Deck 9: Sentencing and Parole in Canada

Question 1

The most common sentencing option in Canada is:

A) imprisonment
B) parole
C) a fine
D) a conditional sentence
E) a conditional discharge

Answer 1

a fine

Question 2

Which of the following statements is incorrect with regard to sentencing in Canada?

A) The fundamental principle of sentencing indicates that more serious offences should receive more serious sentences.
B) Sentencing goals can be incompatible with one another.
C) Judges sometimes rely on extra-legal factors when handing down sentences.
D) Judges must select one specific goal they hope to achieve when handing down a sentence.
E) Monetary fines are the most common sentencing options used in Canada.

Answer 2

Judges must select one specific goal they hope to achieve when handing down a sentence.

Question 3

In the study conducted by McFatter (1986),sentencing disparity:

A) resulted mostly from unsystematic sources
B) resulted mostly from systematic sources
C) did not exist
D) only existed for inexperienced judges
E) was only evident in cases involving murder and rape

Answer 3

resulted mostly from unsystematic sources

Question 4

Which of the following types of cases would not be heard at a provincial or "inferior" court?

A) traffic violations
B) small claims
C) first degree murder cases
D) appeals from administrative tribunals
E) both b and c

Question 5

According to Canadian researchers,one of the most important problems with sentencing at the moment is:

A) high rates of offender recidivism even when harsh sentences are administered
B) sentencing disparity
C) prison overcrowding
D) a lack of adequate research on sentencing in Canada
E) the fact that the criminal justice system tends to hand down sentences that are too lenient

Question 6

A "dangerous offender" can receive a maximum prison sentence of:

A) 5 years
B) 15 years
C) 25 years
D) 35 years
E) indefinite duration

Question 7

One of Canada's newest sentencing options,introduced in 1996,allows offenders to serve their sentence in the community.This option is referred to as:

A) restitution
B) an absolute discharge
C) a conditional discharge
D) specific deterrence
E) a conditional sentence

Question 8

Aboriginal courts in Canada are sometimes referred to as:

A) Gladue courts
B) drug courts
C) Bill C-41 courts
D) Gregory courts
E) restorative justice courts

Question 9

What is the most common procedure used to study sentencing disparity?

A) field studies
B) archival studies
C) simulation studies
D) use of official sentencing statistics
E) none of the above

Question 10

Which of the following statements is/are true regarding the death penalty in Canada?

A) A 1998 opinion poll indicated that the majority of Canadians are in favour of reinstating the death penalty for murder.
B) Research suggests that the death penalty should not be reinstated if the purpose of it is to reduce crime.
C) The murder rate in Canada has generally declined since the death penalty was abolished.
D) It is rare for convicted murderers in Canada to commit another murder upon release from prison.
E) all of the above

Question 11

For offences included in the Canadian Criminal Code,the death penalty was formally abolished in:

A) 1946
B) 1956
C) 1966
D) 1976
E) 1986

Question 12

According to your textbook,which of the following is not a goal of sentencing in Canada?

A) providing reparations to victims
B) denouncing the act to society
C) aiding in the rehabilitation of the offender
D) ensuring that retribution is achieved
E) promoting a sense of responsibility in offenders

Question 13

According to McFatter (1986),the two major sources of unwarranted sentencing disparity are:

A) extra-legal disparity and intra-legal disparity
B) systematic disparity and unsystematic disparity
C) justifiable disparity and unjustifiable disparity
D) general disparity and specific disparity
E) coherent disparity and incoherent disparity

Question 14

Which of the following is a source of systematic sentencing disparity?

A) personality differences across judges
B) a judge's mood fluctuations
C) a judge's level of fatigue
D) both b and c
E) none of the above

Question 15

Which of the following is not a potential explanation for Aboriginal overrepresentation in the prison system?

A) Aboriginal people commit more crimes than non-Aboriginal people.
B) Compared to non-Aboriginal people, Aboriginal people commit crimes that are more likely to result in prison sentences.
C) Aboriginal people have greater access to adequate legal representation compared to non-Aboriginal people.
D) Aboriginal are more economically disadvantaged than non-Aboriginal people and thus are impacted more by criminal justice practices such as the use of fines.
E) There is systemic racism in the criminal justice system, which negatively impacts Aboriginal people.

Question 16

Tommy is hospitalized due to injuries sustained from a car accident,which was caused by an inattentive driver.The judge requires that the driver pay for Tommy's medical bills incurred as a result of the accident.This particular sentence is known as:

A) a conditional discharge
B) a conditional sentence
C) a fine
D) restitution
E) none of the above

Question 17

A convicted offender sentenced to three years in prison is likely to be placed in:

A) A federal penitentiary
B) a maximum security penitentiary
C) a territorial prison
D) a provincial prison
E) none of the above

Question 18

Sentencing an offender with the goal of reducing the probability that members of the community will violate the law is known as:

A) restorative justice
B) reparative justice
C) specific deterrence
D) systematic disparity
E) general deterrence

Question 19

The Canadian Criminal Code outlines several principles of sentencing.Which of the following is not included in these principles?

A) Sentences should be adjusted to account for relevant aggravating circumstances.
B) Sentences should be adjusted to account for relevant mitigating circumstances.
C) Judges should consider multiple goals when handing down sentences.
D) Where consecutive sentences are imposed, the combined sentence should not be unduly harsh.
E) If possible, sentences other than imprisonment should be considered.

Question 20

Which of the following statements is true regarding sentencing disparity in Canada?

A) So far, no methods have been proposed to reduce sentencing disparity.
B) Sentencing disparity ultimately exists because judges are allowed a great deal of discretion when making sentencing decisions.
C) Laboratory-based studies do not show evidence of sentencing disparity.
D) Official statistics cannot be used to study sentencing disparity in Canada.
E) All of the above statements are true.

Question 21

When making a decision about whether to grant an offender parole,the National Parole Board takes into account:

A) opinions from police officers
B) the offender's mental status
C) the offender's employment history
D) information from victims
E) all of the above

Question 22

According to the study by Gendreau et al.(2001),which examined the effectiveness of community-based sanctions and incarceration,the only two sanctions that were found to decrease recidivism were:

A) prison and electronic monitoring
B) restitution and supervision programs
C) fines and electronic monitoring
D) restitution and fines
E) prison and supervision programs

Question 23

What is a dangerous offender?
What must be done in order to have an offender designated dangerous?

Question 24

Johnny is a low-risk offender.According to the risk principle,what is likely to happen if he is exposed to very intense prison-based interventions?

A) His risk of recidivism is likely to decrease dramatically.
B) His risk of recidivism is likely to decrease slightly.
C) His risk of recidivism is likely to remain the same.
D) His risk of recidivism is likely to increase.
E) He will definitely recidivate upon release from prison.

Question 25

Which of the following statements is true concerning parole in Canada?

A) Most offenders released on parole are convicted of new crimes.
B) Parole reduces the sentence imposed by the courts.
C) An offender's expression of remorse is the most important factor taken into account when decisions are made about parole.
D) The National Parole Board denies full parole to over half of offenders at their first parole review date.
E) Victims do not have role in the parole process.

Question 26

Define the need principle,risk principle,and responsivity principle.

Question 27

According to your textbook,which of the following is an example of a criminogenic need?

A) an offender's self-esteem
B) childhood sexual abuse
C) age at first offence
D) socioeconomic status
E) antisocial attitudes

Question 28

The most common manner of examining public attitudes toward sentencing and parole is through:

A) simulation studies
B) focus groups
C) public opinion surveys
D) field studies
E) none of the above

Question 29

Rob is illiterate and English is his second language.When he is sentenced to incarceration,he is given treatment that requires him to read treatment-related books written in English before each of his counselling sessions.This is a violation of what principle of effective correctional treatment?

A) the need principle
B) the risk principle
C) the responsivity principle
D) the rehabilitative principle
E) the specificity principle

Question 30

Generally,offenders granted ________ are less likely to breach their parole conditions than those granted ___________.

A) statutory release/full parole
B) statutory release/day parole
C) statutory release/temporary absence
D) day parole/statutory release
E) none of the above

Question 31

Many purposes of sentencing exist,including specific and general deterrence.State four additional purposes of sentencing.

Question 32

In 1899,Sir Wilfrid Laurier was responsible for the introduction of ______________ in Canada.

A) parole
B) probation
C) conditional sentencing
D) restitution
E) imprisonment

Question 33

State the fundamental principle of sentencing as defined in Canada's Criminal Code.In addition,specify four other principles of sentencing.

Question 34

Typically in Canada,an incarcerated offender is first eligible for parole after having served ___________ of his/her sentence.

A) one-quarter
B) one-third
C) half
D) two-thirds
E) three-quarters

Question 35

Provide five general parole conditions that are sometimes specified by the National Parole Board (NPB).

Question 36

Which of the following is not true concerning results found from public opinion surveys examining public attitudes toward sentencing and parole?

A) Canadians believe offenders are treated too harshly.
B) Canadians support alternatives to prison under certain circumstances.
C) Canadians have more confidence in the courts than they do in the police.
D) both a and c
E) both a and b

Question 37

By law,most federal inmates must be granted ____________ after serving ________ of their sentence.

A) temporary absence/one-third
B) temporary absence/half
C) statutory release/two-thirds
D) statutory release/three-quarters
E) none of the above

Question 38

According to recent opinion polls,the criminal justice institution in which the Canadian public tends to have most confidence is:

A) the police
B) the federal government
C) the National Parole Board
D) the supreme court
E) the provincial courts

Question 39

What is unwarranted sentencing disparity?
List and describe the two major sources of unwarranted sentencing disparity.

Question 40

The first type of release an offender is typically granted is:

A) day parole
B) full parole
C) statutory release
D) temporary absence
E) partial parole