Question 1

In the United States, fines are rarely regarded as a tough criminal sanction:

Accepted Answer

Fines are not considered a tough criminal sanction in the United States because many people believe that they disproportionately affect the poor, while wealthy offenders may not experience a significant impact from the financial penalty. This undermines the perception of fines as a fair and effective means of punishment, and may contribute to their limited use in certain types of crimes.

Question 2

Evidence-based studies that examined the effectiveness of drug courts show that:

Accepted Answer

Evidence-based studies have consistently shown that drug courts are effective in reducing recidivism rates among drug offenders by an average of 8 to 14 percent. This is achieved through a combination of intensive supervision, treatment programs, and regular court appearances, which aim to address the underlying problems that lead to drug use and criminal behavior. Additionally, drug courts have been found to be more cost-effective than traditional incarceration, as they reduce the burden on the criminal justice system and are associated with lower rates of victimization.

Question 3

The first step in the process of setting a day fine is:

Accepted Answer

The first step in setting a day fine is to determine the number of fine units based on the severity of the offense.

Question 4

Which of the following statements is true of intermediate sanctions?

Accepted Answer

Intermediate sanctions are typically employed as a strategy to manage and reduce the correctional population by providing alternatives to incarceration, especially for non-violent or lower-risk offenders. This approach helps in alleviating overcrowding in prisons and jails while still holding offenders accountable.

Question 5

A financial penalty scaled both to the defendant's ability to pay and the seriousness of the offense is called a:

Accepted Answer

A financial penalty scaled both to the defendant's ability to pay and the seriousness of the offense is called a day fine. Bonds and bail are typically pretrial release options, and parole is a form of early release from prison.

Question 6

Nonresidential facilities that are used as a form of intermediate sanction for offenders as a condition of probation or service delivery for offenders released from prison are called:

Accepted Answer

Day reporting centers are nonresidential facilities used as intermediate sanctions for offenders under probation or service delivery for those released from prison. These centers provide structured programming and supervision to offenders, including drug testing, job training, counseling, and education. They aim to reduce recidivism by promoting accountability and addressing the underlying issues that led to criminal behavior. Halfway houses are residential facilities, while workhouses and residential treatment centers are not typically used as intermediate sanctions.

Question 7

Which of the following statements is true of drug courts?

Accepted Answer

Drug courts have nonadversarial and restorative aims. Their primary goal is to address the underlying substance abuse problem and help participants achieve recovery, rather than simply punishing them for their offense. This approach has been found to be more effective in reducing recidivism rates compared to traditional punitive measures like probation or incarceration. Additionally, drug courts have been shown to be cost-effective, with savings resulting from reduced recidivism and lower criminal justice costs.

Question 8

The primary purpose of intensive supervision probation is:

Accepted Answer

The primary purpose of intensive supervision probation is to protect the community. It involves increased levels of supervision, monitoring, and restrictions aimed at reducing the risk of reoffending by offenders.

Question 9

Which of the following statements is true of drug-addicted offenders who enter deferred prosecution programs?

Accepted Answer

Drug-addicted offenders who enter deferred prosecution programs are diverted into the drug court system before being convicted. This means they are given the opportunity to complete a treatment program and avoid a criminal conviction if they successfully complete the program. They usually plead guilty to the charges, but the plea is held in abeyance and may be withdrawn if they complete the treatment program. The purpose of these programs is to help offenders overcome their addiction and reduce the likelihood of future criminal behavior.

Question 10

Which of the following is a key component of drug courts?

Accepted Answer

Ongoing schedules of judicial status hearings are a key component of drug courts. These hearings allow judges to monitor participants' progress, offer incentives for success, and impose consequences for noncompliance. Daily health checkups by physicians and monthly drug testing may be part of the program, but they are not the defining feature of drug courts. Rare but strict monitoring and evaluation measures are not necessarily a key component, as drug courts typically involve frequent and ongoing monitoring.

Question 11

_____ programs require participants to plead guilty to the charges against them and have their sentences deferred or suspended while they are in the program.

Accepted Answer

Postplea programs require participants to plead guilty to the charges against them before they can have their sentences deferred or suspended while participating in the program.

Question 12

Intensive supervision probation (ISP) involves:

Accepted Answer

Intensive supervision probation (ISP) involves all of the choices listed, including strict enforcement of conditions, random drug and alcohol testing, and frequent contact between an offender and his/her probation officer. ISP is designed to provide closer supervision of offenders who are deemed at a higher risk of reoffending, and it can include a variety of other requirements such as electronic monitoring, curfews, and participation in treatment programs.

Question 13

Which of the following is the most inexpensive correctional option?

Accepted Answer

Community service is typically the most inexpensive correctional option as it involves assigning offenders to perform unpaid work in the community, often as an alternative to incarceration. Boot camps, incarceration, and intensive parole supervision all require greater resources and funding.

Question 14

An intermediate sanction that involves regular payments to crime victims or to the courts is called a:

Accepted Answer

A sentence of restitution involves the offender making regular payments to the victim(s) or to the court as a form of compensation for the harm caused by their offense. Deposition refers to a pre-trial legal proceeding, petition is a written request typically submitted to a court or government agency, and ratification refers to the process of officially approving or confirming a legal agreement or treaty.

Question 15

The primary purpose of intensive supervision probation (ISP) is to:

Accepted Answer

The primary purpose of intensive supervision probation is to deter an offender from breaking the law or violating the conditions of release. ISP involves close monitoring and frequent contact with a probation officer to ensure compliance with the terms of probation, and has been shown to reduce recidivism rates among offenders. Managing overcrowded jails and prisons, caring for destabilized families, and increasing caseloads are not primary goals of ISP.

Question 16

New punishment options developed to fill the gap between traditional probation and traditional jail or prison sentences and to better match the severity of punishment to the seriousness of the crime are called:

Accepted Answer

Intermediate sanctions refer to a range of punishments that fall between traditional probation and traditional jail or prison sentences. These options are designed to provide a more appropriate punishment for offenders and better match the severity of punishment to the seriousness of the crime. Examples of intermediate sanctions include house arrest, community service, electronic monitoring, intensive supervision probation, and drug treatment programs.

Question 17

Community service as a criminal sanction began in the United States in 1966 in:

Accepted Answer

California was the first state to implement community service as a criminal sanction in 1966.

Question 18

The control of offenders in a community under strict conditions, by means of frequent reporting to a probation officer whose caseload is generally limited to 30 offenders is called a(n):

Accepted Answer

The description given fits the definition of intensive supervision probation, which involves close monitoring and frequent reporting to a probation officer with a smaller caseload than traditional probation. Option A (informal probation) and B (unsupervised probation) do not involve regular reporting to a probation officer, while option D (court probation) is not a specific type of probation but rather refers to probation ordered by a court.

Question 19

Identify a correct statement about intermediate sanctions.

Accepted Answer

Intermediate sanctions are designed to promote rehabilitation of offenders in the community, rather than punishing them through imprisonment. They provide structured programs and support services to offenders to help them change their behaviors and reintegrate into society while still holding them accountable for their offenses.

Question 20

A sentence to serve a specified number of hours working in unpaid positions with nonprofit or tax-supported agencies is called:

Accepted Answer

The sentence described in the question is commonly known as community service.

Quiz 5: Intermediate Sanctions: Between Probation and Incarceration