Question 1

The U.S. Attorney General is appointed by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Attorney General is appointed by the President, subject to confirmation by the Senate.

Question 2

Charges are read and penalties and constitutional guarantees of a right to legal representation are explained at a(n) ______.

Accepted Answer

An arraignment is the court proceeding where charges are formally read to the defendant, and their rights, including the right to legal representation, are explained. This is the stage where the defendant will also enter a plea.

Question 3

If a court finds probable cause, the cases are then transferred to which of the following types of courts?

Accepted Answer

Probable cause findings typically lead to cases being transferred to district courts, where the initial trial proceedings occur. Appeals, U.S. Supreme Court, and state supreme courts generally handle cases after decisions have been made in lower courts.

Question 4

Which of the following pleas results in bail being set?

Accepted Answer

Bail is typically set after a defendant pleads not guilty, as it allows them the opportunity to be released from custody while awaiting trial. Pleas of guilty, no contest, and nolo contendere (which is essentially the same as a no contest plea) generally move the case towards sentencing rather than setting conditions for release.

Question 5

Parole officers work with which of the following types of individuals?

Accepted Answer

Parole officers typically work with individuals who have been released from prison, as parole is a conditional release from a prison sentence.

Question 6

Probation is granted in lieu of ______.

Accepted Answer

Probation is granted in lieu of incarceration in a jail.

Question 7

Which of the following was designed to reduce any uncertainty about the amount of time an offender must serve in prison?

Accepted Answer

Truth-in-sentencing laws are designed to ensure that offenders serve a substantial portion of their prison sentence, thereby reducing uncertainty about the actual time served.

Question 8

Critics of three strikes laws claim that the laws violate the protections afforded under the ______ Amendment.

Accepted Answer

Critics argue that three strikes laws, which often impose life sentences after a third felony conviction, can result in disproportionately harsh penalties for relatively minor crimes, thus violating the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.

Question 9

Under the federal three strikes provision, the punishment for individuals who had two or more prior convictions, of which at least one was a serious felony, was ______.

Accepted Answer

The federal three strikes provision mandates a minimum sentence of 15 years to life for individuals with two or more prior convictions, of which at least one was a serious felony.

Question 10

The inhibition of criminal behavior, or discouraging a crime because the potential perpetrator fears the consequences of his or her behavior is referred to as ______.

Accepted Answer

Deterrence is the concept of discouraging criminal acts by threatening punishment. It operates on the principle that the fear of consequences can prevent people from engaging in unlawful activities.

Question 11

Which of the following is measured by criminal acts committed by an individual that results in a subsequent arrest, reconviction, or return to prison with or without a new sentence within 3 years after the individual is released?

Accepted Answer

Recidivism refers to the tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend, particularly as measured by the metrics of arrest, reconviction, or return to prison within a specified period after release, commonly within 3 years.

Question 12

All of the following are known to decrease recidivism except ______.

Accepted Answer

Ongoing gang affiliation is known to increase, not decrease, recidivism. Programs like drug or alcohol rehabilitation, providing ongoing support in the community, and job training and education are designed to address underlying issues and provide resources that can help individuals avoid returning to criminal behavior.

Question 13

Which of the following racial groups is overrepresented in the prison and jail populations?

Accepted Answer

African Americans are overrepresented in the prison and jail populations compared to their percentage in the general population.

Question 14

Which of the following types of laws increased the arrest rates of young African American males?

Accepted Answer

Drug laws, particularly those related to the War on Drugs, have disproportionately increased the arrest rates of young African American males. These laws often carry harsh penalties for offenses involving substances that are more commonly policed in minority communities.

Question 15

According to the text, ______ are incarcerated at five times the rate of Whites.

Accepted Answer

African Americans are incarcerated at five times the rate of Whites, highlighting significant racial disparities within the criminal justice system.

Question 16

Which of the following processes transfers a juvenile to criminal court so he or she may be tried as an adult?

Accepted Answer

A waiver hearing is the process through which a juvenile court judge decides if a juvenile case should be transferred to adult criminal court, allowing the juvenile to be tried as an adult.

Question 17

According to the text, which of the following types of laws produced the intended effects?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the text, which of the...

Question 18

According to the text, children under the age of 18 who are incarcerated in adult prisons face all of the following challenges except ______.

Accepted Answer

The text does not mention the lack of medical treatment for drug addiction as a challenge faced by incarcerated children in adult prisons.

Question 19

Which of the following amendments guarantees the right to bear arms and is at the forefront of the gun control controversy?

Accepted Answer

The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the right to bear arms and is often cited in the gun control debate.

Question 20

Actions that are prohibited by federal and state governments because they are deemed to be harmful to society are referred to as crimes.

Accepted Answer

Crimes are actions that are prohibited by federal and state governments because they are considered harmful to society, and they can lead to punishment if one is found guilty of committing them.

Quiz 6: Crime and Public Policy