Question 1

The decision between imposing consecutive sentences and concurrent sentences is the responsibility of the:

Accepted Answer

A)  judge 
B)  prosecuting attorney 
C)  grand jury 
D)  legislature 
A)  judge 
B)  prosecuting attorney 
C)  grand jury 
D)  legislature A

Question 2

In most courts in the United States plea bargaining occurs in about ______ of all cases.

Accepted Answer

A)  10% 
B)  36% 
C)  95% 
D)  100% 
A)  10% 
B)  36% 
C)  95% 
D)  100% C

Question 3

Define, describe, and explain sentencing guidelines. What are these guidelines designed to achieve? In terms of actors in the criminal justice system, who gains power and who loses power under guided sentencing systems?

Accepted Answer

Sentencing guidelines are a set of rules and principles that are used by judges and other legal professionals to determine the appropriate punishment for a convicted criminal. These guidelines take into account the severity of the crime, the criminal history of the offender, and other relevant factors to ensure that the punishment fits the crime.

These guidelines are designed to achieve several goals. First, they aim to promote consistency and fairness in sentencing, ensuring that similar crimes receive similar punishments regardless of the jurisdiction or the judge presiding over the case. This helps to reduce disparities in sentencing and promotes public confidence in the criminal justice system.

Second, sentencing guidelines are intended to promote proportionality in sentencing, ensuring that the punishment is commensurate with the severity of the crime. By providing a framework for determining appropriate sentences, these guidelines help to prevent overly harsh or lenient punishments.

In terms of actors in the criminal justice system, the implementation of sentencing guidelines can lead to a shift in power dynamics. Judges and other legal professionals gain power as they are given a structured framework for determining sentences, which can help to reduce the influence of personal biases or subjective factors in sentencing decisions. On the other hand, some argue that sentencing guidelines may limit the discretion of judges and reduce their ability to tailor sentences to the specific circumstances of individual cases, potentially leading to a loss of power for judges in this regard.

Overall, sentencing guidelines are designed to promote fairness, consistency, and proportionality in sentencing, but their implementation can have complex implications for the power dynamics within the criminal justice system.

Question 4

At the end of 2018 approximately how many people were on death rows in the United States?

Accepted Answer

A)  150 
B)  2,700 
C)  6,600 
D)  over 10,000 
A)  150 
B)  2,700 
C)  6,600 
D)  over 10,000

Question 5

What a case is "worth" in terms of the punishment deserved (as determined by the courtroom work group) describes what is known as:

Accepted Answer

A)  the presumption of innocence 
B)  time-and-tide 
C)  inherent value 
D)  the going rate 
A)  the presumption of innocence 
B)  time-and-tide 
C)  inherent value 
D)  the going rate

Question 6

Law enforcement agencies can seize cash or property that was associated with criminal activity.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

A court-ordered period of correctional supervision in the community defines:

Accepted Answer

A)  restorative justice 
B)  just deserts 
C)  parole 
D)  probation 
A)  restorative justice 
B)  just deserts 
C)  parole 
D)  probation

Question 8

Discuss the differences between felonies and misdemeanors. Who decides which category offenses fit into? How similarly are these cases handled?

Accepted Answer

Felonies and misdemeanors are two catego

Question 9

Mandatory minimum sentences are designed to limit the discretion of prosecutors.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Any punishment that is more severe than standard probation but less severe than imprisonment could be labeled:

Accepted Answer

A)  deferred sanctions 
B)  indefinite sanctions 
C)  intermediate sanctions 
D)  indeterminate sanctions 
A)  deferred sanctions 
B)  indefinite sanctions 
C)  intermediate sanctions 
D)  indeterminate sanctions

Question 11

Judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys are collectively known as the courtroom work group.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

What do we mean by intermediate sanctions? What do we hope to achieve by using such sanctions? Give some examples of these punishments.

Accepted Answer

Intermediate sanctions refer to a range

Question 13

The most serious offenses (typically calling for a prison sentence of one year or more) are labeled:

Accepted Answer

A)  felonies 
B)  misdemeanors 
C)  petty misdemeanors 
D)  infractions 
A)  felonies 
B)  misdemeanors 
C)  petty misdemeanors 
D)  infractions

Question 14

Fines are a relatively old form of criminal punishment.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Substantive law defines behaviors that constitute criminal offenses.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

The vast majority of criminal cases in the United States are resolved through jury trials.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Who bears the burden of proof in criminal cases in the United States?

Accepted Answer

A)  the prosecutor 
B)  the judge 
C)  the defense attorney 
D)  the jury 
A)  the prosecutor 
B)  the judge 
C)  the defense attorney 
D)  the jury

Question 18

Based on the description in the book, the most powerful actors in the criminal justice system are the:

Accepted Answer

A)  judges 
B)  prosecuting attorneys 
C)  sheriffs 
D)  defense attorneys 
A)  judges 
B)  prosecuting attorneys 
C)  sheriffs 
D)  defense attorneys

Question 19

A sentence within a range specified by a minimum and maximum term is considered a determinate sentence.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

In the 1960s Herbert Packer characterized the criminal justice system's handling of minor cases in the United States as:

Accepted Answer

A)  an assembly line 
B)  a sporting event 
C)  a tug-of-war 
D)  mass confusion 
A)  an assembly line 
B)  a sporting event 
C)  a tug-of-war 
D)  mass confusion

The decision between imposing consecutive sentences and concurrent sentences is the responsibility of the:

In most courts in the United States plea bargaining occurs in about ______ of all cases.

Define, describe, and explain sentencing guidelines. What are these guidelines designed to achieve? In terms of actors in the criminal justice system, who gains power and who loses power under guided sentencing systems?

At the end of 2018 approximately how many people were on death rows in the United States?

What a case is "worth" in terms of the punishment deserved (as determined by the courtroom work group) describes what is known as:

Law enforcement agencies can seize cash or property that was associated with criminal activity.

A court-ordered period of correctional supervision in the community defines:

Discuss the differences between felonies and misdemeanors. Who decides which category offenses fit into? How similarly are these cases handled?

Mandatory minimum sentences are designed to limit the discretion of prosecutors.

Any punishment that is more severe than standard probation but less severe than imprisonment could be labeled:

Judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys are collectively known as the courtroom work group.

What do we mean by intermediate sanctions? What do we hope to achieve by using such sanctions? Give some examples of these punishments.

The most serious offenses (typically calling for a prison sentence of one year or more) are labeled:

Fines are a relatively old form of criminal punishment.

Substantive law defines behaviors that constitute criminal offenses.

The vast majority of criminal cases in the United States are resolved through jury trials.

Who bears the burden of proof in criminal cases in the United States?

Based on the description in the book, the most powerful actors in the criminal justice system are the:

A sentence within a range specified by a minimum and maximum term is considered a determinate sentence.

In the 1960s Herbert Packer characterized the criminal justice system's handling of minor cases in the United States as:

Introduction to Corrections

A Brief History of Punishments and Corrections

Probation and Community Corrections

Jails and Detention Facilities

Institutional Corrections

Correctional Personnel

Prisoners and Prison Life

Living and Dying in Prison

Parole and Prisoner Reentry

Gender Issues in Corrections

Corrections Law and Inmate Litigation

The Future of Corrections

Juvenile Justice: Trends, Policies, and Challenges

Filters

Exam 3: Sentencing and Criminal Sanctions

The decision between imposing consecutive sentences and concurrent sentences is the responsibility of the:

In most courts in the United States plea bargaining occurs in about ______ of all cases.

Define, describe, and explain sentencing guidelines. What are these guidelines designed to achieve? In terms of actors in the criminal justice system, who gains power and who loses power under guided sentencing systems?

At the end of 2018 approximately how many people were on death rows in the United States?

What a case is "worth" in terms of the punishment deserved (as determined by the courtroom work group) describes what is known as:

Law enforcement agencies can seize cash or property that was associated with criminal activity.

A court-ordered period of correctional supervision in the community defines:

Discuss the differences between felonies and misdemeanors. Who decides which category offenses fit into? How similarly are these cases handled?

Mandatory minimum sentences are designed to limit the discretion of prosecutors.

Any punishment that is more severe than standard probation but less severe than imprisonment could be labeled:

Judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys are collectively known as the courtroom work group.

What do we mean by intermediate sanctions? What do we hope to achieve by using such sanctions? Give some examples of these punishments.

The most serious offenses (typically calling for a prison sentence of one year or more) are labeled:

Fines are a relatively old form of criminal punishment.

Substantive law defines behaviors that constitute criminal offenses.

The vast majority of criminal cases in the United States are resolved through jury trials.

Who bears the burden of proof in criminal cases in the United States?

Based on the description in the book, the most powerful actors in the criminal justice system are the:

A sentence within a range specified by a minimum and maximum term is considered a determinate sentence.

In the 1960s Herbert Packer characterized the criminal justice system's handling of minor cases in the United States as:

Introduction to Corrections

A Brief History of Punishments and Corrections

Probation and Community Corrections

Jails and Detention Facilities

Institutional Corrections

Correctional Personnel

Prisoners and Prison Life

Living and Dying in Prison

Parole and Prisoner Reentry

Gender Issues in Corrections

Corrections Law and Inmate Litigation

The Future of Corrections

Juvenile Justice: Trends, Policies, and Challenges

Filters