Question 1

In the United States, prisons are filled predominantly with poor people.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that poverty and lack of access to education, healthcare, and job opportunities contribute to higher rates of incarceration among low-income individuals.

Question 2

There are more black men than white men in prison because black men commit more crimes.

Accepted Answer

This statement is untrue and perpetuates harmful stereotypes about race and crime. The overrepresentation of Black men in prisons is the result of systemic racism in the criminal justice system, including biased policing, harsher sentencing, and fewer opportunities for rehabilitation. Studies have shown that rates of crime and drug use are relatively similar across different racial groups, but Black individuals are more likely to be arrested, charged, and convicted than white individuals for the same offenses.

Question 3

College students are an example of a population that is frequently targeted by police.

Accepted Answer

College students as a group are not specifically targeted by police; law enforcement actions are generally based on behavior or activity rather than targeting specific populations such as college students.

Question 4

White-collar criminals are rarely arrested or charged.

Accepted Answer

White-collar criminals are less frequently arrested or charged compared to those committing more traditional, street-level crimes. This is due to the complex nature of white-collar crime, which often involves intricate legal and financial systems, making it harder to detect, investigate, and prosecute.

Question 5

A lower-class man who steals a bike would be more likely to be charged than a wealthy man who embezzles.

Accepted Answer

This statement highlights the unequal treatment of the rich and poor in the criminal justice system, where those with more money and power often have more access to resources and leniency in sentencing. Studies have shown that socioeconomic status can play a significant role in how individuals are charged and sentenced for crimes.

Question 6

There is considerable evidence that double discrimination affects death penalty sentencing.

Accepted Answer

Double discrimination refers to the intersection of two types of discrimination, such as racial and gender discrimination. Studies have shown that individuals who are members of certain races, genders, or both, are more likely to receive the death penalty than others. This suggests that double discrimination affects death penalty sentencing.

Question 7

Most business executives who commit financial fraud are convicted for their crimes.

Accepted Answer

Many financial fraud cases are complex and difficult to prosecute, leading to a lower conviction rate for business executives compared to the number who may commit such crimes. Additionally, some cases are settled out of court, and not all lead to convictions.

Question 8

According to the President's Crime Commission survey, __________.
A) middle-class teens are frequently targeted by police
B) most Americans have violated laws
C) CEOs are frequently arrested for theft
D) crime is rare in low-income communities

Accepted Answer

The President's Crime Commission survey found that most Americans have violated laws. The other choices are not supported by the given information.

Question 9

Many black people are arrested for the crime of ___________.
A) "driving while black"
B) "cell phone abuses"
C) "black embezzlement"
D) "crimes of convenience"

Accepted Answer

"Driving while black" refers to the phenomenon of police officers stopping and searching black drivers without any probable cause, simply because of their race. This practice leads to disproportionate arrests and convictions of black people for minor traffic offenses, such as speeding or not wearing a seatbelt.

Question 10

Why did federal law enforcement dismiss many potential criminal cases arising out of the savings and loan scandals?
A) because the CEOs involved were mostly black
B) because financial fraud is not technically a crime
C) because they lacked the personnel to pursue the cases
D) because of generally decreased crime surveillance

Accepted Answer

The dismissals were largely due to a lack of personnel to pursue the sheer volume of cases that arose out of the scandals.

Question 11

Why is being released on bail important?
A) Those who are not released on bail are treated as though they are guilty.
B) Black defendants are more likely to be released on bail than white defendants.
C) It can only be done before an individual is arrested.
D) Only individuals who have been imprisoned for twenty days can be released on bail.

Accepted Answer

Being released on bail is important because it allows individuals to avoid being held in jail for an extended period of time until their trial. If someone is not released on bail, they are often assumed to be guilty by the public and may struggle to maintain employment or support their family during this time.

Question 12

Why have some judges spoken out against the system of sentencing and mandatory minimum sentences?
A) They were upset about the rampant ageism in recent court cases.
B) They wanted to protect white-collar criminals.
C) They were against the racism inherent in the criminal justice system.
D) They wanted to improve the perception of the judicial system among inmates.

Accepted Answer

Some judges have spoken out against the system of sentencing and mandatory minimum sentences because they believe it perpetuates the racism inherent in the criminal justice system. They argue that these policies have disproportionately affected people of color and have created an unjust and discriminatory system of punishment.

Question 13

What is an example of the double discrimination seen in the United States?
A) A white man who embezzles from a white man and released on bail, while a white man who embezzles from a black man is sentenced to three years in prison.
B) A black man kills a white man and is given the death penalty, while a black man who kills another black man is imprisoned.
C) A black cop who arrests a black man is more likely to be financially rewarded than a white cop who arrests another white man.
D) A white man who kills another white man is more likely to be released on bail than a black man who kills another black man.

Accepted Answer

The scenario described in option B illustrates the double discrimination that black people may face in the United States, as they not only face punishment for their crimes but also receive harsher penalties when their crimes are committed against white people rather than black people. This disparity in treatment is a direct result of centuries of systemic racism and discrimination against black Americans.

Question 14

Apply your knowledge of the criminal justice system to choose which of the following people would most likely receive the harshest sentence for the same crime of dealing drugs.
A) a middle-class white college student
B) a wealthy black man
C) a middle-class black woman
D) a lower-class white man

Accepted Answer

The answer of Apply your knowledge of the criminal justice...

Question 15

Why do most Americans think dangerous crimes are committed mainly by poor people?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why do most Americans think dangerous crimes...

Question 16

What would most likely happen to a white-collar criminal who is accused of embezzlement?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What would most likely happen to a...

Question 17

Apply your knowledge of the Watergate and S&L scandals to describe how they impacted the public perception of crime.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Apply your knowledge of the Watergate and...

Question 18

Analyze the role of double discrimination in the criminal justice system, and provide two real or hypothetical examples.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Analyze the role of double discrimination in...

Question 19

Evaluate the relationship between class, race, and criminal justice in the United States. Use specific examples to support your arguments.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Evaluate the relationship between class, race, and...

Question 20

Propose a set of reforms to the current criminal justice system to address issues of discrimination and injustice. What specific changes to the current system would have to be made?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Propose a set of reforms to the...

Quiz 3: And the Poor Get Prison

In the United States, prisons are filled predominantly with poor people.

There are more black men than white men in prison because black men commit more crimes.

College students are an example of a population that is frequently targeted by police.

White-collar criminals are rarely arrested or charged.

A lower-class man who steals a bike would be more likely to be charged than a wealthy man who embezzles.

There is considerable evidence that double discrimination affects death penalty sentencing.

Most business executives who commit financial fraud are convicted for their crimes.

According to the President's Crime Commission survey, __________.

Many black people are arrested for the crime of ___________.

Why did federal law enforcement dismiss many potential criminal cases arising out of the savings and loan scandals?

Why is being released on bail important?

Why have some judges spoken out against the system of sentencing and mandatory minimum sentences?

What is an example of the double discrimination seen in the United States?

Apply your knowledge of the criminal justice system to choose which of the following people would most likely receive the harshest sentence for the same crime of dealing drugs.