Question 1

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) collects monthly reports from approximately _____ agencies.

Accepted Answer

According to the FBI's website, they collect monthly reports from approximately 16,000 law enforcement agencies.

Question 2

The FBI's Uniform Crime Report has two methods of "clearing a crime." They are:

Accepted Answer

The FBI's Uniform Crime Report has two methods of "clearing a crime": by arrest or by exceptional means. Arrest refers to when a suspect has been apprehended, charged with the crime, and is being held accountable through the criminal justice system. Exceptional means include situations where the offender has died, been extradited, or prosecutorial e﻿xonerations.

Question 3

According to the United States Supreme Court the standard of proof in a criminal trial is _____.

Accepted Answer

The United States Supreme Court has held that in a criminal trial, the standard of proof that the government must meet is proof beyond a reasonable doubt. This means that the jurors must have a moral certainty that the facts presented by the prosecution are true, and that the defendant committed the crime for which he or she is being charged.

Question 4

The standard of proof in a civil trial is _____.

Accepted Answer

The standard of proof in a civil trial is preponderance of the evidence, meaning that the evidence presented must be more likely than not to support a verdict in favor of one party over the other. Beyond a reasonable doubt is the standard of proof in a criminal trial, and reasonable suspicion is a lower standard of proof for when a police officer has a justifiable suspicion that a person has committed or is about to commit a crime.

Question 5

In all criminal and civil legal actions, statutes of limitations are established by _____.

Accepted Answer

Statutes of limitations for legal actions are established by state legislatures.

Question 6

Every criminal offense is solved by an arrest.

Accepted Answer

Not all criminal offenses are solved by an arrest. Some cases may be resolved through other means such as plea bargaining, dismissal, or the defendant being found not guilty at trial. Additionally, in some cases the offender may never be caught or arrested.

Question 7

The standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt applies only to civil cases.

Accepted Answer

The standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt applies in criminal cases, not civil cases. In civil cases, the standard of proof is typically lower and known as the preponderance of evidence.

Quiz 5: A Serial Arsonist