Question 1

Which of the following is not a substantive right granted inmates by the Supreme Court?

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court has not granted inmates the substantive right to earn educational degrees. While inmates do have access to legal materials, freedom of religion, and medical rights as recognized by the Supreme Court, the right to earn educational degrees is not a guaranteed substantive right. Access to education in prison is often provided, but it is not a right directly granted by the Supreme Court.

Question 2

Withholding medical treatment is a violation of the ____ Amendment.

Accepted Answer

Withholding medical treatment can be considered a form of cruel and unusual punishment, which is prohibited by the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Question 3

Which is not a common form of inmate vocational program in use today?

Accepted Answer

Convict-leasing is not a common form of inmate vocational program in use today. It was a system used primarily in the Southern United States in the 19th and early 20th centuries, where prisoners were leased to perform labor for private parties, such as plantation owners and corporations. This practice has been abolished and is not used in modern correctional systems.

Question 4

Courts have ruled that inmates are entitled to have legal materials and resources available to assist them in filing complaints, which includes:

Accepted Answer

Courts have ruled that inmates must have access to legal materials and resources to assist them in filing complaints. While not necessarily provided with a trained and bar-certified lawyer, law students, or a paid law professor, inmates often have access to an inmate who is knowledgeable in legal matters, commonly referred to as a "jailhouse lawyer." This ensures that inmates can receive some form of legal assistance even within the constraints of the prison system.

Question 5

In recent years, the view of correctional officers has changed to the one where they:

Accepted Answer

The view of correctional officers has evolved to recognize them more as public servants, acknowledging their role in maintaining safety and order within correctional facilities, rather than just enforcing discipline. This perspective emphasizes their contribution to the broader public service sector.

Question 6

Which of the following inmates would be most at risk for committing violence during his time in prison?

Accepted Answer

Juvenile offenders in adult institutions are at a higher risk for committing violence, especially if they have a history of drug use before arrest. This is due to their vulnerability, lack of coping mechanisms, and potential for exploitation or need to assert themselves in a more dangerous environment.

Question 7

Which factors have been linked to recidivism?

Accepted Answer

All of the choices listed (A: A history of physical and sexual abuse, B: Maintenance of criminal peer association, and C: Harboring of aggressive feelings) have been linked to recidivism in various studies and research, indicating that a combination of personal history, social environment, and psychological factors can influence the likelihood of reoffending.

Question 8

Which is not a factor contributing to individual violence in prison?

Accepted Answer

Administrative control refers to the measures and policies implemented by prison management to maintain order and safety within the facility. It is not a factor contributing to individual violence among inmates but rather a method to mitigate and manage such behavior. Factors like a history of prior violence, age, and psychological issues are personal attributes or experiences that can contribute to an individual's propensity for violence in prison.

Question 9

The "hands-off doctrine" refers to:

Accepted Answer

The "hands-off doctrine" refers to the period prior to the 1960s when federal courts generally did not interfere with or adjudicate on the administration of prisons, leaving the management of prisons and the treatment of inmates largely to the discretion of prison officials. This approach changed significantly in the latter part of the 20th century as courts began to address the rights of inmates more actively.

Question 10

Ben is an identity thief. His scam is fairly straightforward: he has a skimmer that he puts on the credit card reader at the gas station. When unsuspecting patrons pay for their gasoline, Ben gets a copy of their credit card information. Ben has just purchased a Mercedes Benz under one of his unsuspecting victim's names. When the car dealer does the credit check, they find that there is an alert for potential stolen identity. Ben is arrested, charged, convicted, and sentenced to 10 years in prison. As an identity thief who is good with numbers and money, Ben makes friends inside prison pretty quickly. He runs a betting ring that both correctional officers and inmates are part of and Ben gives pointers to some of the younger guys. Ben's situation is in direct opposition to which concept of prison?

Accepted Answer

Ben's situation contradicts the concept of a "Total institution," where every aspect of an inmate's life is controlled and structured by the institution, leaving little room for personal agency or the establishment of complex social roles within the prison environment. Ben's ability to run a betting ring and influence others indicates he has a significant amount of personal agency and social influence, which is not typical in a total institution setting.

Question 11

Which is false about the effectiveness of parole?

Accepted Answer

The failure rate of parolees has not dramatically decreased over the past 10 years; recidivism rates have remained relatively stable.

Question 12

In which 1994 case did the court rule that prison officials are legally liable if, knowing that an inmate faces a serious risk of harm, they disregard that risk by failing to take measures to avoid or reduce it?

Accepted Answer

Farmer v. Brennan is the 1994 Supreme Court case that established prison officials can be held liable under the Eighth Amendment when they are deliberately indifferent to a substantial risk of serious harm to an inmate.

Question 13

Which theory of collective inmate violence attributes the problem to abrupt crackdowns or changes in inmate freedoms that are implemented by prison administrators?

Accepted Answer

The inmate-balance theory suggests that collective inmate violence can occur when prison administrators make abrupt changes or crackdowns on inmate freedoms, disrupting the balance and leading to unrest.

Question 14

Ben is an identity thief. His scam is fairly straightforward: he has a skimmer that he puts on the credit card reader at the gas station. When unsuspecting patrons pay for their gasoline, Ben gets a copy of their credit card information. Ben has just purchased a Mercedes Benz under one of his unsuspecting victim's names. When the car dealer does the credit check, they find that there is an alert for potential stolen identity. Ben is arrested, charged, convicted, and sentenced to 10 years in prison. As an identity thief who is good with numbers and money, Ben makes friends inside prison pretty quickly. He runs a betting ring that both correctional officers and inmates are part of. Ben has a beef with one of the other inmates. The other guy hasn't paid his gambling debt but keeps betting on games. Ben is growing tired of dealing with the inmate, but he is trying not to lose his head. Why won't he go ahead and get his money at any cost?

Accepted Answer

Ben is likely adhering to an inmate social code, which may discourage violence over debts to maintain order and avoid further trouble.

Question 15

Which case forced corrections departments to upgrade prison medical facilities?

Accepted Answer

Newman v. Alabama was a landmark case that addressed inadequate medical care in prisons, leading to reforms and improvements in prison medical facilities.

Question 16

Ben is an identity thief. His scam is fairly straightforward: he has a skimmer that he puts on the credit card reader at the gas station. When unsuspecting patrons pay for their gasoline, Ben gets a copy of their credit card information. Ben has just purchased a Mercedes Benz under one of his unsuspecting victim's names. When the car dealer does the credit check, they find that there is an alert for potential stolen identity. Ben is arrested, charged, convicted, and sentenced to 10 years in prison. As an identity thief who is good with numbers and money, Ben makes friends inside prison pretty quickly. He runs a betting ring that both correctional officers and inmates are part of and Ben gives pointers to some of the younger guys. Getting used to prison hasn't been easy for Ben. He is a homosexual and was in a committed relationship on the outside, and now he misses his partner. Even though he is in an all-male institution, he has never been assaulted or victimized. Other inmates seem to respect him. Why might this be?

Accepted Answer

Ben is respected because he is "true" to himself, which likely earns him respect from other inmates who value authenticity and integrity within the prison social structure.

Question 17

What was the most widely used device or legislation to bring prisoners' complaints before state and federal courts in the late 1960s?

Accepted Answer

The Federal Civil Rights Act, specifically 42 U.S.C. 1983, was the most widely used mechanism for prisoners to bring their complaints before state and federal courts in the late 1960s. This act allows individuals to sue in federal court for civil rights violations, including those related to conditions of imprisonment.

Question 18

Which is not believed to be a reason that people fail on parole?

Accepted Answer

The parole system placing unrealistic expectations on ex-offenders is not typically cited as a primary reason for parole failure. The other options are more commonly believed to contribute to parolees failing.

Question 19

In adapting to a female institution, a common practice is:

Accepted Answer

Receiving social support from other inmates and family is a common practice in adapting to a female institution. This includes forming supportive networks and bonds with other inmates and maintaining connections with family members outside the institution, which can significantly aid in the adaptation process and overall well-being.

Question 20

Ben is an identity thief. His scam is fairly straightforward: he has a skimmer that he puts on the credit card reader at the gas station. When unsuspecting patrons pay for their gasoline, Ben gets a copy of their credit card information. Ben has just purchased a Mercedes Benz under one of his unsuspecting victim's names. When the car dealer does the credit check, they find that there is an alert for potential stolen identity. Ben is arrested, charged, convicted, and sentenced to 10 years in prison. As an identity thief who is good with numbers and money, Ben makes friends inside prison pretty quickly. He runs a betting ring that both correctional officers and inmates are part of and Ben gives pointers to some of the younger guys. In addition to Ben's betting practice, he has a job in the captain's office helping crunch numbers and budgets. What does Ben accomplish by working in the captain's office?

Accepted Answer

Vocational training can be seen as a positive factor during a parole hearing, as it demonstrates rehabilitation efforts and skill development.

Quiz 12: Prison Life: Living in and Leaving Prison