Question 1

A program in which prosecutors intervene in all disorderly behavior that affects the quality of life in a neighborhood is called __________.

Accepted Answer

Community prosecution is a program in which prosecutors focus on improving the quality of life in a specific neighborhood by intervening in disorderly behavior, such as vandalism, drug dealing, and noise violations. The goal is to establish a partnership between the prosecutor's office and the community members to address the root causes of crime and disorder. Contract attorney programs, courtroom work groups, and assigned counsel are different types of legal services programs that provide legal assistance to individuals who cannot afford an attorney but do not specifically focus on community-based prosecution.

Question 2

A person called to testify because of his or her special expertise in an area at issue in a legal proceeding is a(n)__________.

Accepted Answer

An expert witness is someone who is called to testify in a legal proceeding because of their special knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education in a particular area that is relevant to the issues at hand. They are often used to help explain complex subjects or provide opinions on matters that may be difficult for a layperson to understand.

Question 3

The prosecutors,defense counsel,judges,and other courtroom personnel who represent distinct interests but share the goal of shepherding large numbers of cases through the adjudication process are called the __________.

Accepted Answer

The term "courtroom work group" is used to describe the prosecutors, defense counsel, judges, and other courtroom personnel who work together to move cases through the adjudication process. They may have distinct roles and represent different interests, but they share the goal of ensuring that justice is served efficiently and effectively. Assigned counsel and contract attorney programs are types of legal representation for defendants, while community prosecution refers to a specific approach to law enforcement in which prosecutors work closely with community members to address local crime issues.

Question 4

Statements by victims to the judge before sentencing about how the crime has harmed them are called __________.

Accepted Answer

Victim impact statements are the statements by victims to the judge before sentencing about how the crime has harmed them. Victimology is the study of victims and victimization. Victim's Bill of Rights and victim's services refer to the various rights and services available to victims of crime.

Question 5

The term '__________' refers to a method for selecting judges that involves a combination of appointment and election.

Accepted Answer

Merit selection involves a combination of appointment and election, where a commission nominates judges based on their qualifications, and the governor or other authority selects a judge from those nominees. The appointed judge then stands for retention election, where voters decide whether to keep them in office for another term.

Question 6

Programs in which private attorneys,firms,or local bar associations provide legal representation to indigent defendants for a specific period contracted with the county are called __________.

Accepted Answer

Contract attorney programs are programs where private attorneys, firms, or local bar associations provide legal representation to indigent defendants for a specific period contracted with the county. Assigned counsel refers to court-appointed attorneys for indigent defendants. The courtroom work group refers to judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys who work together in the criminal justice system. Community prosecution is a model of prosecuting that involves collaboration between prosecutors and the community to address crime problems.

Question 7

The __________ can hear on appeal any case involving federal law,suits between states,and cases involving interpretations of the U.S.Constitution.

Accepted Answer

Only the Supreme Court has the authority to hear on appeal cases involving federal law, suits between states, and cases involving interpretations of the U.S. Constitution. This is a power granted to the Supreme Court by the Constitution itself, and thus the other options listed do not have this same level of jurisdiction.

Question 8

Salaried attorneys paid by the government to represent indigents charged with crimes are called '__________'.

Accepted Answer

Public defenders are the attorneys who are paid by the government to represent indigents, or those who cannot afford to hire a private attorney, in criminal cases. Prosecutors (A) and district attorneys (B) work for the government, but they represent the interests of the state in prosecuting criminal cases, not the defendants. Defense attorneys (C) can be either private attorneys hired by the defendant or public defenders appointed by the court to represent the defendant.

Question 9

Courts that handle only drug offenses and attempt to correct underlying causes of the illegal conduct are called __________.

Accepted Answer

Felony drug courts are specialized courts that are designed to handle only drug offenses and focus on treatment and rehabilitation of offenders rather than punishment. They aim to address the underlying issues that led to the drug-related criminal behavior and reduce recidivism. The other options listed (U.S. district courts, U.S. courts of appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court) are all general federal courts with broader jurisdiction and responsibilities than felony drug courts.

Question 10

These intermediate appellate courts are the __________.There are thirteen of these courts,located in federal judicial districts throughout the United States.

Accepted Answer

The description matches the U.S. courts of appeals, which are intermediate appellate courts located in federal judicial districts throughout the United States. The other options listed do not fit the given description.

Question 11

Courts that divert misdemeanor or non-violent felony offenders with mental illness to treatment programs and court supervision are called __________.

Accepted Answer

Mental health courts are specifically designed to handle cases involving offenders with mental illness. These courts provide access to treatment programs and court supervision for misdemeanor or non-violent felony offenders, diverting them from traditional criminal justice pathways. Juvenile courts specifically deal with cases involving minors, drug courts are focused on offenders struggling with drug addiction, and domestic violence courts handle cases of intimate partner violence.

Question 12

A legal order from the U.S.Supreme Court stating that a lower court must forward the record of a particular case for review is called a __________.

Accepted Answer

A writ of certiorari is a legal order from the U.S. Supreme Court requiring a lower court to forward the record of a particular case for review. This process is used to determine whether or not the case will be heard by the Supreme Court.

Question 13

Legal changes that formally recognize the role and rights of victims in the justice process are called the __________.

Accepted Answer

The term "victim's bill of rights" is commonly used to refer to legal changes that provide greater recognition of the role and rights of victims in the justice process. This may include provisions for victim impact statements, victim compensation programs, and other forms of victim support and assistance. Victimology refers to the study of victims and victimization, while victim services typically refers to the programs and resources available to victims of crime.

Question 14

A method of handling complaints outside the judicial process through a mediator appointed by the court is called ___________.

Accepted Answer

Dispute resolution involves resolving conflicts between parties outside the formal court system, often through mediation or arbitration. This method can be efficient, cost-effective, and less adversarial than going to trial. The other answer choices are not related to handling complaints outside the judicial process through mediation.

Question 15

Elected or appointed officials who represent the community in bringing charges against an accused person are called __________.

Accepted Answer

Prosecutors are elected or appointed officials who represent the community in bringing charges against an accused person. District attorneys are also prosecutors, but they specifically represent a particular district or jurisdiction. Defense attorneys and public defenders represent the accused person in criminal proceedings.

Question 16

The name for city and county prosecutors in many jurisdictions is '__________'.

Accepted Answer

District attorneys are the name for city and county prosecutors in many jurisdictions.

Question 17

The federal courts of general jurisdiction are the __________.These courts have unlimited jurisdiction in both civil and criminal matters,and most federal trials are conducted in them.

Accepted Answer

U.S. district courts are the federal courts of general jurisdiction with unlimited jurisdiction in both civil and criminal matters. Most federal trials take place in these courts. The other options listed (U.S. courts of appeals, U.S. Supreme Court, felony drug courts) do not have unlimited jurisdiction or are not the primary location for federal trials.

Question 18

A private attorney appointed by the court on a case-by-case basis from a list of available attorneys is also known as ___________.

Accepted Answer

The term "assigned counsel" refers to private attorneys who are appointed by the court on a case-by-case basis to represent defendants who cannot afford a lawyer. They are typically selected from a list of available attorneys who have agreed to take on such cases, and they are compensated by the government for their services.

Question 19

The study of crime victimization,as well as the interactions between victims and the criminal justice system,is called __________.

Accepted Answer

Victimology is the study of crime victimization and the interactions between victims and the criminal justice system. Victim impact statements, victim's bill of rights, and victim's services are all related to victimology, but they do not encompass the entire field.

Question 20

Attorneys who represent the legal rights of the accused in criminal or civil proceedings are called __________.

Accepted Answer

Defense attorneys represent the legal rights of the accused in criminal or civil proceedings.

Quiz 7: Origins and Organization of the Courts