Deck 18: Incarceration Trends

Question 1

Public attitudes in favor of more-punitive sentencing policies have influenced legislators to approve building more prisons.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

What region within the United States has the highest incarceration rate by population?

A) The South
B) The Northeast
C) The West
D) The Southwest

Answer 2

A

Question 3

States with high unemployment rates have higher prison populations than states with lower unemployment rates.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Some overseers think a hardening of public attitudes toward criminals is reflected in longer sentences.

Question 5

For health and safety concerns, crowded living conditions in correctional facilities cannot be tolerated.

Question 6

Correctional officials have exclusive control over the intake of new convicted individuals.

Question 7

The greater number of people in prison means that there are more incarcerated individuals in programs.

Question 8

The United States incarcerates its people at approximately the same rate as other countries.

Question 9

We have clear evidence that imprisonment is cost-effective.

Question 10

A study found that Texas, the state with the greatest number of prisons, increased the number of its facilities by more than percent between 1979 and 2000.

A) 175
B) 400
C) 700
D) 550

Question 11

There seems to be little relationship between the crime rate and the incarceration rate.

Question 12

Various "backdoor strategies" are the main ways that correctional officials can take steps to reduce prison populations.

Question 13

The makeup of the incarcerated community in terms of race, age, and criminal record has little effect on how institutions are operated.

Question 14

States with more generous welfare benefits have higher prison populations.

Question 15

From 1930 through 1990, the U.S. prison population remained relatively stable.

Question 16

Prison crowding directly affects the ability of correctional staff to do their work because it decreases the proportion of individuals in programs, increases the potential for violence, and strains morale.

Question 17

The states with highest incarceration rates tend to be in the Northeast region of the country.
a. True
b. False

Question 18

A large percentage of the admissions to prison each year are parole violators.

Question 19

Since 1980, the percentage of people serving time for violent offenses has declined, while the number incarcerated for drug offenses has increased substantially.
a. True
b. False

Question 20

Researchers argue that using technical violations as a crime prevention strategy does not make a meaningful difference in the criminal activity of people released from prison.

Question 21

To "do something" about crime, government leaders have enacted .

A) tough sentencing policies
B) increased law enforcement spending
C) tough parole policies
D) All of these are correct

Question 22

Critics have argued that the incarceration of large numbers of people for offenses is not an efficient use of valuable prison space.

A) misdemeanor
B) property
C) drug-only
D) violent

Question 23

Overcrowded prisons may violate the .

A) First Amendment
B) Fourth Amendment
C) Sixth Amendment
D) Eighth Amendment

Question 24

A correctional officer's ability to do his or her job is impacted by prison overcrowding in what ways?

A) Increased potential for violence
B) Strain on staff morale
C) Limited ability to run programs
D) All of these are correct

Question 25

Researchers recognize that the size of the prison population is not driven by the amount of crime, but by .

A) public policy
B) economic conditions
C) prison conditions
D) crime laws in each state

Question 26

The shift to sentences, truth-in-sentencing laws, and a drop in release rates have contributed to the higher prison population.

A) misdemeanor
B) discretionary
C) determinate
D) indeterminate

Question 27

Intermediate sanctions include which of the following?

A) Community service
B) Boot camps
C) Home confinement
D) All of these are correct

Question 28

According to the authors, the most costly correctional resource is .

A) the prison
B) intermediate sanctions
C) probation
D) intensive supervision probation

Question 29

Which of the following groups makes up a larger percentage of the incarcerated population?

A) African Americans and women
B) Hispanics and elderly
C) Caucasians and women
D) Both African Americans and Hispanics

Question 30

Indeterminate sanctions include community service, restitution, fines, boot camp, home confinement, and .

A) intensive probation supervision
B) rehabilitation
C) restoration
D) psychotherapy

Question 31

When compared to other developed countries, America's incarceration rate is extremely .

A) insignificant
B) low
C) average
D) high

Question 32

In addition to optimizing the cost-benefit differential in incarceration, certain issues would need to be addressed if a more rational incarceration policy is to be designed.

A) legal
B) practical
C) economic and logistical
D) political and moral

Question 33

The prison population in this country has skyrocketed. Explanations for this include .

A) public attitudes toward crime and punishment
B) increased arrests
C) the war on drugs
D) All of these are correct

Question 34

Proponents who say that nothing should be done about prison overcrowding subscribe to the strategy.

A) prison population reduction
B) null
C) construction
D) just deserts

Question 35

Blumstein and Beck found that eighty percent of California's recommitments stemmed from .

A) technical violations
B) violent offenses
C) new crimes
D) None of these are correct

Question 36

Over the past decade, arrest rates for have fallen.

A) drug offenses
B) violent crimes
C) property crimes
D) theft

Question 37

Studies have indicated that increasing the proportion of people sent to prison produces diminishing returns in crime reduction, which means that .

A) there is a limit to prison capacities
B) crime rates will eventually go up again
C) incarceration brings hidden costs to society
D) the benefits to public safety from each additional person in prison decrease

Question 38

Systemic approaches to dealing with prison overcrowding must be undertaken by .

A) states
B) the courts
C) law enforcement
D) corrections officials

Question 39

Methods of dealing with prison crowding include .

A) reducing prison populations
B) implementing more intermediate sanctions
C) doing nothing
D) All of these are correct

Question 40

For most of the 20th century, the numbers of incarcerated people in the United States .

A) grew
B) held steady
C) decreased
D) were not calculated

Question 41

a. Relieving overcrowding by building more prisons
b. Strains staff morale
c. Cheaper than prison
d. Doing nothing about prison overcrowding
e. Incarceration rate above historical norms
f. African Americans/Hispanics
g. Higher prison populations as a whole
h. Average U.S. incarceration rate from 2000 to 2007
i. One of the causes of the current high incarceration rates
States with higher revenues

Question 42

a. Relieving overcrowding by building more prisons
b. Strains staff morale
c. Cheaper than prison
d. Doing nothing about prison overcrowding
e. Incarceration rate above historical norms
f. African Americans/Hispanics
g. Higher prison populations as a whole
h. Average U.S. incarceration rate from 2000 to 2007
i. One of the causes of the current high incarceration rates
Null strategy

Question 43

New mandatory sentencing laws greatly limit the discretion of with regard to the length of sentences for certain offenses.

Question 44

Legislatures typically estimate that new prison construction costs roughly per cell.

A) $10,000
B) $50,000
C) $30,000
D) $75,000

Question 45

Which U.S. president declared an official "war on drugs"?

A) Jimmy Carter
B) George W. Bush
C) Ronald Reagan
D) Bill Clinton

Question 46

Which of the following is NOT one of the four primary strategies for dealing with overcrowded prisons?

A) Get tough
B) Intermediate sanctions
C) Null
D) Construction

Question 47

Judges in several states have ordered that prison residents be removed from in which crowding violates the Constitution.

Question 48

a. Relieving overcrowding by building more prisons
b. Strains staff morale
c. Cheaper than prison
d. Doing nothing about prison overcrowding
e. Incarceration rate above historical norms
f. African Americans/Hispanics
g. Higher prison populations as a whole
h. Average U.S. incarceration rate from 2000 to 2007
i. One of the causes of the current high incarceration rates
War on drugs

Question 49

a. Relieving overcrowding by building more prisons
b. Strains staff morale
c. Cheaper than prison
d. Doing nothing about prison overcrowding
e. Incarceration rate above historical norms
f. African Americans/Hispanics
g. Higher prison populations as a whole
h. Average U.S. incarceration rate from 2000 to 2007
i. One of the causes of the current high incarceration rates
Largest percentage of population of incarcerated people

Question 50

a. Relieving overcrowding by building more prisons
b. Strains staff morale
c. Cheaper than prison
d. Doing nothing about prison overcrowding
e. Incarceration rate above historical norms
f. African Americans/Hispanics
g. Higher prison populations as a whole
h. Average U.S. incarceration rate from 2000 to 2007
i. One of the causes of the current high incarceration rates
Feature of mass imprisonment

Question 51

a. Relieving overcrowding by building more prisons
b. Strains staff morale
c. Cheaper than prison
d. Doing nothing about prison overcrowding
e. Incarceration rate above historical norms
f. African Americans/Hispanics
g. Higher prison populations as a whole
h. Average U.S. incarceration rate from 2000 to 2007
i. One of the causes of the current high incarceration rates
Intermediate sanctions

Question 52

a. Relieving overcrowding by building more prisons
b. Strains staff morale
c. Cheaper than prison
d. Doing nothing about prison overcrowding
e. Incarceration rate above historical norms
f. African Americans/Hispanics
g. Higher prison populations as a whole
h. Average U.S. incarceration rate from 2000 to 2007
i. One of the causes of the current high incarceration rates
Construction strategy

Question 53

Those convicted of offenses serve the longest sentences.

Question 54

Supporters of incarceration believe that current policies have in lowering the crime rate.

A) failed
B) succeeded
C) slightly helped
D) had little impact

Question 55

Crowded prisons may violate standards.

Question 56

Opponents of new prison construction believe that, given the nature of bureaucratic organizations, prison cells will always be .

A) expensive
B) filled
C) rundown
D) valuable

Question 57

a. Relieving overcrowding by building more prisons
b. Strains staff morale
c. Cheaper than prison
d. Doing nothing about prison overcrowding
e. Incarceration rate above historical norms
f. African Americans/Hispanics
g. Higher prison populations as a whole
h. Average U.S. incarceration rate from 2000 to 2007
i. One of the causes of the current high incarceration rates
490 per 100,000

Question 58

a. Relieving overcrowding by building more prisons
b. Strains staff morale
c. Cheaper than prison
d. Doing nothing about prison overcrowding
e. Incarceration rate above historical norms
f. African Americans/Hispanics
g. Higher prison populations as a whole
h. Average U.S. incarceration rate from 2000 to 2007
i. One of the causes of the current high incarceration rates
Overcrowding

Question 59

Corrections officials have little or no control over the of newly convicted individuals.

Question 60

The strategy for dealing with prison overcrowding advocates building new facilities.

A) null
B) get tough
C) jail house
D) construction

Question 61

What factors do you think have been the most crucial in the dramatic increase in the incarceration rate? What current trends do you see as having the most important role in determining the incarceration rate for the foreseeable future?

Question 62

Why is the question of whether incarceration pays such a pertinent issue? Discuss the factors that public policy officials must take into account when addressing this question.

Question 63

What would you suggest to lawmakers as a means of decreasing the overall prison population? Explain your reasoning.

Question 64

Crusades against drugs are not a new phenomenon; in fact, the effort to deter people from using drugs dates back to the late ____________.

Question 65

A large portion of the prison population is made up of convicted individuals who are being returned to prison for new crimes or for _____________.

Question 66

What are the most serious impacts of prison crowding, and what are their legal and constitutional ramifications?

Question 67

The strategy advocates doing nothing to relieve prison overcrowding, under the assumption that the problem will take care of itself.

Question 68

States with more generous benefits have lower prison populations.

Question 69

Do you think any of the impacts of prison overcrowding will force lawmakers, the courts, or correctional officials to take steps to reverse the trend? Explain your answer.

Question 70

List and explain three unintended consequences of our ever-increasing prison population. Discuss the political and social effects of these consequences.

Question 71

The four states with the highest incarceration rates are located in the of the United States.

Question 72

Some argue that California's extensive use of technical violations is justified as a measure.

Question 73

In recent years scholars have shown that the of prisons make a significant economic and political impact in some states.

Question 74

According to research findings, states with higher have higher prison populations.

Question 75

According to organizational theorists, such as hospitals and schools are used to their fullest capacity.

Question 76

The state of currently has the highest incarceration rate in the United States.

Question 77

As a direct consequence of higher incarceration rates, courts have cited states for maintaining overcrowded prisons that violate an incarcerated person's Amendment right prohibiting cruel and unusual punishment.

Question 78

The skyrocketing prison population has created a correctional crisis of .

Question 79

Define and discuss the "war on drugs." How has the war on drugs affected U.S. prison populations?

Question 80

To begin the "war on drugs," Congress in 1987 imposed stiff sentences for federal drug violations, laws that many states copied.