Question 1

The criminal justice system is formally comprised of the following agencies except
A) elected government offices.
B) police.
C) courts.
D) correctional institutions.

Accepted Answer

While elected government officials may have influence over the criminal justice system, they are not a formal agency within the system. The core agencies of the criminal justice system are the police, courts, and correctional institutions.

Question 2

Broken windows theory asserts
A) by using "get tough" policies, any disorder is harshly punished such that people are fearful of breaking even minor laws.
B) people should be disciplined and know they are under surveillance in their neighborhoods by close policing so that even minor property damage is prevented.
C) by controlling minor disorder, more crime is prevented as people see their area is cared for and valued.
D) the more an area is patrolled by police, the more likely there is to be in disorder.

Accepted Answer

The broken windows theory asserts that minor disorder in a neighborhood, such as broken windows or vandalism, can lead to an increase in more serious crime. By controlling minor disorder, such as through cleaning up graffiti or repairing broken windows, it sends a signal that the area is cared for and valued, leading to a reduction in more serious crime. This is why choice C, which states that controlling minor disorder can prevent more serious crime, is the best choice. Choices A and B involve harsh punishment and strict surveillance, which are not necessarily effective methods for preventing crime, and choice D contradicts the basic premise of the broken windows theory.

Question 3

Examples of disorder highlighted by the broken windows theory include
A) bright and closely spaced streetlights.
B) graffiti, trash, abandoned cars or buildings.
C) criminal gang activity.
D) proximity of liquor stores and pawn shops.

Accepted Answer

The broken windows theory suggests that visible signs of disorder, such as graffiti, trash, and abandoned buildings, can attract criminal activity and contribute to an overall sense of insecurity in a community. Bright and closely spaced streetlights, proximity of liquor stores and pawn shops, and criminal gang activity may also contribute to disorder, but they are not as directly related to the theory.

Question 4

Over 90% of criminal cases end with
A) guilty verdicts.
B) plea bargaining.
C) acquittal of defendants.
D) dropped charges.

Accepted Answer

Plea bargaining is a common practice in the criminal justice system, where a defendant agrees to plead guilty to a lesser offense in exchange for a reduced sentence or other benefits. It is estimated that over 90% of criminal cases are resolved through plea bargaining.

Question 5

What are the 4 philosophies of punishment for judges in sentencing offenders?
A) Deterrence, incapacitation, rehabilitation, and just desserts
B) Morality, incapacitation, reformation, and just desserts
C) Deterrence, accountability, rehabilitation, and labeling
D) Reparations, incapacitation, rehabilitation, and public fear

Accepted Answer

These four philosophies of punishment are the most commonly recognized theories in the criminal justice system. Deterrence aims to prevent future criminal behavior by imposing punishment severe enough to discourage individuals from breaking the law. Incapacitation seeks to protect society by locking up offenders for a certain period of time. Rehabilitation focuses on addressing the underlying issues that contribute to an offender's criminal behavior and aims to guide them towards becoming law-abiding citizens. Just desserts (also known as retribution) is based on the idea that offenders deserve to be punished in proportion to their crime, regardless of the potential benefits gained from other philosophies like deterrence or rehabilitation. These four philosophies help judges to decide the appropriate sentence for an offender.

Question 6

What is the "3 strikes and you're out" rule brought forward as part of the "get tough" on crime approach?
A) Where an offender can only utilize the services of up to three public defenders in a given trial before being forced to plea bargain.
B) Where a felon, upon his or her third conviction, would be sentenced to life in prison.
C) Where someone convicted of a misdemeanor, upon his or her third conviction, would be sentenced as a felon to serve time in prison.
D) Where a police officer who has been found responsible for three unlawful assaults during arrests would be fired without pay.

Accepted Answer

The "3 strikes and you're out" rule refers to the policy of imposing life sentences on offenders who commit three serious felony offenses. This was part of the "get tough" on crime approach in the United States from the 1990s onwards. Option A is incorrect as it does not relate to the three strikes policy. Option C is partially correct, as some states have used the three strikes policy to sentence offenders convicted of misdemeanors as felons, but this is not the primary focus of the policy. Option D is also incorrect as it does not relate to the three strikes policy.

Question 7

Aside from having committed a minor crime or serving a short sentence, what other reason explains why many people held in local jails in the U.S.?
A) They are in contempt of court.
B) The court systems are back-logged significantly everywhere.
C) They are awaiting trial and cannot afford bail.
D) They were offered plea bargains but refused.

Accepted Answer

Many people held in local jails in the U.S. are awaiting trial and cannot afford bail. This is known as pretrial detention and it disproportionately affects low-income individuals.

Question 8

What is the Perry Preschool Project?
A) Within-prison located preschools where incarcerated parents can participate in their children's' early education.
B) A crime prevention program targeted at children ages 3-4 to teach them about stranger danger, how to look out for criminal behavior, unsafe touching, and how to contact the police in an emergency.
C) Separate preschool facilities for children with incarcerated parents to receive Head Start educational programming as well as mental health counseling support related to their parent(s) being away.
D) Preschool interventions aimed at African American children ages 3-4 who are living in poverty and considered to be at high risk of school failure. The goal is to increase academic success, decrease teen pregnancy, reduce involvement in crime, and improve employment opportunities later in life.

Accepted Answer

The Perry Preschool Project is a well-known study that provided preschool interventions for African American children living in poverty who were at risk of school failure. The goal was to improve academic success, decrease involvement in crime, reduce teen pregnancy, and improve employment opportunities later in life. The study followed participants into adulthood and is considered a landmark in early childhood education research.

Question 9

This is a concentrated police effort to address the physical and social disorder in a community using 3 approaches to reduce crime: an aggressive enforcement strategy, mentoring programs for youth, mental health and homelessness services for those who need them.
A) Hot Spot Policing
B) Weed and Seed
C) D.A.R.E.
D) Community Patrol

Accepted Answer

The answer of This is a concentrated police effort to...

Question 10

Which of the following is a program that has been evaluated and considered by scholars as very effective in reducing certain types of crime-related challenges?
A) D.A.R.E.
B) Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program
C) Scared Straight
D) 'Get tough' policing and sentencing

Accepted Answer

The Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program has been extensively researched and evaluated, with multiple studies finding that it is effective in reducing delinquency and improving academic performance among at-risk youth. The other programs listed have been found to be either ineffective, or in some cases, even counterproductive.

Quiz 2: Why Is Crime Always in the News Crime and Interpersonal Violence

The criminal justice system is formally comprised of the following agencies except

Broken windows theory asserts

Examples of disorder highlighted by the broken windows theory include

Over 90% of criminal cases end with

What are the 4 philosophies of punishment for judges in sentencing offenders?

What is the "3 strikes and you're out" rule brought forward as part of the "get tough" on crime approach?

Aside from having committed a minor crime or serving a short sentence, what other reason explains why many people held in local jails in the U.S.?

What is the Perry Preschool Project?

This is a concentrated police effort to address the physical and social disorder in a community using 3 approaches to reduce crime: an aggressive enforcement strategy, mentoring programs for youth, mental health and homelessness services for those who need them.

Which of the following is a program that has been evaluated and considered by scholars as very effective in reducing certain types of crime-related challenges?