Question 1

The Young Offenders Act (YOA) was replaced in 2003 by the:

Accepted Answer

The Young Offenders Act (YOA) was replaced in 2003 by the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), which provides measures for dealing with young people who commit offences. The Juvenile Delinquents Act (JDA) was the precursor to the YOA, but it was replaced by the YOA in 1984. The Canadian Justice Act (CJA) and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (CCRF) are not relevant to this topic.

Question 2

According to data collected by Statistic Canada for 2011-2012,youth crime rates:

Accepted Answer

According to the data collected by Statistic Canada for 2011-2012, youth crime rates are the lowest since these data were first collected in 1991-1992.

Question 3

As a first step when coming into contact with antisocial youth,police are to consider:

Accepted Answer

Bringing the offender directly to youth court or pursuing light sentences even if they have committed seriously violent crimes (option A and D) are not the best choices as they do not take into account the individual's circumstances and risk factors. Charging the individual in order to get them into adult court (option C) is also not ideal as research shows that adult court involvement can actually increase the likelihood of reoffending for youth. Community options and less serious alternatives (option B) allow the youth to receive appropriate support and interventions that address the underlying causes of their behavior, and may prevent future involvement in the justice system.

Question 4

According to Statistics Canada,the most common sentence imposed on adolescent offenders in 2011-2012 was:

Accepted Answer

According to Statistics Canada, probation was the most common sentence imposed on adolescent offenders in 2011-2012. This is likely because probation allows for supervision and rehabilitation of the young offender without sending them to jail, which can have negative consequences on their future prospects. Fines and community service may also be used as a sentence, but they are usually in addition to probation rather than as a sole sentence. Jail time is typically seen as a last resort for young offenders.

Question 5

Following the YCJA,in 2011 to 2012,approximately what percentage of guilty offenders received custodial sentences,in contrast to 29% in the early 2000s?

Accepted Answer

The question states that the percentage of guilty offenders receiving custodial sentences has decreased since the YCJA. The correct answer choice is the lowest percentage listed, which is C) 15%.

Question 6

A child who has multiple risk factors but who can overcome them and prevail has been termed:

Accepted Answer

Resilience refers to the ability of a child to overcome adverse situations or conditions such as multiple risk factors and still thrive. It is a quality that enables children to adapt to challenging circumstances, learn from them, and grow stronger as a result. Hardy and impact-resistant refer to similar concepts but are not commonly used in the resilience literature, and adversarial more typically refers to a situation involving conflict or opposition rather than individual characteristics.

Question 7

In terms of the protective factor of peers,the research suggests the following:

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that associating with peers who disapprove of antisocial behaviour is a protective factor against antisocial behaviour. This can be because peers who have pro-social attitudes and behaviours may act as positive role models and discourage negative behaviours in their peers.

Question 8

Patterson's (1982) coercive family process model,where aggressive behaviour is imitated,is consistent with which theory of adolescent offending?

Accepted Answer

Patterson's coercive family process model, where aggressive behavior is imitated, is consistent with social learning theory, which proposes that individuals learn behavior through observation of others and through the consequences of those behaviors.

Question 9

All of the following are examples of risk assessment tools used with adolescent offenders in Canada except the:

Accepted Answer

The Static-99 is a risk assessment tool designed for adult male sexual offenders, not specifically for adolescent offenders. The other options are more relevant to assessing risks associated with adolescents.

Question 10

Reactive aggression is defined as:

Accepted Answer

Reactive aggression is a type of aggression that occurs in response to a perceived threat, frustration, or provocation. It is an emotional reaction to a situation that results in an aggressive response. Choices B, C, and D do not accurately describe reactive aggression.

Question 11

The main finding within the cognitive perspective on conduct disordered behaviour is that conduct-disordered youth demonstrate:

Accepted Answer

The cognitive perspective on conduct-disordered behaviour suggests that conduct-disordered youth display cognitive deficits and distortions, attending to fewer cues and mistakenly attributing hostile intent to ambiguous situations. They do not demonstrate relatively good problem-solving skills or a tendency to focus solely on emotional cues without cognitive distortions.

Question 12

The strongest individual predictor of adolescent offending is the presence of:

Accepted Answer

Aggressive behavior before the age of 13 is the strongest individual predictor of adolescent offending. Other factors such as hyperactivity, low verbal intelligence, and delayed language development may contribute to delinquency, but they are not as strong predictors as early aggressive behavior.

Question 13

Part of the intent of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) is to treat antisocial youth as any adult offender would be treated.

Accepted Answer

Part of the intent of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) is actually to treat youth offenders differently than adult offenders. The YCJA emphasizes rehabilitation, reintegration into society, and a focus on the best interests of the child. It also sets out specific principles and procedures for dealing with youth offenders, such as the use of alternative measures instead of imprisonment and a greater emphasis on privacy and protection of the youth's identity.

Question 14

When dealing with antisocial youth,police are to use "extrajudicial measures",including warnings or referrals for treatment.

Accepted Answer

When dealing with antisocial youth, police are encouraged to use extrajudicial measures, such as warnings or referrals for treatment, rather than immediately resorting to the criminal justice system. This approach aims to divert youth away from further criminal behavior and towards more positive outcomes.

Question 15

A child who presents a pattern of negativistic,hostile,and defiant behaviour would likely receive a diagnosis of:

Accepted Answer

A pattern of negativistic, hostile, and defiant behavior is characteristic of oppositional defiant disorder. Children with this disorder often argue with adults, refuse to comply with rules or requests, deliberately annoy or provoke others, blame others for their mistakes or misbehavior, and show spiteful or vindictive behavior. Conduct disorder and child psychopathy typically involve more aggressive and antisocial behavior, while attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) involves problems with inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

Question 16

When examining the trajectory to adult offending,a clear pattern found is that:

Accepted Answer

Studies have consistently found that individuals who exhibit antisocial behaviour at a young age are more likely to continue doing so as they enter adulthood. This early onset of antisocial behaviour is associated with a higher likelihood of serious and persistent offending over time.

Question 17

When considering antisocial behaviour and criminological risk factors the general finding is that:

Accepted Answer

The presence of several criminological risk factors increases a youth's likelihood of offending. While one risk factor alone may contribute to offending, it is the accumulation of several risk factors that greatly increases the likelihood of a youth becoming an adolescent offender. However, the presence of numerous risk factors does not guarantee offending, as there are always individual differences and protective factors to consider. Interactive effects between risk factors are also common, meaning that certain risk factors may become more or less influential depending on their interaction with other factors.

Question 18

Protective factors are variables that decrease the likelihood of a negative outcome such as antisocial behaviour and are effective because they:

Accepted Answer

Protective factors work by reducing negative outcomes through the development and maintenance of self-esteem and self-efficacy. They do not maintain the same level of exposure to risk factors, isolate the child or limit problem-solving capacity.

Question 19

Two of the five main correlates of delinquency for male and female youth are:

Accepted Answer

Inconsistent or inadequate parenting and antisocial peer involvement are two of the five main correlates of delinquency for both male and female youth. While the other choices may also contribute to delinquency, they are not specifically listed as main correlates in the given options.

Question 20

Genetic studies have found that fathers who engage in antisocial behaviour:

Accepted Answer

Genetic studies have found that fathers who engage in antisocial behaviour are more likely to have children who also engage in antisocial behaviour. This link is stronger for sons than daughters.

Quiz 5: Adolescent Offenders Psychology of Criminal Behaviour