Question 1

From the 1940s through the 1960s, leaders of probation and other correctional branches throughout the United States embraced a medical model, focusing primarily on the treatment of the offender.

Accepted Answer

During this period, the correctional system in the United States widely adopted the medical model, which emphasized diagnosing and treating the underlying causes of criminal behavior, akin to treating a disease, with the goal of rehabilitating offenders.

Question 2

When both the requirements of supervision and the surveillance of offenders increase, more violations are detected
and more probationers face revocation of probation.

Accepted Answer

When supervision and surveillance of offenders are increased, authorities are more likely to detect violations, leading to a higher number of probation revocations.

Question 3

Today in the United States, nongovernment agencies can also be used to administer community corrections programs.

Accepted Answer

Nongovernment agencies, such as nonprofit organizations and private companies, can be contracted to administer community corrections programs, including probation, parole, and other alternative sentencing programs, to support rehabilitation and reintegration efforts.

Question 4

Compared to other Western democracies, the United States makes little use of fines as the sole punishment for crimes more serious than motor vehicle violations.

Accepted Answer

In the United States, the criminal justice system often relies on incarceration rather than fines for more serious crimes, unlike many European countries where fines are more commonly used as the primary punishment for a wider range of offenses.

Question 5

A drug court is an example of a specialized court.

Accepted Answer

A drug court is a specialized court system where cases involving non-violent drug offenders are adjudicated, with an emphasis on rehabilitation through treatment and supervision rather than traditional incarceration.

Question 6

__________, a Boston boot-maker, was the first recorded probation officer in the United States, dating back to 1841.

Accepted Answer

John Augustus, a Boston boot-maker, is recognized as the first probation officer in the United States, having begun his efforts to reform offenders in 1841.

Question 7

According to recent criminological studies, prison has been quite successful at changing people for the better.

Accepted Answer

Most criminological studies suggest that prison often fails to rehabilitate individuals and can lead to higher rates of recidivism, indicating that it is not successful at changing people for the better.

Question 8

Under home confinement, offenders can carry out their sentence of incarceration only in their homes; no variations
are possible.

Accepted Answer

Home confinement can include exceptions for employment, education, religious services, medical appointments, and other court-approved activities, allowing offenders to leave their homes for these specific purposes.

Question 9

Probation is for nonserious crimes.

Accepted Answer

Probation can be used for both nonserious and serious crimes, depending on the jurisdiction, the nature of the offense, and the discretion of the court.

Question 10

There are currently three different types of electronic monitoring devices that are used throughout the United States: active, passive, and reactive.

Accepted Answer

There are primarily two types of electronic monitoring devices used in the United States: active and passive. Reactive is not a recognized category.

Question 11

Intermediate sanctions are used for offenders coming out of prison.

Accepted Answer

Intermediate sanctions are alternatives to prison or jail used before or after conviction, not specifically for offenders coming out of prison. They include probation, fines, community service, and house arrest, among others.

Question 12

The law enforcement role of probation emphasizes surveillance of the offender and close controls on behavior.

Accepted Answer

The law enforcement role of probation focuses on monitoring and supervising offenders to ensure compliance with the terms of their probation, emphasizing surveillance and strict behavioral controls.

Question 13

The goal of __________ is to minimize the probability that an offender will commit a new offense, especially by applying tight controls over the probationer's activities and maintaining careful surveillance.

Accepted Answer

Risk management in the context of criminal justice is focused on minimizing the likelihood of reoffending by closely monitoring and controlling the activities of offenders, particularly those on probation. This approach emphasizes surveillance and restrictions to prevent new offenses.

Question 14

The nation's first full-time probation officer and creator of the actual term probation was Alexander Maconochie.

Accepted Answer

John Augustus, a Boston bootmaker, is credited as the first true probation officer and is recognized for pioneering the concept of probation in the United States in the 1840s. Alexander Maconochie was a Scottish naval officer and penologist known for his reforms at the Norfolk Island penal colony and his role in developing the mark system, a precursor to parole, not probation.

Question 15

One common problem with intermediate sanctions programs is that many in the field believe these programs lead to increasing the number of offenders who are unnecessarily controlled by the government.

Accepted Answer

Intermediate sanctions, such as probation, house arrest, or electronic monitoring, can lead to "net widening," a phenomenon where more individuals are placed under some form of government surveillance or control than would have been the case if these options were not available, thus increasing the number of offenders under government oversight.

Question 16

The new correctional professional is less accountable for decision making.

Accepted Answer

The new correctional professional is more accountable for decision-making due to increased emphasis on rehabilitation, individualized treatment, and the use of evidence-based practices, which require careful assessment and decision-making skills.

Question 17

Under the continuum of sanctions, offenders are moved based on their degree of response to correctional programs.

Accepted Answer

The continuum of sanctions is a concept in the criminal justice system that allows for the adjustment of an offender's level of supervision or type of punishment based on their response to correctional programs, ensuring that the sanction matches the offender's behavior and rehabilitation progress.

Question 18

It costs U.S. taxpayers almost twice as much to have a person placed on probation than to incarcerate them in a prison or jail cell.

Accepted Answer

It costs significantly less for a person to be on probation than to incarcerate them. Incarceration involves expenses related to housing, feeding, and supervising inmates, which are much higher than the costs associated with monitoring someone on probation.

Question 19

The nation's first probation agencies were units of the judicial branches of city and county governments and were primarily found in the southern United States.

Accepted Answer

The nation's first probation agencies were actually units of the judicial branches of city and county governments, but they were primarily found in the northern United States, starting with the Boston Police Court in 1841.

Question 20

When looking at the use of intermediate sanctions, the only factor considered is the crime the offender committed.

Accepted Answer

Intermediate sanctions consider various factors including the crime committed, the offender's criminal history, risk to the community, and rehabilitative needs, among others, to determine the most appropriate sanction.

Quiz 4: Community Corrections Probation and Intermediate Sanctions