Question 1

There have been no signs of reversal of the imprisonment boom.

Accepted Answer

There have been signs of reversal in the imprisonment boom, with some countries, including the United States, showing a decrease in prison populations due to various reforms and changes in policy aimed at reducing incarceration rates.

Question 2

While crime rates are down, most criminologists feel that this is a statistical artifact rather than a genuine decline.

Accepted Answer

Most criminologists attribute the decline in crime rates to various factors such as improved policing strategies, economic conditions, and social changes, rather than dismissing it as merely a statistical artifact.

Question 3

Explaining the crime drop might involve broad changes in behavior that are beyond the reach of social science to explain.

Accepted Answer

The crime drop has been attributed to a wide range of factors, including changes in policing strategies, economic conditions, demographic shifts, and cultural attitudes towards violence. However, some experts believe that the decline in crime may be partly due to broader cultural changes that are difficult to measure or understand, such as shifts in social norms or values. Therefore, it may be impossible for social science to fully explain the crime drop.

Question 4

Explanations for the recent crime drop

Accepted Answer

The explanations for the recent crime drop are complex and difficult to assign to one factor, making it unlikely that there is one single factor that the majority of criminologists agree on. It is also too early to definitively attribute the drop to any specific policy changes or other factors.

Question 5

America's crime problem is primarily a drug problem.

Accepted Answer

While drug-related issues contribute to America's crime problem, it is not solely a drug problem. Crime in America stems from a complex interplay of factors including socioeconomic disparities, access to firearms, mental health issues, and systemic inequalities, among others.

Question 6

A comprehensive social ledger on imprisonment would take into account the combined effect of adverse impacts on the "collective efficacy" of neighborhoods.

Accepted Answer

Collective efficacy refers to the ability of communities to collaborate effectively and solve problems together. Imprisonment can adversely affect this by removing members of the community and disrupting social networks, making it harder to work together to address issues. A comprehensive social ledger would include this impact.

Question 7

The public health arena has few similarities with the field of crime control.

Accepted Answer

Both public health and crime control share common goals such as prevention, intervention, and the promotion of safety and well-being in communities. They often use similar strategies like data analysis, policy development, and community engagement to achieve these goals.

Question 8

Traditionally, crime policy has not demanded high quality research evidence of effectiveness for its implementation or continuation.

Accepted Answer

Crime policy has often relied on political ideology, public opinion, and anecdotal evidence rather than rigorous research evidence to guide its implementation and continuation. However, there is an increasing recognition of the importance of evidence-based practices in crime policy.

Question 9

Select the most accurate statement

Accepted Answer

The statement that contextual factors and criminal justice policies best explain the great crime drop is the most accurate as research has shown that both of these factors play a significant role in reducing crime rates. Option A is incorrect as contextual factors such as a changing proportion of young people in the population and economic downturn have been found to impact crime rates. Option B is incorrect as changes in corrections have not necessarily reduced crime rates and policy factors such as changes in policing have also been found to impact crime rates. Option D is incorrect as research has shown that distinguishing between contextual and policy factors that impact crime rates is important for understanding the mechanisms through which crime is reduced.

Question 10

While ineffective crime policies may be expensive, they cannot actually cause harm.

Accepted Answer

Ineffective crime policies can actually cause harm by perpetuating injustices in the criminal justice system, wasting resources, and failing to address the root causes of crime. This can ultimately lead to higher rates of crime and harm to individuals and communities.

Question 11

While drug decriminalization has traditionally been a liberal proposal, a surprising number of prominent conservatives endorse drug legalization.

Accepted Answer

Many prominent conservatives, including former Republican governors and senators, have voiced support for drug decriminalization and/or legalization in recent years, breaking from traditional party positions. Examples include former Republican Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and former Senator from Pennsylvania Rick Santorum.

Question 12

America has two crime problems: one problem affects the poor minority inner-city population while the other affects the poor rural white population.

Accepted Answer

The answer of America has two crime problems: one problem...

Question 13

According to findings of the Sentencing Project, the public believes the justice system is far more lenient than it really is.

Accepted Answer

The Sentencing Project has found that the public underestimates the severity of the justice system's punishment and views it as more lenient than it actually is.

Question 14

Regarding crime in America, select the most accurate statement

Accepted Answer

According to data from the FBI, both property and violent crime have been decreasing since the early 1990s and are now at their lowest levels since 1993. This trend has continued over the past decade, as reported in the Bureau of Justice Statistics' National Crime Victimization Survey. Therefore, option C is the most accurate statement.

Question 15

Evidence-based policy originated in

Accepted Answer

Evidence-based policy has its roots in the field of health care, where it originated as evidence-based medicine in the 1990s. The concept has since expanded to other policy areas, but its origins lie in health care.

Question 16

The following evidence indicates that the crime drop is genuine

Accepted Answer

Reliable and consistent data from both the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) and the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) indicates that the crime drop is real and not just a result of changes in reporting or measurement methods. It provides more credible evidence than just relying on one source of data.

Answer: B and C are incorrect 
 The fact that crime has dropped for two years in a row and is down in every city in the nation does not necessarily prove that crime drop is genuine. It could be a temporary fluctuation or caused by other factors such as changes in law enforcement strategies or economic conditions.

Answer: D is incorrect 
 While statistics themselves are objective, they are subject to interpretation and can be manipulated or distorted depending on the context and methodology used. Therefore, blindly trusting statistics without considering the underlying factors and limitations is not a reliable way to determine the authenticity of the crime drop.

Question 17

Both liberals and conservatives acknowledge the influence of the family on the likelihood that an individual will or will not commit crime.

Accepted Answer

Both liberals and conservatives recognize that the family plays a significant role in shaping an individual's behavior and thus their likelihood of committing crime.

Question 18

The increasing crime rate in the U.S.

Accepted Answer

The increasing crime rate in the U.S. began in the early 1960s, contributed to crime being a major issue in American politics, and has instilled fear that ripped our social fabric as people moved out of their communities, so all of the above are correct.

Question 19

One of the consequences of criminal justice practitioners' traditional reliance on good intentions rather than solid evidence in criminal justice policymaking has been

Accepted Answer

The continuation of expensive but ineffective policies such as DARE is a consequence of criminal justice practitioners' traditional reliance on good intentions rather than solid evidence in criminal justice policymaking. DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) has been found to be ineffective in preventing drug use among students, yet it is still being used in many schools.

Question 20

The war on crime raises expectations of a victory and an end to the problem rather than the goal of decreasing crime to a tolerable level.

Accepted Answer

The war on crime often creates the perception that the goal is a complete elimination of crime, rather than a reduction to a manageable level. This can lead to unrealistic expectations and disappointment when crime rates do not drop as much as expected.

Quiz 1: Crime and Policy: a Complex Problem