Exam 14: Going Forward: Challenges to and Opportunities for Criminal Justice Reform

Miko works in the criminal justice system and is very concerned about penalties being imposed that have no relation to offence seriousness or offender culpability. Which of the following best reflects Miko's concern?

There is often a disconnect between criminal justice policy and scholarly research.

What are some of the positive effects/consequences of criminal justice system accountability?

Which of the following is NOT true of the recent trend towards increased use of technology in the criminal justice system?

Canada has far more research funding for university scholars than the United Kingdom and Australia.

Which of the following is true of evidence-based practices in the criminal justice system?

One of the challenges to developing evidence-based practices is the fear of the unknown.

What is the somewhat ironic consequence of funding cutbacks in the criminal justice system? Do you think this is a good thing or a bad thing for the future of criminal justice in Canada? Explain.

Francesca is a community member who has recently heard about a restorative justice program being introduced into her community. She is against the introduction of this program because she feels it is soft on crime. Which of the following best describes Francesca's attitude?

One of the challenges to developing evidence-based practices is concern about cost.

As of late 2013, the Circles of Support and Accountability program has become completely inactive due to cuts in federal funding.

What is the danger associated with the increasing use of technology in the criminal justice system?

Legislation and policy are very often guided by political considerations.

The majority of civil suits against the criminal justice system are settled out of court.

The criminal justice system has a limited ability to solve problems, tending to react to them rather than get at the root causes. What are some examples of initiatives that offer the opportunity to address more than just criminal behaviour?

Canada is one of the leading countries in output of evidence-based criminal justice research.

For some offenders, interactions with the criminal justice system may lead to increased likelihood of reoffending.

Why is it crucial for the criminal justice system to adhere to the rule of law and respect the rights of accused individuals? Do you think the Canadian system does a good job of attaining this goal? Why or why not?

Which of the following criminal justice initiatives has emerged in an effort to deal with the problem of over-criminalization?

Consider the arguments for and against introducing legislation requiring the criminal justice system to adopt evidence-based practices and to discontinue practices that are shown to be ineffective.