Question 1

Which of the following characteristics of an investigation could affect the findings of a research project?

Accepted Answer

All three factors - the investigator's attitude, questions, and presence - could potentially affect the findings of a research project. The investigator's attitude could influence how they interpret and report the data, their questions could have biases or lead the participant towards a particular response, and their presence could create a Hawthorne effect where participants change their behavior because they know they are being observed.

Question 2

The first four Index Offenses are referred to as __________.

Accepted Answer

The first four Index Offenses, according to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, are classified as violent crimes. These include murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.

Question 3

How many law enforcement agencies that report crime to the FBI use standardized definitions?

Accepted Answer

All law enforcement agencies that report crime to the FBI use standardized definitions to ensure consistency and comparability in crime statistics across different jurisdictions. This standardization is facilitated through the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program.

Question 4

In 1930,a voluntary national program for the collection of crime statistics was initiated by the __________.

Accepted Answer

Both the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation were involved in initiating the voluntary national program for collecting crime statistics in 1930.

Question 5

Data-based findings note that only __________ percent of delinquents are chronic and violent offenders.

Accepted Answer

According to data-based findings, only 7 to 10 percent of delinquents are chronic and violent offenders.

Question 6

Status laws were based on the state's generally accepted role as __________.

Accepted Answer

Parens patriae refers to the state's role as a parent or protector of individuals who are unable to protect their own interests, such as minors, the mentally ill, or the disabled. Status laws often dealt with issues such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance, which are matters that fall within the traditional scope of parens patriae.

Question 7

Why were the eight categories of crimes chosen as the basis for the Uniform Crime Report Index?

Accepted Answer

The eight categories of crimes were chosen based on their seriousness, frequency of occurrence, and likelihood of being reported to the police. This ensures that the Index provides an accurate representation of crime trends in the United States.

Question 8

There is growing support for the idea that the majority of status offenders __________.

Accepted Answer

The majority of status offenses, such as truancy and running away from home, are not serious enough to warrant arrest or detention. Instead, it is believed that these youth should be diverted to community-based services and support, such as counseling or group homes, to address the underlying issues causing their behavior. Incarceration can increase the likelihood of future delinquent behavior and should only be used as a last resort. Removing them from their parents' home is also not the best solution as it can disrupt family relationships and exacerbate the problem.

Question 9

Each year the FBI summarizes data on crime and delinquency into statistical tables and issues a __________.

Accepted Answer

The FBI summarizes data on crime and delinquency into statistical tables and publishes the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) annually. The UCR includes data on offenses known to law enforcement, arrests, and clearances.

Question 10

A measure has validity when __________.

Accepted Answer

Validity refers to the extent to which a measure truly measures what it is intended to measure. This means that the measure should accurately capture the construct being studied, and not measure something else entirely.

Question 11

With regard to the media's portrayal of juvenile delinquency,which of the following statements is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

The statement "most juvenile delinquents commit serious crimes" is not true. While some juvenile delinquents do commit serious offenses, such as murder or assault, the majority of juvenile arrests are for property crimes, vandalism, and status offenses like truancy or underage drinking.

Question 12

A measure has reliability when __________.

Accepted Answer

Reliability refers to the consistency or stability of a measure over time or across different contexts, and is determined by whether the measure produces the same results upon replication. Therefore, choice A is the best answer. Choice B, C, and D do not adequately capture the concept of reliability.

Question 13

The eight crime categories that were chosen as the basis for the Uniform Crime Report are referred to as __________.

Accepted Answer

The eight crime categories chosen for the Uniform Crime Report are called index offenses or Part I offenses. These include murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. The other answer choices are not accurate descriptions of the chosen crime categories.

Question 14

Which of the following collects and summarizes juvenile crime statistics on a national scale into an annual report?

Accepted Answer

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) collects crime statistics nationwide and includes juvenile crime statistics in its reports, such as the Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) and the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), part of the U.S. Department of Justice, also collects, reports, and analyzes juvenile crime data and supports local and state efforts to prevent delinquency and improve the juvenile justice system. Together, these organizations provide comprehensive data on juvenile crime at the national level.

Question 15

Each year,male juveniles are arrested,on average __________.

Accepted Answer

According to the given information, male juveniles are arrested two and three times more often than female offenders.

Question 16

If variables such as race,sex,and social class have been controlled,this means they are __________.

Accepted Answer

Controlling for variables means holding them constant and similar in order to isolate the effect of other variables. It does not mean they are not important or different, but rather that their effects have been accounted for in the analysis.

Question 17

Since the mid-1960s,through a series of landmark decisions from the U.S.Supreme Court,society has __________.

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Supreme Court has made several decisions since the mid-1960s that have increased the legal rights and protections for juveniles, making the legal system more sensitive to their specific needs and circumstances.

Question 18

In 1974,the National Advisory Commission on Criminal Justice and Goals identified juvenile delinquency as a critical,high priority,national concern.What did it suggest that the highest attention must be given to?

Accepted Answer

The National Advisory Commission on Criminal Justice and Goals identified juvenile delinquency as a critical, high priority, national concern and suggested that the highest attention must be given to preventing juvenile delinquency.

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT one of the first eight UCR categories?

Accepted Answer

The first eight UCR categories are murder, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. Therefore, none of the above is the correct answer.

Question 20

There is evidence that the gender difference in juvenile delinquency rates can be attributed to __________.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that parents tend to socialize boys and girls differently, with girls being taught to be more compliant and less aggressive than boys. This socialization, in turn, may contribute to the lower rates of delinquency among girls.

Quiz 2: Dimensions of Juvenile Delinquency