Deck 37: Elliott Currie, the Myth of Leniency

Question 1

In 1995, more than one-half of violent crimes in the U.S. consisted of rapes.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

More than one-half of all violent crimes committed in 1995 consisted of:

A) murders.
B) armed robberies.
C) rapes.
D) simple assaults.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The discrepancy between the large number of violent crimes committed and the much smaller number that are punished is a result of our criminal justice system's leniency toward convicted offenders.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Sentences for violent crimes are more) in the U.S. than in the majority of advanced industrial countries.

A) strict
B) lenient
C) U.S. sentences are about the same as those of other advanced industrial countries.
D) none of the above

Question 5

What arguments does Currie use to refute the myth that in 1992, "only about 100,000 persons convicted of a violent crime went to state prison?"

Question 6

Currie argues that conservative critics of our criminal justice system cannot account for the discrepancy between their belief that our criminal justice system is too lenient and the fact that our prisons are more crowded than ever. Do you agree or disagree with Currie? Explain.

Question 7

Describe what is meant by the "myth of leniency".

Question 8

Compared to the majority of advanced industrial countries, sentences for violent crimes are far more lenient in the U.S.

Question 9

Currie refutes the myth that "only about 100,000 persons convicted of a violent crime went to state prison" by arguing that:

A) this number does not include people incarcerated in other types of criminal justice institutions.
B) the majority of violent crimes are not serious ones.
C) the criminal justice system is too lenient with offenders.
D) a and b above

Question 10

Currie refutes the myth that in 1992, "only about 100,000 persons convicted of a violent crime went to state prison" by arguing that this statistic underestimates the number of people who were incarcerated.

Question 11

Most crimes do not result in punishment because:

A) the justice system is too lenient with offenders.
B) most violent crimes are not reported to the police.
C) only one-third of rapes are reported to police, and rape is the most common type of violent crime.
D) none of the above

Question 12

The majority of violent crimes are not serious crimes.

Question 13

Most crimes do not result in punishment.

Question 14

A national survey of crime victims conducted in 1992 found that of the more than 10 million violent crimes committed that year, led to an arrest, and were convicted.

A) 5 million; 2.5 million
B) 1 million; 65,000
C) 641,000; 165,000
D) 500,000; 250,000