Exam 12: Courts and Multiculturalism

Prosecutors primarily rely on the strength of evidence in their decisions to file charges.

The Federal Jury Selection and Services Act of 1968:

The research literature has not consistently demonstrated that those represented by public defenders receive harsher sentences than those who use private counsel.

At trial, defendants offer one of two defenses: an alibi or an affirmative defense.

The ______________ Act, passed in 2018, was created to address sentencing concerns and help ensure that released offenders do not recidivate.

A ___________ is a document informing individuals of their call to jury duty.

The ___________ doctrine holds that a trial court decision will not be overturned based on small, insignificant mistakes that appear to have small or no impact on the trial.

Those who cannot afford legal representation in court are referred to as __________ defendants.

__________ refers to the practice of jurors acquitting particular defendants despite strong evidence suggesting guilt. It has become increasingly controversial as several prominent African American scholars encouraged Blacks to acquit other Blacks due to perceived mistreatment of African Americans by the courts.

Although most U.S. counties use the assigned counsel system, most defendants are represented by ___________ who work in offices that exist solely to provide indigent representation.

In Johnson v. Zerbst, the Supreme Court ruled that all who enter state courts have the right to counsel at all critical stages of the criminal justice process.

Most states permit convicted felons from serving on juries.

Defendants are typically present during grand jury hearings.

Although not widely used, the defense ___________ attempts to provide legal justification for criminal behavior by some African Americans frustrated by oppression resulting from living in a White-dominated society.

The federal government in the United States ceased using sentencing guidelines following the Supreme Court's decision in ___________. The guidelines are now used in an advisory manner in federal courts.

Grand jury hearings involve a prosecutor demonstrating to a judge why charges have been filed and justification for continued processing.

Researchers have identified four reasons why African American and Hispanic defendants receive harsher penalties than their White counterparts. Which of the following is NOT among the reasons?

With regard to the purposes of criminal sentencing, ___________ involves physically preventing one from committing similar acts in the future.

States use various methods to construct the __________, the list of potential jurors.

In 1986, the Supreme Court ruled in _________ that a prosecutor's use of peremptory challenges may not include the dismissal of members of the jury pool based solely on their race.