Question 1

In which type of case is a death sentence possible in California?

Accepted Answer

A death sentence is only possible in California for cases classified as felonies.

Question 2

Approximately how much does it cost to imprison one inmate per year in California?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Approximately how much does it cost to...

Question 3

Judges are immune from political and campaign pressures.

Accepted Answer

Judges, especially those in jurisdictions where they are elected or where their retention is subject to a vote, can face political and campaign pressures. Their decisions can be influenced by the need to be re-elected or to maintain a favorable public image.

Question 4

Who sits on grand juries?

Accepted Answer

Grand juries are made up of regular citizens who are selected from a pool of eligible individuals. They are not required to have any legal background and are chosen through a process similar to that used when selecting trial juries.

Question 5

The state Senate approves or confirms all judicial appointments made by the governor.

Accepted Answer

The process for approving or confirming judicial appointments varies by state. In some states, the governor's judicial appointments are subject to confirmation by the state Senate, while in others, a separate commission or the state House may be involved, or no confirmation may be required at all.

Question 6

A special court that combines case processing with mandatory help programs such as drug and alcohol treatment programs, and monitoring of individuals, is known as a:

Accepted Answer

A collaborative court combines the traditional court process with treatment programs and monitoring options, typically for individuals with substance abuse issues or mental health concerns. The programs are designed to address the root causes of their criminal behavior and reduce recidivism. This type of court is also referred to as a problem-solving court.

Question 7

Judges and justices in California are broadly representative of California, roughly mirroring the state's ethnic diversity.

Accepted Answer

While efforts have been made to increase diversity within the judiciary, judges and justices in California do not yet fully mirror the state's ethnic diversity. The judiciary is still less diverse than the general population of California.

Question 8

Unlike legislative elections, special interests may not campaign for or against a judge.

Accepted Answer

Special interests may campaign for or against a judge in a judicial retention or recall election, which are different from legislative elections.

Question 9

The state supreme court is required to review all the cases that are appealed to it.

Accepted Answer

The state supreme court typically has discretionary power to choose which cases it will review, often focusing on cases of significant legal precedent or public interest, rather than being required to review all appealed cases.

Question 10

At the appellate level, grand juries make determinations about whether a case should be dismissed on technical grounds.

Accepted Answer

At the appellate level, grand juries do not make determinations about whether a case should be dismissed on technical grounds. The appellate level deals with reviewing decisions made by lower courts and determining whether they followed proper legal procedures and applied the law correctly. Dismissals on technical grounds are typically decided at the trial court level.

Question 11

About how much money does California spend on state prisons (from all sources)?

Accepted Answer

According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's 2020-2021 Budget Change Proposal, the total proposed budget for state prisons is approximately $13 billion. This includes funds from the General Fund, various special funds, and federal funds.

Question 12

The state constitution guarantees citizens the right to a jury trial, but not a civil trial.

Accepted Answer

The right to a jury trial is typically guaranteed for both criminal and civil cases by state constitutions, reflecting the broader rights outlined in the U.S. Constitution.

Question 13

State courts cannot rule on the constitutionality of initiatives that have been approved by voters.

Accepted Answer

State courts can rule on the constitutionality of initiatives that have been approved by voters.

Question 14

What do Californians generally believe about the corrections system?

Accepted Answer

Californians generally believe that too much money is being spent on prisons and that funding should be reduced. This can be seen in the state's recent efforts to reduce the prison population and shift resources towards community-based alternatives to incarceration.

Question 15

Two recent propositions (Props 36 and 47)may help reduce the state's prison population by:

Accepted Answer

Imposing a life sentence on third-strike violent offenders only and reclassifying some drug crimes as misdemeanors will help in reducing the state's prison population. This will reduce the number of people serving long sentences for non-violent crimes and also prevent overcrowding in prisons.

Question 16

A traffic violation is considered:

Accepted Answer

A traffic violation is typically considered an infraction, meaning it's a minor offense that doesn't result in jail time. However, there are certain circumstances where a traffic violation could be considered a misdemeanor or a felony (such as cases involving reckless driving or DUI), but these are exceptions rather than the rule.

Question 17

The federal government fully reimburses California for housing illegal immigrant felons in its state prisons.

Accepted Answer

The federal government does not fully reimburse California for housing illegal immigrant felons in its state prisons. California only receives partial reimbursement through the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP).

Question 18

Three-strikes sentencing in California is now applied to:

Accepted Answer

Three-strikes sentencing in California is applied to violent and serious offenses only. This means that if a person is convicted of a third violent or serious offense, they can be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. It does not apply to all types of crime or drug crimes only, and it is not targeted towards undocumented immigrants specifically.

Question 19

The current policy of sending convicted non-violent, non-sexual state prisoners to be housed in county jails is:

Accepted Answer

The policy being described is realignment. Realignment is a policy that shifts the responsibility of housing certain convicted individuals from state prisons to county jails in order to reduce overcrowding in state prisons. It primarily targets non-violent, non-sexual offenders.

Question 20

Unlike other state institutions, California's system of justice remains well-funded and has not had to weather the same kinds of budget cuts as other programs during recent lean budget years.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. California's system of justice has also faced budget cuts in recent years. While it may have remained relatively well-funded compared to other state institutions, it has not been immune to budget constraints.

Quiz 6: The Court System