Deck 10: Balancing Harms: the Ethics and Purposes of Criminal Sentencing

Question 1

Deterrence is based on the assumption that human beings are_______.

A) Motivated by monetary gain
B) Impacted by their peers
C) Rational and guided by pleasure
D) Antisocial

Answer 1

C

Question 2

General deterrence:

A) convinces the particular offender not to commit crime in the future
B) convinces the particular offender not to get caught again
C) refers to punishing offenders so that others will be afraid to commit crimes
D) refers to punishing offenders so that others will take greater steps not to get
Caught committing crimes

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Another name for desert is:

A) retaliation
B) rehabilitation
C) retribution
D) a piece of pie

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Which of the following justifications for punishment does not seek to reduce future crime?

A) desert
B) treatment
C) incapacitation
D) deterrence

Question 5

An offender who does actually pose a danger of future crime may be erroneously predicted to be "safe." This is known as a ____________ .

A) false positive
B) false negative
C) true positive
D) true negative

Question 6

The ethically acceptable factors that predict future crime and explain sentence severity include all except:

A) prior record
B) offense seriousness
C) place of residence
D) criminal justice history

Question 7

Which of the following is not typical of restorative justice?

A) face-to-face meetings among victims and offenders
B) focus on repairing harm done by offender
C) used mostly on minor crimes
D) completed through the official criminal justice system

Question 8

Which of the following justifications of punishment prevents offenders from having the chance to commit a new crime?

A) deterrence
B) incapacitation
C) treatment
D) restoration

Question 9

Which of the following statements regarding treatment is true?

A) Treatment has not been shown to be effective.
B) Treatment has typically been effective.
C) Treatment has been effective with some types of offenders.
D) none of the above

Question 10

Which rationale for punishment does not emphasize a utilitarian perspective?

A) deterrence
B) incapacitation
C) restoration
D) desert

Question 11

Susan committed a bank robbery where she stole more than $500, and was later convicted at trial. However, the conviction was overturned by an appeals court who ruled that the judge's instructions to the jury before jury deliberation were incorrect. This case is an example of:

A) loopholes
B) technical innocence
C) factual innocence
D) legal innocence

Question 12

The Fair Sentencing Act (2010) reduced the disparity of punishments for crack versus powder cocaine to:

A) 100:1
B) 46:1
C) 18:1
D) 1:1

Question 13

Desert does not seek to reduce future crime.

Question 14

Utility means the benefit or the "good" expected as a result of punishment.

Question 15

Modified just deserts argues that desert does not justify the imposition of a penalty and does not set the outer limits of the punishment.

Question 16

The "truth in sentencing" movement ensures that violent offenders serve at least 65 percent of the prison terms they receive in court.

Question 17

An offender who does not pose a risk of future crime may be erroneously predicted to be dangerous. This is known as a false positive.

Question 18

Offenses involving crack cocaine have been treated more severely than those offenses involving powder cocaine.

Question 19

In the past three to four decades, sentencing structures have moved toward more determinate sentencing.

Question 20

Restorative justice punishments reflect an attempt to balance the needs of the victims, communities, and offenders.

Question 21

Determinate sentencing structures leave some discretion in the hands of a paroling authority.

Question 22

The purpose of general deterrence is to deter the general public from crime.

Question 23

Criminal justice professionals generally feel that high percentages of offenders are wrongfully convicted.

Question 24

The majority of those who have been wrongfully convicted and later exonerated have been African American.