Question 1

The principles of restorative justice will rarely, if ever, be applicable to _____.

Accepted Answer

Restorative justice focuses on repairing harm and reconciling relationships, which can be challenging in violent crimes due to the severity of harm and trauma involved.

Question 2

In criminal justice, which of the following philosophical reasons for sentencing relies on the principle of just deserts?

Accepted Answer

Retribution is based on the principle of just deserts, which means that criminals deserve to be punished and the punishment should be proportionate to the crime.

Question 3

Sam, a heroin addict, was arrested for drug trafficking. During the court hearing, Sam stated that he resorted to drug trafficking to feed his heroin addiction. Assuming that the prosecutors and the jury subscribe to the rehabilitation model of sentencing, which of the following sentences is Sam likely to receive?

Accepted Answer

The rehabilitation model of sentencing focuses on rehabilitating the offender rather than solely punishing them. Since Sam's criminal behavior is linked to his heroin addiction, a sentence that includes jail time along with mandatory sessions for sobriety aims to address the root cause of his criminal actions by providing him with the necessary treatment and support to overcome his addiction.

Question 4

Which of the following is a characteristic of determinate sentencing?

Accepted Answer

Determinate sentencing means that the length of the sentence is set by law and is not subject to review by a judge or parole board, thus it cannot be reduced by a judge.

Question 5

Bill is arrested and convicted in a case of drug trafficking. He is awarded an indeterminate sentence of three to six years in prison. According to indeterminate sentencing policies, Bill be will be eligible for parole when he:

Accepted Answer

Indeterminate sentencing allows for parole eligibility once the minimum sentence has been completed, in this case, three years.

Question 6

Which of the following is true of incapacitation?

Accepted Answer

Incapacitation aims to protect society by removing criminals from the general population, but this protection lasts only as long as the criminal is detained or incapacitated.

Question 7

Five years ago, Adam was pulled over by a police officer for driving under the influence of alcohol and had his driver's license suspended for six months. Following this incident, Adam refrains from driving while intoxicated. Which of the following philosophical justifications of sentencing does this scenario illustrate?

Accepted Answer

The scenario illustrates specific deterrence, as Adam's punishment (license suspension) directly influenced his behavior, deterring him from committing the same offense again.

Question 8

Which of the following statements is most accurate about truth-in-sentencing laws?

Accepted Answer

Truth-in-sentencing laws require offenders to serve a substantial portion of their sentence and limit the possibility of early release, such as time off for good behavior. These laws are designed to make sentencing more transparent and ensure that the punishment more closely aligns with the sentence given at trial.

Question 9

In _____, the period of incarceration is fixed by a sentencing authority and cannot be reduced by judges or other corrections officials.

Accepted Answer

Determinate sentencing involves a fixed period of incarceration set by the sentencing authority, which cannot be altered by judges or corrections officials after it has been imposed.

Question 10

The goal of deterrence is to:

Accepted Answer

The goal of deterrence is to prevent future crimes by discouraging offenders from committing illegal acts due to the fear of punishment.

Question 11

Which of the following is regarded by many as the most humane goal of punishment?

Accepted Answer

Rehabilitation is considered the most humane goal of punishment as it focuses on helping offenders to change their behavior and reintegrate into society, rather than simply punishing them.

Question 12

_____ assumes that a person commits a crime only after a rational decision-making process.

Accepted Answer

General deterrence theory posits that people will decide whether or not to commit a crime based on a rational calculation of the potential risks (punishments) versus the rewards. It assumes that the fear of punishment can deter individuals from engaging in criminal behavior.

Question 13

Which of the following is a faulty assumption of general deterrence?

Accepted Answer

General deterrence is based on the assumption that potential criminals are rational actors who weigh the costs and benefits before committing a crime. The faulty assumption here is that all individuals engage in a rational decision-making process before committing a crime (D), ignoring factors like impulse, mental illness, or social pressures that can also lead to criminal behavior.

Question 14

According to criminologist Isaac Ehrlich of the University at Buffalo, a 1 percent increase in sentence length will:

Accepted Answer

Isaac Ehrlich's research suggests that increasing the length of sentences can act as a deterrent, thereby decreasing the crime rate. This is based on the idea that harsher penalties make the cost of committing a crime higher, potentially leading to a reduction in crime rates.

Question 15

In criminal justice, which of the following philosophical reasons for sentencing is based on the Old Testament's "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" tenet?

Accepted Answer

Retribution is the philosophy of sentencing that aligns with the "an eye for an eye" principle, focusing on punishment that is deserved or fitting for the crime committed.

Question 16

In the context of indeterminate sentencing policies, identify the administrative body that determines at what point an offender is to be released.

Accepted Answer

A parole board is responsible for determining when an offender can be released under indeterminate sentencing policies. This board evaluates the offender's behavior, rehabilitation progress, and other factors to decide on their eligibility for parole.

Question 17

Which of the following is a true statement about the rehabilitative model of criminal punishment?

Accepted Answer

The rehabilitative model of criminal punishment focuses on treating and rehabilitating offenders so that they can be reintegrated into society as law-abiding citizens. This model suggests that criminal behavior can be corrected through various forms of treatment.

Question 18

Which of the following is true of restorative justice?

Accepted Answer

Restorative justice focuses on the offender taking responsibility for their actions and making amends to those harmed by their crime, often through apologies and restitution, rather than solely on punishment or rehabilitation within a correctional framework.

Question 19

Which of the following is a limitation of incapacitation as a theory of punishment?

Accepted Answer

Incapacitation focuses on removing offenders from society to prevent further crimes, but it does not consider the proportionality of the punishment to the crime committed.

Question 20

Which of the following is a peacemaking approach to criminal justice that is used in American jurisdictions?

Accepted Answer

Restorative justice is a peacemaking approach that focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community at large. It is used in various American jurisdictions as an alternative to traditional punitive measures.

Quiz 9: Punishment and Sentencing