Question 1

Who uses the PSI report in carrying out their tasks?

Accepted Answer

All of these are correct. Judges, defense attorneys, and prosecution attorneys all use the PSI report in carrying out their tasks. Judges use the report to make informed sentencing decisions, while defense and prosecution attorneys use the report to argue for more favorable sentencing outcomes for their clients.

Question 2

Conditions that are imposed on all individuals under community supervision in a given jurisdiction, regardless of the nature of the offense committed, are referred to as _________________ conditions.

Accepted Answer

Standard conditions are imposed on all individuals under community supervision, regardless of the nature of their offense. These conditions may include reporting regularly to a probation officer, refraining from using drugs or alcohol, submitting to drug testing, and not committing any new criminal offenses. Special conditions, on the other hand, are tailored to the individual offender and may address specific issues related to their offense, such as attending counseling or completing community service. Treatment conditions may also be imposed on offenders who require substance abuse or mental health treatment as a condition of their supervision. Penal conditions are not a common term in the context of community supervision.

Question 3

Conditions that are additional stipulations tailored to fit the problems and needs of the individual offender and ordered by the court are referred to as _____________ conditions.

Accepted Answer

Special conditions are specifically tailored to address the issues and circumstances of the individual offender, while standard conditions apply to all offenders. Treatment conditions prioritize rehabilitation and addressing underlying issues such as substance abuse or mental health problems, while penal conditions involve punishment and restrictions on behavior. Therefore, the best choice is A) special.

Question 4

_____ is a form of justice whereby each defendant's case is considered by a judge, parole board, or decision-making authority according to its harms, subjectivities, wrongs, and contexts.

Accepted Answer

The answer of _____ is a form of justice whereby...

Question 5

Alternative programming to traditional criminal justice sentencing that provides first-time offenders with a chance to have their charges dismissed if they successfully complete a treatment program is known as _____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Alternative programming to traditional criminal justice sentencing...

Question 6

_____ refers to an opportunity for a defendant and/or his or her attorney to review a draft of the presentence report.

Accepted Answer

The term that refers to an opportunity for a defendant and/or his or her attorney to review a draft of the presentence report is "disclosure." The presentence report is a document prepared by the probation department for the sentencing judge that outlines the defendant's background, criminal history, and other factors relevant to sentencing. The defendant and his or her attorney have the right to review and make objections to the report before sentencing. This disclosure process helps to ensure that the sentencing decision is fair and based on accurate information.

Question 7

Occasionally, a court will order a report to be written when a court has proceeded directly to the sentencing phase without benefit of a PSI, usually after the court has accepted a plea bargain. This report is referred to as a

Accepted Answer

A post-sentence report is prepared when the court moves directly to sentencing, often after a plea bargain, without a Pre-Sentence Investigation (PSI) report. This report provides the court with background information on the defendant to assist in determining an appropriate sentence.

Question 8

If a defendant with an ROR fails to attend the next hearing, there is no bond amount to pay, but a(n) ___________ is still issued for the defendant.

Accepted Answer

The answer of If a defendant with an ROR fails...

Question 9

The type of presentence investigation report that focuses on the treatment needs of the offender in an effort to understand the causes of an offender's antisocial behavior and to evaluate his or her potential for change is a(n) ____________________ report.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The type of presentence investigation report that...

Question 10

A(n) _____ is an individual who agrees to become responsible for the debt of a defendant if he or she fails to appear at his or her next court appearance.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A(n) _____ is an individual who agrees...

Question 11

A situation in which a defendant does not attend a scheduled court hearing is called a(n) __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A situation in which a defendant does...

Question 12

The major source of information used by the courts in determining whether or not to grant probation or impose some other sentence has been and remains the

Accepted Answer

The presentence investigation report (PSI) is the major source of information that courts use to determine whether to grant probation or impose another sentence. The PSI report contains information on the offender's personal and criminal history, employment status, and family and community life, among other relevant factors. This report is created by a probation or parole officer and is designed to help judges make an informed decision about an appropriate sentence. The other options listed, post-sentence investigations, classification summaries, and preparole investigations, are all important in their own right but are not as critical to the sentencing decision as the PSI report.

Question 13

The first pretrial release program in the United States was the ____________________, which was initiated in 1960 to assist judges in identifying defendants who could be released on their own recognizance (ROR) before their next scheduled court date.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The first pretrial release program in the...

Question 14

In both the state and federal systems, pretrial services recommend the _________________ available to the court, taking into consideration the safety of the community and the defendant's likelihood of reappearance in court.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In both the state and federal systems,...

Question 15

Which of the following is a special condition of community sanctions?

Accepted Answer

Obtaining a GED is a special condition that may be imposed as part of community sanctions, while the other options are standard conditions.

Question 16

Reports that focus primarily on the crime, the offender's culpability, and the offender's prior criminal history are

Accepted Answer

Offense-based reports primarily focus on the facts and circumstances of the crime committed, including details on the perpetrator's actions and the harm caused to victims or society. These reports tend to be used in the early stages of criminal justice processing, such as police investigations and court proceedings. In contrast, offender-based reports may be more comprehensive and include information about the offender's personal characteristics, background, and risks and needs, as well as an assessment of their likelihood of reoffending. Post-sentence investigations may follow a conviction or sentencing and can provide important information for probation or parole officers. Treatment evaluation reports assess an offender's progress in a specific program or intervention.

Question 17

A(n) _____________ allows defendants to remain at liberty in the community until their next court date without paying the court a deposit..

Accepted Answer

The answer of A(n) _____________ allows defendants to remain at...

Question 18

The contents of the presentence investigation and report vary according to

Accepted Answer

The contents of the presentence investigation and report vary according to whether it is an offender-based or offense-based PSI. The socioeconomic status, race, and gender of the offender are not relevant factors in determining the contents of the report. The presence of drugs or alcohol may be considered in the report, but it is not the determining factor. Similarly, the violence level of the crime may be a factor, but it is not the only relevant factor in determining the content of the report.

Question 19

Courts have held that a defendant does not have a(n) _______ Amendment right to have an attorney present during the initial probation interview.

Accepted Answer

The Sixth Amendment provides the right to counsel in criminal proceedings, but the initial probation interview is not considered a criminal proceeding. Therefore, defendants do not have a Sixth Amendment right to have an attorney present during the initial probation interview.

Question 20

_____ is a defendant's release from jail while awaiting his or her next court appearance.

Accepted Answer

The answer of _____ is a defendant's release from jail...

Quiz 4: Pretrial Supervision, Sentencing, and the Presentence Investigation Report