Question 1

A convicted criminal who may have some difficulty with making good decisions as a result of a mental defect may evoke _____ from judges or juries.

Accepted Answer

A criminal with a mental defect may elicit sympathy from judges or juries due to the recognition that their capacity to make good decisions may be impaired.

Question 2

James was charged with committing a robbery with a group of his peers. He had never committed any crimes and was caught up in a situation that he could not see any way out of. The attributions that would represent the above scenario include_____ and _____.

Accepted Answer

The scenario describes James as being caught up in a situation beyond his control, suggesting external causes and uncontrollability.

Question 3

Sentencing is not necessarily clear-cut. According to the text, criminal behaviors that can be attributed to stable, controllable causes appear to receive _____ punishment.

Accepted Answer

Criminal behaviors attributed to stable, controllable causes are often seen as more blameworthy, leading to harsher punishments.

Question 4

Some studies have found that judges were susceptible to different sentencing based on the convicted person's _____ and _____.

Accepted Answer

Several studies have found that judges can be influenced by a convicted person's race and gender when deciding on a sentence. For example, research has shown that Black defendants are more likely to receive harsher sentences than white defendants, even after accounting for the severity of the crime and the defendant's criminal history. Similarly, women may receive more lenient sentences compared to men for the same offense.

Question 5

The U.S. Supreme Court decided in 2005 that sentencing guidelines should be _____ in nature.

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Booker (2005) declared that sentencing guidelines should be advisory rather than mandatory, giving judges more flexibility in sentencing.

Question 6

According to the text, _____ are the single largest group of inmates in federal prisons.

Accepted Answer

The text states that drug offenders are "the single largest group of inmates in federal prisons."

Question 7

Containing criminals to render them unable to harm others outside of the prison is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Incapacitation is a method used by the criminal justice system to protect society by containing criminals who have been found guilty of committing crimes, rendering them unable to harm others outside of the prison. This is different from retribution, which is punishment intended to make the offender suffer for their crime, and specific/general deterrence, which are aimed at preventing future crimes.

Question 8

Three-strikes laws mean that:

Accepted Answer

Three-strikes laws typically mandate an extended or life sentence for individuals who are convicted of a third felony, regardless of the severity of the offense. This is intended to deter repeat offenders and keep them off the streets for longer periods of time. The other options listed are not accurate descriptions of what three-strikes laws entail.

Question 9

The criminal justice system uses two primary methods to hold people. One such placement is _____, where people are held short-term.

Accepted Answer

Jails are used for short-term detention, typically for individuals who are awaiting trial or have been sentenced to less than one year of incarceration. State and federal prisons are used for longer-term incarceration, while halfway houses are used for individuals transitioning back into society after serving time in prison.

Question 10

According to the text, drug offenders constitute approximately _____ of the population in federal prisons.

Accepted Answer

Drug offenders make up approximately half of the population in federal prisons, as indicated by the text.

Question 11

Sam has been in prison before and, after his release, he promised to himself that he would never do anything that can land him in prison again. This illustrates one of the goals of imprisonment called:

Accepted Answer

Specific deterrence aims to deter the individual offender from committing future crimes by subjecting them to the experience of imprisonment. In this case, Sam's experience with imprisonment served as a specific deterrence, motivating him to avoid any actions that could lead to another prison sentence.

Question 12

Determinate sentencing means that judges are _____, if a defendant is found guilty of a particular crime.

Accepted Answer

Determinate sentencing means that judges are required to hand down a sentence within a prescribed range, which is often set by statute or sentencing guidelines. This approach limits the discretion of the judge and ensures that similarly situated defendants receive similar sentences for the same crime.

Question 13

Janine was convicted of a felony, as was Troy. Both defendants were convicted of the same crime and under similar situations. Because she is a female, Janine is likely to receive _____ Troy.

Accepted Answer

Research and statistics often show that females tend to receive more lenient sentences than males for similar crimes and circumstances, due to various factors including societal perceptions and gender biases in the criminal justice system.

Question 14

Three-strikes laws have been criticized for all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Three-strikes laws have not been specifically criticized for increasing gender disparity in sentencing for violent crimes. The criticisms usually focus on the cost, the severity of punishment for minor offenses, and the ineffectiveness for older offenders.

Question 15

The requirement that criminals receive an extended or life sentence when convicted of a third felony is commonly called the:

Accepted Answer

The requirement that criminals receive an extended or life sentence when convicted of a third felony is commonly called "three-strikes laws." This term refers to the baseball rule that "three strikes and you're out." The purpose of these laws is to deter repeat offenders from committing more crimes and to protect the public from dangerous criminals. However, there has been controversy surrounding these laws and their effectiveness.

Question 16

Sentencing decisions are based on the crime and also take into consideration the attributions of the criminal. One question that is sometimes asked during sentencing hearings is whether the personality of the criminal has an influence on his or her behavior. According to the text, what is being assessed is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

The personality of the criminal is an internal cause that may influence his or her behavior. Therefore, what is being assessed is referred to as internal causes.

Question 17

Kelvin was released from prison before his entire sentence was served. However, he has to be supervised by an officer. This situation is commonly referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Parole is the release of a prisoner before the completion of their original sentence, under the condition that they agree to be supervised and follow certain rules set by a parole officer. This is different from probation, which is a sentence given by a judge in lieu of jail time where the offender is released under similar conditions but without having served time in prison first.

Question 18

Prisons generally hold criminals:

Accepted Answer

Prisons are designed to hold criminals who have been convicted of a crime and sentenced to serve a certain amount of time. This sentence can range from a few years to life in prison, which means that prisons generally hold criminals for a long period of time. Option B) for a short period of time is incorrect, as short-term detention is usually handled by jails. Option C) until they receive a hearing is incorrect, as this is commonly done in holding cells before trial. Option D) while they await trial is incorrect, as pretrial detention is also typically handled by jails.

Question 19

In the case of violent crimes, men and women appear to be equally likely to be sent to prison. However, research indicates that men receive _____ sentences.

Accepted Answer

The research suggests that in the case of violent crimes, men receive substantially longer prison sentences than women.

Question 20

Sentencing guidelines are put in place to assist judges in making consistent sentencing decisions. Examples of factors that affect sentencing according to the guidelines noted in the text include _____ and _____.

Accepted Answer

The two factors mentioned in the guidelines noted in the text are prior criminal record and type of crime. These are common factors that are taken into consideration when making sentencing decisions.

Quiz 16: Section 2: Corrections: Sentencing, Imprisonment, and Alternatives