Question 1

In the early days of the American automobile, there were very few privately owned cars because they were too expensive for most people to afford. In 1908, Henry Ford introduced the first affordable automobile, the Model-T, and the numbers of cars on the road grew exponentially. During this time, society began to recognize that drunk driving was a significant threat to public safety. The public advocated for the first laws prohibiting drunk driving emerged in 1920 in order to protect the well-being of all citizens from drunk drivers. Which theory best explains the emergence of drunk driving laws?

Accepted Answer

The consensus theory of justice assumes that society agrees upon what behaviors are criminal and that the criminal justice system should reflect those shared values. In this case, society recognized drunk driving as a threat to public safety and advocated for laws prohibiting it, reflecting a shared value of protecting citizens from harm.

Question 2

What is the main focus of the due process model of criminal justice?

Accepted Answer

The main focus of the due process model is fairness, ensuring that individuals accused of crimes receive fair treatment, rights, and procedures throughout the criminal justice process. This includes protection of individual rights, a presumption of innocence, and a fair trial.

Question 3

What are the three major components of our criminal justice system?

Accepted Answer

The three major components of our criminal justice system are the police, courts, and corrections. The police are responsible for enforcing the law and making arrests. The courts are responsible for determining guilt or innocence and imposing sentences on convicted offenders. The corrections system is responsible for supervising and rehabilitating offenders who have been sentenced to probation, jail, or prison. None of the other choices include all three major components of the criminal justice system.

Question 4

______ are laws that define criminal acts and how such acts will be punished.

Accepted Answer

Criminal law specifically deals with defining criminal acts and their corresponding punishments. Civil law, on the other hand, deals with disputes between individuals or organizations. Criminal justice is the broader field that encompasses the entire criminal justice system, including law enforcement, judiciary, and corrections. Natural law refers to a philosophical and legal theory that posits certain inherent and universal principles governing human conduct.

Question 5

Who of the following makes the discretionary decision as to whether to stop, search, or arrest?

Accepted Answer

Police officers have the authority and discretion to make decisions on whether to stop, search, or arrest individuals based on their assessment of the situation and applicable laws. Prosecutors may later decide whether or not to pursue charges, judges may make decisions during court proceedings, and defense lawyers represent the accused but do not have the authority to make these initial decisions.

Question 6

Which of the following statements illustrates the assumptions of the conflict theory of justice?

Accepted Answer

The conflict theory of justice posits that laws and rules are created by those in power to maintain their dominance and control over others. This assumption is reflected in choice D as it asserts that laws are created to protect the dominant position of the powerful groups. The other choices do not reflect this assumption and are inconsistent with the conflict theory of justice.

Question 7

Which of the following is true of "three strikes" laws?

Accepted Answer

"Three strikes" laws mandate that an offender with three qualifying felonies (serious or violent) is sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. Therefore, B is the correct choice. Option A is incorrect because it pertains to the "three strikes" laws in California, which are different from those in other states. Option C is incorrect because it is not always true; eligibility for probation supervision varies among jurisdictions. Option D is incorrect because it is too broad and does not distinguish between felonies and misdemeanors.

Question 8

Which theory suggests that property holders become members of a commonwealth only with their express consent to submit to the government of the commonwealth?

Accepted Answer

Locke's theory of tacit consent posits that individuals agree to the governance and laws of a commonwealth by choosing to live within its territory, implying an express or tacit agreement to submit to its government.

Question 9

In May of 2017, Atlanta Officer Che Milton responded to a shoplifting call at a Family Dollar store. When he arrived, he asked the 12-year-old girl why she had attempted to steal a US$2 pair of shoes. The girl responded that her 5-year-old sister needed shoes, but the family could not afford them. Officer Milton used his own judgment to examine her circumstances, and realized she needed help, not punishment. Instead of arresting the girl, he decided to buy her family pizzas and put them in contact with a social worker. What authority was he using in this situation?

Accepted Answer

Officer Milton was using his discretion to make a judgment call in this situation. He had the authority to decide whether to issue a punishment or find an alternative solution based on the circumstances he observed.

Question 10

Which law was intended to reduce crime and protect the public, but actually proved to be costly, unnecessarily punitive, and did not actually reduce crime?

Accepted Answer

The Three-strikes law, also known as "habitual offender" laws, was intended to reduce crime by imposing longer sentences on repeat offenders. However, this law proved to be costly, unnecessarily punitive, and did not actually reduce crime. Studies have shown that the law did not deter crime or reduce recidivism, but instead led to overcrowding in prisons and higher costs for taxpayers. In addition, the law disproportionately affected communities of color and low-income individuals. Thus, numerous states have amended or repealed their Three-strikes laws in recent years.

Question 11

Which of the following models of the criminal justice process focuses on deterring crime through swift punishment and puts less emphasis on the rights of the accused?

Accepted Answer

The crime control model prioritizes the efficient detection and processing of criminals, emphasizing the importance of public order and safety over individual rights. It advocates for swift punishment as a means of deterring crime.

Question 12

Criminal laws are enacted to define acts that are criminal and proscribe punishments for those who engage in those acts. What is another purpose of criminal law?

Accepted Answer

The purpose of criminal law is not only to define criminal acts and punishments, but also to maintain social order by deterring individuals from committing crimes, enforcing penalties for those who do, and protecting the public from harmful behavior. The other choices, such as emulating laws in other countries, upholding traditional values, and establishing civil remedies for disagreements, may overlap with the goals or effects of criminal law, but they are not its primary purpose.

Question 13

In 2012, drugs were commonly sold as "synthetic marijuana" or "bath salts" that allowed users to achieve a "legal high" while avoiding federal drug bans. Eventually, these drugs were banned after being linked to several high-profile incidents. What feature of criminal law does this illustrate?

Accepted Answer

This illustrates the feature of criminal laws being changed in response to new threats. The emergence of drugs that allowed users to achieve a "legal high" while avoiding federal drug bans created a new threat that required a change in the law. Eventually, these drugs were banned after being linked to several high-profile incidents, demonstrating the responsiveness of criminal law to changing circumstances.

Question 14

Which conflict theorist is known for arguing that "man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains."?

Accepted Answer

This quote is attributed to the French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who is known for his work on political philosophy and social theory. It reflects his belief that society and its institutions have the potential to restrict individual freedom and create inequality. This idea is central to conflict theory, which emphasizes the ways in which social conflicts and power imbalances shape society.

Question 15

What did Locke believe was the chief purpose of government?

Accepted Answer

Locke believed that the chief purpose of government was the protection of property, which included not only physical possessions but also life and liberty. He believed that individuals had natural rights that should be protected by a government that was chosen by the people and could be removed if it failed to protect those rights.

Question 16

Which of the following is a crime control strategy intended to curb crime by punishing repeat offenders with lengthy prison sentences (usually 25 years to life) once they commit three or more violent offenses?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is a crime...

Question 17

Which of the following statements most closely describes the due process model of criminal justice?

Accepted Answer

The due process model emphasizes the protection of the accused's constitutional rights and presumes innocence until proven guilty. This model prioritizes fairness and the prevention of wrongful convictions over the efficient enforcement of the law.

Question 18

Which of the following individuals would be responsible for exercising discretion after an individual is convicted and sentenced?

Accepted Answer

Corrections officers would be responsible for exercising discretion and making decisions regarding the treatment and supervision of individuals who have been convicted and sentenced. Police officers investigate crimes, judges impose sentences, and prosecutors bring charges against defendants.

Question 19

Which of the following statements most closely describes the crime control model of criminal justice?

Accepted Answer

The crime control model emphasizes aggressive policing, quick and efficient trials, and harsh punishments for offenders. It assumes that criminals are rational, calculating individuals who make a choice to break the law, and therefore, the best way to prevent crime is through deterrence and punishment. This model prioritizes public safety over individual rights and freedoms, and values efficiency and speed in the justice system over due process protections for defendants. The presumption of guilt in this model reflects the belief that law enforcement officers are typically correct in their judgments and decisions, and that the courts should not second-guess their actions.

Question 20

This theorist argued all people are basically selfish and irrational; their primary purpose for forming a government was for self-protection.

Accepted Answer

According to Hobbes' social contract theory, people are motivated by self-preservation and are naturally in a state of war with one another. Therefore, they voluntarily give up some of their individual rights and establish a government to maintain order and protect themselves from each other.

Quiz 1: Fundamentals of Criminal Justice: Essential Themes and Practices