Deck 1: Psychology and the Law: Choices and Roles

Question 1

Most of the Supreme Court decisions that provided more explicit rights for suspects and defendants occurred

A)during the 1950s.
B)during the 1960s.
C)during the 1970s.
D)during the 1980s.

Answer 1

during the 1960s.

Question 2

Edward Rosenheimer was charged with a hit-and-run accident, but he claimed that the law requiring him to report the accident to the police was unconstitutional because it forced him to incriminate himself, violating the U.S.Constitution's Fifth Amendment.This case eventually came before the New York Court of Appeals; what was this court's decision?

A)Rosenheimer was released from custody because the law forcing him to incriminate himself was said by this court to be unconstitutional.
B)Rosenheimer was released from custody because the Court of General Sessions in New York State said that the hit-and-run regulation should be removed from the books.
C)The New York Court of Appeals concluded that the right to avoid self-incrimination did not outweigh the right of injured persons to seek redress for their sufferings.
D)The New York Court of Appeals concluded that the right of injured persons to seek redress for their sufferings did not outweigh the right to avoid self-incrimination.

Answer 2

The New York Court of Appeals concluded that the right to avoid self-incrimination did not outweigh the right of injured persons to seek redress for their sufferings.

Question 3

Currently, in the U.S., one out of every ______ Americans is either in prison or on probation or parole.

A)100
B)54
C)32
D)15

Answer 3

32

Question 4

Which amendment to the U.S.Constitution safeguards us against self-incrimination?

A)1st
B)4th
C)5th
D)6th

Question 5

In contrast to the crime control model, the due process model would subscribe to which of the following statements?

A)If the police are chasing a man, he must have committed a crime.
B)It is better for many guilty persons to go free than to convict one innocent person.
C)It is detrimental to society to require police to inform suspects of their Miranda rights.
D)The "three-strikes" law is in place to protect society from dangerous criminals.

Question 6

Most forensic psychologists are trained as

A)social psychologists
B)clinical psychologists
C)experimental psychologists
D)lawyers

Question 7

A researcher who is interested in the incidence of rape in different types of societies and the relationship of rape to the amount of male dominance in these societies is concerned with which approach to the study of law?

A)anthropological
B)sociological
C)philosophical
D)psychological

Question 8

If a researcher is studying the role that social class plays in criminal behavior in a particular society, that researcher is most likely

A)a psychologist.
B)a sociologist.
C)an anthropologist.
D)a philosopher.

Question 9

In more recent cases, the Supreme Court has ruled in favor of law enforcement as opposed to individuals suspected of breaking the law.For example, in Florence v.Board of Chosen Freeholders, the Court found

A)Police can stop a motorist whom they believed violated traffic laws even if their ulterior motive is to investigate the possibility of drug dealing.
B)Jail officials can strip search petty offenders even when there is no suspicion of carrying a weapon or contraband.
C)Police no longer have to provide Miranda warnings in all custodial situations if certain exceptions are met.
D)None of the above.

Question 10

The purpose of laws is to

A)ensure public safety.
B)deter vigilantes.
C)serve as a mechanism for conflict resolution.
D)all of the above

Question 11

The United States has 5% of the world's population and ________ of its prisoners.

A)2%
B)5%
C)10%
D)25%

Question 12

Psychology assumes individual characteristics affect how the legal system operates and the legal system affects individual characteristics and behavior.Characteristics may include:

A)individual abilities
B)personal values
C)professional experiences
D)all of the above

Question 13

Which of the following would be an activity that a forensic psychologist would most likely do?

A)evaluate whether a defendant was sane at the time the crime was committed
B)determine if the DNA from the defendant matches the DNA collected at the crime scene
C)investigate the role that social class plays in criminal behavior
D)conduct a mock trial

Question 14

According to a 2011 Gallup poll, ___________ of Americans favor same-sex marriage.

A)83%
B)53%
C)17%
D)25%

Question 15

In 2012, several states allowed same-sex marriage, including:

A)California
B)Florida
C)Connecticut
D)Maine

Question 16

One might argue that the stop and frisk procedures used in New York City violate the principle of equality and rely on profiling, as 52% of stops between 2004 and 2009 were of __________________ and 30% were of __________________.

A)African Americans; Caucasians.
B)Hispanics; Caucasians.
C)African Americans; Caucasians
D)African Americans; Hispanics

Question 17

Secondary to the most recent recession, officials have sought different ways to reduce recidivism and rates of incarceration.These alternatives have included:

A)diversionary, community-based treatment programs
B)educational and re-entry programs for inmates
C)substance abuse and mental health programs for inmates
D)all of the above

Question 18

According to Kurt Lewin, what influences behavior?

A)one's personal qualities
B)one's environment
C)both A and B
D)what influences behavior can never be ascertained as behavior is too complex

Question 19

Which of the following is a basic characteristic of the crime control model of the criminal justice system?

A)The system should present obstacles to the conviction of defendants.
B)The suspect is assumed to be innocent.
C)Emphasis in the courts should be on the detection and prosecution of criminals.
D)Greater control needs to be exerted over the police in their investigation of suspects.

Question 20

The principle of equality is often at odds with the value of ______________ when it comes to implementing laws and punishing offenders.

A)proportionality
B)discretion
C)leniency
D)none of the above

Question 21

What percentage of defendants plea bargain?

A)10-25%
B)35-50%
C)60-75%
D)90-95%

Question 22

Commuting a death sentence to life imprisonment is referred to as

A)settlement negotiation.
B)clemency.
C)reversal.
D)redemption.

Question 23

The principle of proportionality reflects the idea that

A)there should be the same proportion of jurors sympathetic to the prosecution as to the defense.
B)the defendant's punishment should be related to the magnitude of the offense.
C)repeat offenders should receive extensive rehabilitation.
D)a defendant who commits a relatively minor crime should receive a harsh punishment if the defendant is a habitual offender.

Question 24

What is a possible benefit of plea bargaining?

A)reduced trial costs and expenses
B)increased efficiency in the criminal justice system
C)reduced sentences and sanctions for defendants
D)all of the above

Question 25

Whereas lawyers are typically adversarial and engage in "either-or" thinking, psychologists are expected to be _______________ and think more in terms of ______________.

A)subjective; absolutes
B)subjective; probabilities
C)objective; absolutes
D)objective; probabilities

Question 26

Amicus curiae means

A)let the decision stand.
B)the sentence should be equivalent to the crime.
C)friend of the court.
D)the rights of defendants.

Question 27

Despite the principle of equality, discretion is often displayed by

A)prosecutors.
B)police officers.
C)juries.
D)all of the above

Question 28

A basic scientist's work

A)is done simply for the joy of understanding.
B)is not intended to be applied.
C)can be applied to the law.
D)all of the above

Question 29

Troy Davis was convicted of murdering a police officer and faced execution in Georgia.In an effort to save Davis, the Georgia Board of Pardons and Parole was presented with a ____________ petition to commute Davis' sentence to life in prison.

A)settlement negotiation
B)clemency
C)reversal
D)redemption

Question 30

In civil cases, what procedure parallels plea bargaining?

A)damages negotiation
B)settlement negotiation
C)plaintiff/defendant agreement
D)conflict resolution

Question 31

The tendency of different judges to administer a variety of penalties for the same crime is referred to as ________; to counteract this, many states have implemented ________.

A)biased sentencing; certain sentencing
B)inequality in sentencing; mandatory sentencing
C)sentencing disparity; determinate sentencing
D)discretionary sentencing; strict sentencing

Question 32

Tatiana Tarasoff was killed by Prosenjit Poddar, a graduate student at The University of California.Tatiana's parents sued; the case was heard by the Supreme Court of California.The Tarasoff case is important because

A)it gave a legal definition of "dangerousness."
B)it clarified the tax-exempt status of racially segregated colleges.
C)it concluded that psychologists could assist in jury selection if they provided their questionnaire responses to the other side.
D)it specified that psychotherapists have a duty to use reasonable care to protect identifiable, potential victims from clients in psychotherapy who threaten violence.

Question 33

When faced with making legal decisions, judges are reluctant to make decisions that contradict earlier judicial decisions.This propensity is an example of the principle of

A)stare decisis.
B)equality.
C)proportionality.
D)determinant sentencing.

Question 34

Which of the following practices most clearly violates the principle of equality?

A)racial profiling
B)proportionate sentencing
C)determinate sentencing
D)none of the above

Question 35

Determinate sentencing accomplishes which of the following?

A)equality
B)discretion
C)individual rights
D)sentencing disparity

Question 36

George McLaurin was the first black student admitted to the University of Oklahoma's graduate school of education.After enrolling in the program, McLaurin was segregated from his classmates.In McLaurin v.Oklahoma State Regents (1950), the Supreme Court concluded that

A)McLaurin should not have been admitted to the graduate school.
B)McLaurin's rights as a student were not violated by the segregation.
C)the restrictions set up by the University of Oklahoma impaired and inhibited McLaurin's ability to study, discuss and exchange views with other students.
D)the restrictions set up by the University of Oklahoma did not impair nor inhibit McLaurin's ability to study, discuss or exchange views with other students.

Question 37

In order for a person to testify as an expert witness

A)he or she must have had formal training.
B)both sides in the trial must agree to allow the testimony.
C)the judge must agree to admit the testimony.
D)the expert witness must have examined or tested the defendant.

Question 38

Determinate sentencing reflects which resolution of a choice presented in Chapter 1?

A)equality, rather than discretion
B)discretion, rather than equality
C)common good, rather than individual rights
D)individual rights, rather than common good

Question 39

During a train trip in Louisiana in the 1890s, Homer Plessy wanted to sit in a "whites only" railroad car, but because of his ancestry (he had a black great-grandparent), he was not allowed, by law, to sit in this car.He took his claim to court; the U.S.Supreme Court eventually ruled that

A)he should have been allowed to sit anywhere he wanted.
B)the statute that segregated railroad cars by race did not fail to give Plessy equal protection under the law.
C)the statute that segregated railroad cars by race failed to give Plessy equal protection under the law.
D)none of the above (this case never went to the Supreme Court)

Question 40

John, the plaintiff in a civil trial, sued his employer for wrongful termination.Now that the trial is over, John is pleased that he had a chance to have his voice heard and feels he was treated fairly by the system.He sees the outcome as just even though the outcome was not in his favor.According to Chapter 1, this perception of the fairness of the procedures is an important component of

A)fairness justice.
B)procedural justice.
C)plaintiff's revenge.
D)the American Bar Association's ethical standard of practice.

Question 41

Laws regulating the areas in which people may smoke cigarettes illustrate the conflict between individual rights and public safety.

Question 42

A police department decides to develop "community watch" groups in some neighborhoods in order to reduce the crime rate.A psychologist is called in to assist the police department in designing and critiquing this innovation.How would we best label this psychologist's role?

A)policy evaluator
B)advocate
C)basic scientist
D)pure scientist

Question 43

One of the justifications given by trial consultants for their methods is that

A)they work for the underprivileged.
B)they're not radically different from that of politicians.
C)jury members are informed of their recommendations.
D)all of the above

Question 44

Trial consultants have been criticized for

A)falsifying research data.
B)rigging the jury.
C)encouraging defendants to lie.
D)not defending their clients "zealously."

Question 45

A psychologist is asked to determine if Project New Chance, a program to help welfare recipients obtain and keep employment, has achieved its goals.How would we best label this psychologist's role?

A)basic scientist
B)pure scientist
C)policy evaluator
D)advocate

Question 46

Which of the following decisions led to judges acting as gatekeepers who evaluate potential expert testimony using the standards of science?

A)Blakely v.Washington (2003)
B)Ewing v.California (2003)
C)Daubert v.Merrell Dow (1993)
D)United States v.Booker (2005)

Question 47

Jay is in therapy, and he has recently told his therapist that he is planning on killing his stepmother.According to the Tarasoff decision, the therapist has the duty to warn the stepmother that Jay is a potential threat.

Question 48

The Daubert decision listed four factors that judges should consider in assessing the validity and subsequent admissibility of the expert's testimony.Which of the following is not one of these four factors?

A)whether the expert's theory or technique can and has been tested
B)the strength of the argument for the pertinent side
C)whether the expert's theory or technique has been evaluated by peer review
D)the extent to which the expert's technique and claims have been generally accepted by the relevant scientific community

Question 49

Troy Davis was granted clemency.

Question 50

Which of the following would be an activity conducted by a trial consultant?

A)conduct community attitude surveys
B)prepare witnesses to testify
C)advise lawyers on their presentation strategies
D)all of the above

Question 51

The expert witness

A)is hired by one side, but is supposed to remain impartial.
B)is hired by one side, and is supposed to support that side, and only that side.
C)is legally considered an advocate when hired by one side.
D)is not allowed to be paid for their time.

Question 52

In recent years judges have been allowed to use more discretion in sentencing.