Question 1

The police role in society is shaped by three key concepts:

Accepted Answer

The police role in society is primarily shaped by order maintenance, the legitimate use of force, and the exercise of discretion. These concepts encompass the broad range of responsibilities and powers police have, from keeping the peace and enforcing laws to making judgment calls in various situations.

Question 2

Discretion is common in policing for a variety of reasons, including which of the following:

Accepted Answer

Discretion in policing is influenced by limited resources and agency priorities, citizen demands, and the need for officers to use professional judgment on a case-by-case basis, making all the provided options correct.

Question 3

Why is London significant to the American criminal justice system?

Accepted Answer

London is significant to the American criminal justice system because the English model heavily influenced the American system, and it was the location of the first modern, organized police department, known as the Metropolitan Police Service, founded in 1829.

Question 4

Peel strongly advocated for proactive policing, believing that Bobbies should:

Accepted Answer

Peel's principles of policing emphasized the importance of preventing crime as a primary function of the police force, rather than focusing on punishing criminals or reacting to crimes after they have occurred. This approach underlines the idea of proactive policing, where efforts are made to prevent crime from happening in the first place.

Question 5

Peel believed:

Accepted Answer

Sir Robert Peel, known as the father of modern policing, believed in principles that emphasized the importance of police-public interactions, the careful selection of officers, and the necessity for officers to be well trained. These principles are foundational to effective policing practices.

Question 6

Four historical eras helped shape the role of the police in the United States. These were:

Accepted Answer

The correct eras that shaped the role of the police in the United States are The Political Era, The Professional Era, The Community Problem-Solving Era, and The Homeland Security Era. These eras reflect the evolution of policing strategies and priorities in response to changing societal needs and challenges.

Question 7

In the Political Era, Americans were:

Accepted Answer

During the Political Era, Americans were generally wary of a strong central government, preferring local control over policing to ensure it aligned with the community's needs and values. This preference reflected a broader skepticism towards centralized power, favoring a more decentralized approach to governance and law enforcement.

Question 8

What were some problems with the police system in the Political Era?

Accepted Answer

The Political Era of policing, which spanned the mid-19th to early 20th centuries, was characterized by a lack of professionalism among officers, control of police forces by local politicians, and the use of police in political disputes, making all of the provided options correct.

Question 9

During the Political Era, police were often selected and assigned to their patrol detail based upon:

Accepted Answer

During the Political Era, police selection and assignment were heavily influenced by political affiliation, personal contacts, and ethnicity, reflecting the broader patterns of patronage and social division of the time.

Question 10

Muckraking journalists published articles about the corruption of local governments and this was one factor leading to:

Accepted Answer

Muckraking journalists exposed corruption and social injustices during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which contributed to the reform of the Political Era by prompting changes aimed at addressing these issues.

Question 11

Patrol in automobiles became the central new strategy used by police agencies, made possible in part by the radio communication and dispatch. The justification for this was:

Accepted Answer

Automobiles allowed police to keep up with criminals who increasingly had cars.

Question 12

The primary goal of the Professional Era was to remove the political element from policing. This was accomplished by:

Accepted Answer

The Professional Era of policing focused on organizational reforms, including creating hierarchies for better supervision and developing specialized units, all aimed at reducing political influence and increasing efficiency.

Question 13

The primary goal of this Era was to remove the political element from policing.

Accepted Answer

The Professional Era of policing, which began in the early 20th century, aimed to eliminate the influence of politics on policing practices, focusing on efficiency, professionalism, and the application of scientific methods.

Question 14

During this Era, early policing in the United States was characterized by political undertones, bordering on all-out corruption.

Accepted Answer

The Political Era of policing in the United States, which spanned the mid-19th to the early 20th century, was marked by strong ties between police departments and political figures, leading to widespread corruption and inefficiency in law enforcement practices.

Question 15

Officers were encouraged to distance themselves from the community in order to minimize the potential for favoritism. This is true of which era?

Accepted Answer

The Professional Era of policing, which began in the early 20th century, emphasized a move towards a more detached, professional force. This era sought to eliminate the corruption and favoritism seen in the Political Era by distancing officers from the community, focusing on law enforcement rather than service, and adopting a more militaristic approach to policing.

Question 16

The Homeland Security Era's focus is on:

Accepted Answer

The Homeland Security Era encompasses a broad range of objectives including preventing terrorism, enforcing immigration laws, and securing cyberspace, among other responsibilities.

Question 17

This Era is designed to aid law enforcement, improve the quality of life of its citizenry and promote citizen satisfaction.

Accepted Answer

The Community Era in policing focuses on building strong relationships between law enforcement and the community, with an emphasis on improving the quality of life, enhancing citizen satisfaction, and involving the community in crime prevention efforts.

Question 18

This theory states that as crime increased, social order and systems of informal social control were threatened. This created a public fear of crime and the police were needed to curb both crime and the fear of crime.

Accepted Answer

The answer of This theory states that as crime increased,...

Question 19

This theory states that police agencies were developed to suppress mob violence.

Accepted Answer

Disorder Theory suggests that police agencies were established to manage and suppress disorderly conduct and mob violence, maintaining public order.

Question 20

This theory suggested that the modern police were created by the rich and powerful to control the dangerous classes and to prevent their upward mobility in society.

Accepted Answer

Class-Control Theory posits that the modern police force was established by the wealthy and powerful segments of society to maintain social order and control over lower socioeconomic classes, thereby preventing their potential rise in status.

Quiz 11: Core Concepts of US Policing