Question 1

The control of offenders in the community under strict conditions, by means of frequent reporting to a probation officer whose caseload is generally limited to 30 offenders, is called _____.

Accepted Answer

The description provided fits that of intensive supervision probation (ISP), where offenders are monitored under strict conditions within the community, requiring frequent reporting to a probation officer. This type of probation is often used for high-risk offenders who require increased supervision beyond standard probation. Mandatory minimum sentencing and truth-in-sentencing are not related to probation, but rather refer to laws that prescribe a minimum sentence or require offenders to serve a certain percentage of their sentence before being released. Remote-location monitoring is a type of electronic monitoring that allows for virtual tracking of offenders' whereabouts, but it is not the same as ISP.

Question 2

The number of days or months prison authorities deduct from a sentence for good behavior is called:

Accepted Answer

The term commonly used to describe the number of days or months deducted from a sentence for good behavior is "good time." Options A, B, and D are incorrect as they do not accurately reflect the correct term used in the context of sentence reduction for good behavior.

Question 3

Punishment as vengeance is also called revenge.

Accepted Answer

Punishment as vengeance seeks to get back at someone for a perceived wrongdoing, which is the essence of revenge. Therefore, the statement is true.

Question 4

Sentences that are required by law under certain circumstances are referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Mandatory sentences are required by law under certain circumstances, such as for certain crimes or repeat offenses. They require a specific minimum sentence to be imposed by the judge, with little to no discretion.

Question 5

When a judge delays a defendant's serving of a sentence after he or she has been convicted or found guilty in order to allow the defendant to perform a period of community supervision, it is referred to as a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

A suspended sentence is when a judge delays a defendant's serving of a sentence after they have been convicted or found guilty in order to allow the defendant to perform a period of community supervision. In contrast, a straight sentence is when a defendant is sentenced to a specific, fixed term of imprisonment or other punishment without delay, while a sentencing enhancement is an increase in the severity of a sentence due to aggravating circumstances. An intermediate sanction refers to a variety of punishments that lie between probation and imprisonment.

Question 6

Payments made by a criminal offender to his or her victim as compensation for the harm caused by the offense are called:

Accepted Answer

Restitution refers to payments made by a criminal offender to his or her victim as compensation for the harm caused by the offense. Bail refers to the temporary release of an accused person before trial, typically secured by a sum of money. Bonds also refer to financial securities used to guarantee the appearance of an accused person in court. Fines refer to monetary penalties imposed as punishment for a criminal offense.

Question 7

The imposition of sentences required by statute for those convicted of a particular crime or a particular crime with special circumstances is called:

Accepted Answer

The imposition of sentences required by statute for those convicted of a particular crime or a particular crime with special circumstances is known as mandatory minimum sentencing.

Question 8

A sentence that specifies a given amount of time to be served in custody and allows little or no variation from the time specified is called a(n):

Accepted Answer

A flat sentence specifies a given amount of time to be served in custody and allows little or no variation from the time specified.

Question 9

Statutes that impose mandatory prison sentences, generally a life sentence, on those convicted of an offense if they have been previously convicted of two prior serious criminal offenses are called _____.

Accepted Answer

Three-strikes laws typically require a mandatory prison sentence, often life imprisonment, for individuals who have been convicted of three serious criminal offenses. This is a form of sentencing enhancement that aims to deter repeat offenders and protect society from habitual criminals. Sentencing commissions are bodies that make recommendations for sentencing guidelines, while intermediate sanctions are alternative punishments to incarceration.

Question 10

Sentences that judges are expected to follow unless they document reasons for departing from the guidelines are known as _____.

Accepted Answer

Presumptive sentences are sentences that judges are expected to follow unless they document reasons for departing from the guidelines. Mandatory sentences are rigidly imposed for certain crimes without room for judicial discretion. Indeterminate sentences allow judges to specify a minimum and maximum length of imprisonment, with the possibility of parole after the minimum is served. Flat sentences refer to a specific length of time that must be served with no possibility of early release.

Question 11

The expression "an eye for an eye" refers to deterrence.

Accepted Answer

The expression "an eye for an eye" refers to the principle of retributive justice, where the punishment should fit the crime, rather than deterrence.

Question 12

A sentence in which a judge specifies a maximum length and a minimum length and an administrative agency determines the actual time of release is called a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

A judge who specifies a maximum and minimum range is giving an indeterminate sentence. The actual time of release is then determined by an administrative agency.

Question 13

Sentences served one after the other are called:

Accepted Answer

Consecutive sentences are sentences served one after the other, without any overlap or concurrent service of time. This is opposed to concurrent sentences, in which multiple sentences are served at the same time, or repeat/flat time, which refers to serving the same sentence repeatedly or continuously.

Question 14

Sentences that are served together are called:

Accepted Answer

Concurrent sentences are sentences that are served at the same time. This means if someone is convicted of multiple crimes, they can serve all the sentences simultaneously, rather than one after the other.

Question 15

A sentencing goal that involves retaliation against a criminal perpetrator is called rehabilitation.

Accepted Answer

Retaliation against a criminal perpetrator is not a goal of rehabilitation but rather a goal of punishment, specifically retribution. Rehabilitation aims to reform and restore the offender's behavior and provide them with skills and resources to successfully reintegrate into society.

Question 16

A sentence with a fixed term of incarceration that can be reduced by good time is called a(n):

Accepted Answer

A fixed term of incarceration that can be reduced by good time is a determinate sentence. This type of sentence specifies a definite period of imprisonment, and may allow for reductions in time served for good behavior or other reasons. This is different from an indeterminate sentence, which does not specify a fixed term of imprisonment and may allow for release based on rehabilitation or parole eligibility. A mandatory sentence refers to a minimum term of imprisonment required by law, regardless of other factors such as good behavior, while a presumptive sentence involves a range of potential sentences to be determined by a judge based on various factors such as the seriousness of the offense and the offender's criminal history.

Question 17

A sentence of exactly five years in prison is an example of a(n):

Accepted Answer

A flat sentence is a fixed term of incarceration that does not allow for parole or early release. Therefore, a sentence of exactly five years in prison is an example of a flat sentence.

Question 18

The _____ is a law that allows a person's criminal history to be considered at sentencing or makes it possible for a person convicted of a given offense and previously convicted of another specified offense to receive a more severe penalty than that for the current offense alone.

Accepted Answer

The description fits the definition of a habitual offender statute, which allows for harsher penalties for repeat offenders. The other options listed are not directly related to a person's criminal record impacting sentencing.

Question 19

Legislatively approved provisions that mandate longer prison terms for specific criminal offenses committed under certain circumstances are called _____.

Accepted Answer

Sentencing enhancements are legislatively approved provisions that mandate longer prison terms for specific criminal offenses committed under certain circumstances, such as using a firearm during the commission of a crime or committing a hate crime. Presumptive sentences refer to a range of sentences that are presumed to be appropriate based on the severity of the offense and any aggravating or mitigating circumstances. Judicial sentences are determined by a judge's discretion within legal parameters. Intermediate sanctions refer to alternatives to traditional incarceration, such as probation or community service.

Question 20

When a person is convicted of multiple offenses, a judge might impose a sentence of 10 years for one offense and 20 years for the other offense, so the offender would serve 30 years. This type of sentencing is called:

Accepted Answer

Consecutive sentencing involves imposing separate sentences for multiple offenses, and requiring the offender to serve them one after the other. This results in a longer overall sentence, as seen in the example given in the question. Just deserts sentencing refers to punishments that are proportional to the crime committed, concurrent sentencing involves serving multiple sentences at the same time, and real-time sentencing is not a recognized term in criminal justice.

Quiz 3: Sentencing: to Punish or to Reform