Question 1

Juries are the only way a defendant can be declared guilty in which type of cases?

Accepted Answer

Juries are not exclusively required for all types of cases, but in capital (murder) cases, where the defendant faces the possibility of the death penalty, a jury trial is a constitutional right in the United States. This ensures a fair and impartial verdict, given the severity of the potential sentence.

Question 2

Approximately what percent of African American men comprise the male prison population?

Accepted Answer

African American men comprise about 40 percent of the male prison population in the United States, despite making up a significantly smaller percentage of the overall male population. This reflects systemic issues and disparities in the criminal justice system.

Question 3

What are the common rationales for the widespread adoption of surveillance systems in large- and mid-sized cities?

Accepted Answer

The primary rationale for the adoption of surveillance systems in cities is to reduce crime rates while also potentially reducing the need for a larger number of uniformed officers on the streets. This approach is seen as a cost-effective way to enhance public safety and security.

Question 4

States and localities exercise jurisdiction over more than __________ of all crime that occurs in the United States.

Accepted Answer

States and localities exercise jurisdiction over more than 95 percent of all crime that occurs in the United States, as the vast majority of criminal justice matters are handled at the state and local level rather than the federal level.

Question 5

Prescribing a minor penalty for involvement in illegal activities as an alternative to prison sentences or major penalties, is called

Accepted Answer

Decriminalization refers to reducing or eliminating criminal penalties for certain acts, typically minor offenses, without legalizing the activity. It is often used as an alternative to harsher penalties like prison sentences.

Question 6

Traditionally, courts have assumed

Accepted Answer

Traditionally, courts have taken a hands-off approach to offenders once they were behind prison walls, leaving the management and rehabilitation processes to the correctional facilities without frequent court intervention or oversight.

Question 7

Many approaches to deal with the problem of recidivism have been tried, including counseling, vocational training and basic education. Which of the following statements is most accurate regarding these approaches?

Accepted Answer

None of these approaches have consistently been able to overcome the criminalizing environment of state prisons, indicating the complexity and challenge of addressing recidivism within the current prison system.

Question 8

An example of criminal activity that in many states would not qualify as victimless crime is

Accepted Answer

Bank robbery is considered a crime that has direct victims, such as the bank employees and customers who are threatened or harmed during the robbery, as well as the financial loss to the bank.

Question 9

The U.S. Supreme Court said that police are required to inform anyone suspected of a crime of the right to remain silent because of which of the following decisions?

Accepted Answer

The Miranda v. Arizona (1966) decision established the requirement for police to inform suspects of their rights, including the right to remain silent, before questioning them. This is known as the Miranda rights.

Question 10

In Mapp v. Ohio (1961), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court's decision in Mapp v. Ohio (1961) established the exclusionary rule at the federal level, which prohibits the use of evidence obtained through a violation of the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Question 11

Which of the following factors is not associated with higher police arrest rates and lower crime rates?

Accepted Answer

Salaries of police officers are not directly associated with higher police arrest rates and lower crime rates. Factors such as the attitude of police officers, the technology tools they use, and their tactical deployment are more directly related to effectiveness in reducing crime and making arrests. Higher salaries may contribute to better morale or recruitment but do not directly impact arrest rates or crime rates in the same way operational tactics and resources do.

Question 12

The legislatures play a major policy role in criminal justice by

Accepted Answer

Legislatures are responsible for selecting judges in many states, enacting criminal sentencing laws, and appropriating funds for courts and law enforcement, making all of these choices correct.

Question 13

The variables associated with higher arrest rates and perhaps lower crime rates are

Accepted Answer

Aggressive and active police work involves responsiveness to citizen calls, follow-up investigations, increased patrolling, and community policing, which have been associated with higher arrest rates and lower crime rates.

Question 14

The FBI's annual crime index is derived from

Accepted Answer

The FBI's annual crime index is primarily derived from the Uniform Crime Report (UCR), which includes data on both violent and property crimes reported by law enforcement agencies across the United States.

Question 15

Three classic goals of correctional policy are to

Accepted Answer

The three classic goals of correctional policy include punishment, rehabilitation, and the physical separation of dangerous criminals from society to protect the public.

Question 16

While the causes of crime are complex, in general, which of the following would be most likely to commit a crime and serve time by their mid-thirties?

Accepted Answer

C) Male, unemployed, high school dropout from a low income family background in an urban setting is statistically more likely to commit a crime and serve time by their mid-thirties due to factors such as unemployment, lower educational attainment, and socioeconomic status.

Question 17

The law enforcement function in most states is formally headed by

Accepted Answer

The State Attorney General is typically the chief law enforcement officer in most states, overseeing legal affairs and law enforcement activities.

Question 18

Victimization surveys are

Accepted Answer

Victimization surveys, such as the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) in the United States, are designed to capture information on crimes experienced by individuals and households, including those not reported to the police. This approach helps in understanding the true extent of crime beyond what is captured in official reports like the Uniform Crime Reports (UCR), making them a valuable tool for researchers and policymakers.

Question 19

With only 5 percent of the earth's population, one out of every _________ American adults is in prison or under adult court supervision.

Accepted Answer

One out of every 31 American adults is in prison or under adult court supervision, highlighting the high rate of incarceration and legal supervision in the United States compared to its population size.

Question 20

The contributory causes of white-collar crime are

Accepted Answer

The contributory causes of white-collar crime are not definitively known but are frequently related to factors such as greed, rather than economic deprivation, age, neighborhood, or genetic defects.

Quiz 16: Criminal Justice: Cops and Corrections