Question 1

Use of jail and prison facilities, which are most expensive option, should not be reserved for only the most dangerous offenders.

Accepted Answer

Jail and prison facilities are indeed expensive, but the statement that they should be reserved only for the most dangerous offenders oversimplifies the complex considerations involved in sentencing and corrections, including the need to address non-violent crimes and rehabilitate offenders.

Question 2

Community corrections are sanctions that may be instituted after a defendant serves time in prison.

Accepted Answer

Community corrections are alternatives to incarceration, allowing offenders to live in their communities under supervision and with certain conditions, rather than serving time in prison.

Question 3

Specific deterrence attempts to deter the general public from committing specific types of crime.

Accepted Answer

Specific deterrence is aimed at deterring the individual offender from committing the same type of crime again, not the general public. General deterrence aims to deter the general public from committing crime by threatening punishment for potential offenders.

Question 4

"Redeemability" refers to convincing the public that offenders can change their ways.

Accepted Answer

Redeemability refers to the belief that offenders can be rehabilitated and change their behavior for the better. It is often used in discussions about criminal justice and whether punishment should focus on rehabilitation or retribution.

Question 5

Indeterminate sentencing is philosophy that focuses on consistency for a crime committed, specifying guidelines for sentencing.

Accepted Answer

Indeterminate sentencing is a philosophy that focuses on rehabilitating the offender, allowing for a range of years to be served based on the individual's behavior and rehabilitation progress, rather than specifying fixed guidelines for sentencing.

Question 6

All U.S. states have adopted some form of mandatory minimum sentencing laws for certain types of offenses, requiring a minimum period of time that must be served before release can be considered.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. All U.S. states have adopted mandatory minimum sentencing laws for certain types of offenses, which require a minimum period of time that must be served before release can be considered. However, the specifics of these laws vary by state and by offense.

Question 7

Due to the fiscal crisis of 2008, there is growing consensus among state legislators and correctional administrators that jail and prison facilities should only be used for the most serious offenders.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Many states have implemented reforms to reduce the number of nonviolent offenders in prison and prioritize the use of incarceration for those who pose the greatest public safety risk. This is often seen as a cost-saving measure in response to the fiscal constraints brought on by the 2008 financial crisis.

Question 8

According to the text, the most common form of community supervision is probation.

Accepted Answer

The text states that probation is the most common form of community supervision.

Question 9

Community corrections provide many options for individuals who have not committed a crime but do not pose a serious threat to community safety.

Accepted Answer

Community corrections are typically used for individuals who have been convicted of a crime but do not require incarceration in a prison. It is not typically used for individuals who have not committed a crime.

Question 10

"Net widening" results in a cost increase instead of a cost savings.

Accepted Answer

Net widening occurs when a policy or program that was designed to reduce costs or target certain individuals ends up expanding to include more individuals than originally intended. This can result in an increase in costs instead of the intended savings.

Question 11

Robert Martinson, a social scientist tasked with examining prison programming in the United States during the 1960s, determined that correctional rehabilitation programs were effective at reducing recidivism.

Accepted Answer

Robert Martinson actually concluded that "nothing works" when it comes to reducing recidivism through rehabilitation programs in his influential 1974 report.

Question 12

Indeterminate sentencing and determinate sentencing are the two main sentencing philosophies.

Accepted Answer

Indeterminate sentencing allows for a range of possible sentences and allows for more discretion on the part of the judge in determining an appropriate sentence, while determinate sentencing mandates a specific sentence for a particular offense.

Question 13

Nearly 3% of the total adult population in the United States is currently under some form of correctional supervision.

Accepted Answer

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, as of 2019, approximately 2.2% of the adult population in the United States was either incarcerated or under some form of community supervision.

Question 14

Parole is used for offenders who have not yet been convicted of a felony offense.

Accepted Answer

Parole is typically used for offenders who have already been convicted of a felony offense and have served a portion of their sentence in prison.

Question 15

Pre-adjudication is the state in which a defendant has not yet pled guilty or been found guilty by a judge or jury.

Accepted Answer

Pre-adjudication refers to the period prior to a defendant being found guilty through a guilty plea or a court ruling. During this stage, the accused is innocent under the law until proven guilty.

Question 16

Specific deterrence, rehabilitation, and restorative justice are important components in changing offenders' attitudes and behaviors, leading to the prevention of criminal behavior.

Accepted Answer

Specific deterrence aims to prevent an individual offender from committing future crimes by showing them the negative consequences of their actions. Rehabilitation focuses on addressing the underlying issues that led to the criminal behavior and providing the offender with skills and resources to avoid future criminal activity. Restorative justice involves repairing harm caused by the offense through accountability and community involvement. All of these approaches can contribute to preventing criminal behavior.

Question 17

In contrast to mainstream criminal justice that is focused on punishment of the offender, restorative justice is centered on the victim throughout the process and emphasizes the offender's responsibility to repair the injustice and wrong caused to the victim.

Accepted Answer

Restorative justice prioritizes the needs and rights of the victim, and seeks to repair the harm caused by the offender rather than simply punishing them.

Question 18

According to a recent national public opinion poll, the most well-known forms of community-based corrections in the United States are probation, house arrest, and electronic monitoring.

Accepted Answer

This statement is supported by the information presented in the poll.

Question 19

Recidivism can be measured through rates of rearrest, reconviction, or reincarceration.

Accepted Answer

Recidivism can be measured through rates of rearrest, reconviction, or reincarceration, making the statement true.

Question 20

The pretrial and bail decision is one of the three major decision points in the corrections system.

Accepted Answer

The pretrial and bail decision is one of the three major decision points in the corrections system, along with sentencing and release decisions.

Quiz 1: An Overview of Community Corrections: Goals and Evidence-Based Practices