvenile delinquency with young person.

Question 7

The Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) places a greater emphasis on a legalistic approach under which young offenders are held legally responsible for their actions.

Accepted Answer

The YCJA focuses on holding young offenders legally responsible for their actions, while also taking into account their age and other factors in determining appropriate consequences. This approach is more legalistic than a purely rehabilitative approach.

Question 8

In many ways, the delinquency problem in Canada at the end of the nineteenth century resembles the trends we are experiencing at the beginning of the twenty-first century.

Accepted Answer

Both time periods saw increases in urbanization, immigration, and societal changes leading to challenges in maintaining social order and preventing delinquency. In both cases, there were concerns about juvenile offenders and a focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment.

Question 9

J.J. Kelso played only a minor role in establishing Ontario's first juvenile court system.

Accepted Answer

J.J. Kelso was actually the chief architect of Ontario's first juvenile court system.

Question 10

By the early 1980s, there was unanimous agreement that the growing problem of youth crime was due to the Juvenile Delinquents Act (JDA).

Accepted Answer

While there was growing concern about youth crime in the 1980s, it was not unanimously agreed upon that the JDA was the cause of the problem. Some believed that the Act was too lenient and needed to be reformed, while others argued that it was working as intended and that other factors, such as poverty and social inequality, were the root causes of youth crime.

Question 11

The Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) was replaced with the Young Offenders Act (YOA) in 2003.

Accepted Answer

The Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) replaced the Young Offenders Act (YOA) in 2003.

Question 12

Official statistics remain the most consistent source of measurement for youth offending.

Accepted Answer

Official statistics, such as those provided by government agencies, police reports or court records, are considered the most reliable source of information on youth offending. These statistics are based on actual incidents and can provide insight into trends and patterns of youth offending over time. Other sources of information, such as self-reports or victimization surveys, may also provide useful information but may also be subject to biases or limitations.

Question 13

Female young offenders are more likely to be involved in prostitution than common assault.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that female young offenders are more likely to engage in prostitution or other forms of commercial exploitation than in common assault.

Question 14

According to official data on cases completed in Canadian youth courts, 12- and 13-year-olds are proportionately more frequently charged with "crimes against the person" than are 16- and 17-year-olds.

Accepted Answer

According to official data from Canadian youth courts, 12- and 13-year-olds are indeed proportionately more frequently charged with "crimes against the person" than are 16- and 17-year-olds. This information can be found on the Government of Canada's website under the "Youth Court Statistics" section.

Question 15

The youth Crime Severity Index (CSI) measures the seriousness of crime reported to the police.

Accepted Answer

The Youth Crime Severity Index (CSI) is a measure of the seriousness of crimes reported to the police committed by youth.

Question 16

Risk assessment of youth is not a common practice currently because there are no known predictors of recidivism.

Accepted Answer

Risk assessment of youth is actually a common practice currently, but it is true that there are no known predictors of recidivism that are 100% accurate. However, multiple factors such as past criminal history, family situation, and mental health can be used to assess the level of risk for reoffending.

Question 17

There is considerable variability between the provincial and territorial jurisdictions in how the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) is applied.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. The YCJA is a federal law, but how it is implemented and enforced can vary depending on the practices and policies of different provinces and territories.

Question 18

Overall youth crime rates have been dropping in recent years.

Accepted Answer

According to statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), youth crime rates have been decreasing over the past few years.

Question 19

According to data on court dispositions, the percentage of convicted youth placed on probation declined from 2002-03 to 2011-12.

Accepted Answer

This statement is supported by data. The percentage of convicted youth placed on probation declined from 62% in 2002-03 to 56% in 2011-12, according to a report by the National Center for Juvenile Justice.

Question 20

Since the introduction of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), the youth court caseload is dramatically lower than it was under the Young Offenders Act (YOA).

Accepted Answer

The YCJA was introduced in 2003 and its focus is on rehabilitation and reintegrating young offenders back into society. It has led to a decrease in the number of charges laid against youth and a lower youth court caseload compared to the YOA.

Quiz 2: Measuring Youth Crime in Canada: An Elusive Challenge