Deck 1: Criminal Justice and the Study of Morality

Question 1

"Ethics" might best be described as the study of principles of right and wrong,good and bad,while "morality" refers to the practice of these principles in everyday life.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

According to your text,the behavior of public officials (including criminal justice professionals)should reflect a higher moral character and should be held to a higher moral standard than ordinary persons.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

The primary purpose of ethical inquiry is to:

A)find all the possible solutions to a problem.
B)critically reflect upon how we live and the choices we make.
C)learn about the philosophies of the past 2000 years.
D)memorize relevant codes of conduct.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Codes of ethics are best understood as:

A)general principles.
B)detailed solutions to ethical problems.
C)formal laws with prescribed punishments.
D)all of the above

Question 5

Which of the following refers to a type or subfield of ethics which focuses on the application of ethical values,principles,obligations,etc. ,to particular issues and practical scenarios that emerge within the context of a given field or occupation?

A)Personal
B)Normative
C)Religious
D)Professional

Question 6

Which of the following would be of greatest concern from an ethical standpoint?

A)The number of homicide victims in a given place during a given time period
B)The legal elements of the crime of homicide
C)Whether capital punishment is a justifiable response to the crime of homicide
D)How class,race,and gender impact the decision-making of homicide offenders

Question 7

Sodomy laws:

A)made it illegal to do nothing if you witness a crime.
B)criminalized deviant sexual acts such as anal intercourse.
C)were used by the Nazi German government to justify its behavior.
D)require the use of safety belts in automobiles if the driver has dependent children.

Question 8

Which of the following would be a concern of social justice?

A)Health care
B)Employment
C)Education
D)All of the above

Question 9

Which of the following refers to the study of questions concerning right and wrong and how we ought to live our lives?

A)Morality
B)Ethics
C)Axiology
D)Practical philosophy

Question 10

With regard to professional codes of ethics,the problem of enforcement suggests that:

A)codes can sometimes be wrong.
B)codes can encourage employees to do only the minimum.
C)violations of ethical codes are not always detected and reported.
D)police and correctional officers may not believe that codes apply to them.

Question 11

The "spheres of criminal justice" include all of the following except:

A)criminal justice practice.
B)judicial review.
C)social justice.
D)laws and lawmaking.

Question 12

Which of the following allows law enforcement officers to enter homes without first notifying residents of their intent to enter?

A)Presumptive entry
B)First Amendment exception
C)Immediate need clause
D)No-knock warrant

Question 13

The idea that,when rules or guidelines are in place to guide our behavior,we may be inclined to do only what is dictated by the rules and nothing more is referred to as:

A)the externalization of codes.
B)minimalism.
C)generality.
D)strict coherence.

Question 14

According to your text,the primary purpose of morality is to enable us to live good lives in a just society.

Question 15

According to your text,morality involves living one's life:

A)self-consciously.
B)as the law states one should.
C)on pursuit of happiness at any cost.
D)according to previous personal experiences.

Question 16

Which of the following is discussed in your text as a reason that laws should be critically assessed rather than blindly accepted?

A)Laws are fallible
B)Laws can be immoral
C)Laws are not inclusive of all moral concerns
D)All of the above

Question 17

Ethics can best be understood as the study of what is,not what should be.

Question 18

Whereas much social scientific inquiry tends to be descriptive in nature,ethics is primarily prescriptive.

Question 19

Which of the following occurs when jurors return a verdict which is consistent with their own sense of justice and morality,but inconsistent with the law?

A)Legal minimalism
B)Legalism
C)Jury nullification
D)Jury tampering

Question 20

We do not need ethics if we have laws.

Question 21

Briefly discuss at least one reason that the behavior of public officials,including criminal justice professionals,should be held to higher moral standards than that of ordinary persons.

Question 22

Simply abiding by the law all of the time makes us moral people.

Question 23

Refusing to find a defendant guilty of a "mercy killing" would be an example of jury nullification.

Question 24

Illegal or unethical actions of individual police officers are usually detected and reported.

Question 25

Social justice is concerned with how a society provides for the needs of its members and the extent to which it treats its subgroups equally.

Question 26

Providing at least one example,briefly discuss the notion that laws can be immoral.