Deck 6: Police Discretion and Dilemmas

Question 1

According to South, some of the ethical problems with informants include all of the following except:

A)officers becoming personally involved with informants.
B)overestimating the veracity of the informant's information.
C)using coercion and intimidation to force the informant to cooperate.
D)falsely complimenting the informant to make him feel essential to the operation.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

What is the name for a legal agreement between the Justice Department and a police department, which agrees to monitoring and reform of certain practices to avoid a lawsuit?

A)A memorandum of force
B)A consent decree
C)A justice provision
D)A PERF

Answer 2

B

Question 3

In confrontations between police and citizens, research has shown that factors leading to disrespectful interaction include each of the following except:

A)time of day.
B)presence of intoxicants.
C)number of bystanders.
D)being in a disadvantaged neighborhood.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

According to research provided in the text, which of the following is not a factor associated with the use of force by police?

A)Time of year (season)
B)Suspect's mental illness
C)Suspect's gang membership
D)Presence of onlookers

Question 5

An informant may __________ without posing the threat of being unreliable.

A)participate in a crime
B)have a love affair with an officer
C)entrap people
D)receive drugs from an officer

Question 6

Which of the following statements is true?

A)One of the biggest problems with informants is that their reliability is often highly questionable.
B)In most cases, officers have manufactured informants.
C)Generally speaking, informants tend to be cost-prohibitive.
D)"Confidential informants" are usually more trustworthy than witnesses.

Question 7

In Barker and Carter's proposed typology of lies, those that are considered "necessary evils" are known as:

A)deviant lies.
B)tolerated lies.
C)encouraged lies.
D)placebo lies.

Question 8

What is the program used by federal officials to help obviate abuses in asset forfeiture?

A)Equitable sharing
B)Wealth spreading
C)Adaptive forfeitures
D)Consent decrees

Question 9

Which of the following statements is true?

A)Most studies indicate that Blacks and Hispanics both distrust police at the same level.
B)Police are largely considered the only racist part of the justice system.
C)Hispanics and whites generally have the same amount of trust for police.
D)Perceptions of police vary greatly between African American populations of different cities.

Question 10

Recent studies of Oakland police body cameras found:

A)Black motorists were more likely to be physically abused.
B)White motorists were less likely to show disrespect to officers.
C)Black motorists were more likely to have a weapon pointed at them.
D)Police officers were more likely to be polite to white motorists.

Question 11

According to Barker and Carter, accepted lies must meet all of the following standards except:

A)they must be in furtherance of a legitimate organizational purpose.
B)there must be a clear relationship between the need to deceive and the accomplishment of an organizational purpose.
C)the nature of the deception must be such that it will better serve the public interest than the truth.
D)those involved in the lie must reveal the truth as soon as it becomes safe to do so.

Question 12

Justifiable homicide ________.

A)is no longer a part of written law in the United States.
B)is usually performed by police.
C)is not a category reported on any official measure of homicide.
D)is also called "unintentional manslaughter."

Question 13

Generally, undercover actions are analyzed under _________

A)utilitarianism.
B)ethical formalism.
C)ethics of care.
D)enlightened egoism.

Question 14

Use of force can be predicted by:

A)characteristics of the target, such as gender and demeanor.
B)situational characteristics, such as whether the pursuit is in car or on foot.
C)characteristics of the officer, such as ethnicity.
D)All of these are correct.

Question 15

Lies that are used to control a suspect or to avoid the use of force are called:

A)deviant lies.
B)blue lies.
C)tolerated lies.
D)accepted lies.

Question 16

The term entrapment refers to an incident wherein an otherwise innocent person commits an illegal act because:

A)of police encouragement or enticement.
B)they were told by police that it was not against the law.
C)he or she was following the lead of an informant.
D)they were unable to leave the location.

Question 17

The continuum-of-force approach allows the officer to:

A)overwhelm the suspect with force to deter resistance.
B)employ increasing levels of force in direct response to escalating resistance of the suspect.
C)call for assistance from additional officers if a suspect is unruly.
D)remain at a safe distance from a violent suspect until backup arrives.

Question 18

Where do the authors suggest is the location of the most egregious cases of discriminatory law enforcement?

A)The Midwest
B)The southern border of the United States.
C)The deep South.
D)The Pacific Northwest.

Question 19

In Barker and Carter's proposed typology of lies, "deviant lies" are:

A)those that are "necessary evils."
B)used to control the person.
C)those used during undercover investigations.
D)those used in the courtroom to make a case or cover up a wrongdoing.

Question 20

According to Klockars, lying to a mentally ill person by telling him/her that the police will take care of laser beams from Mars is an example of:

A)blue lies.
B)deviant lies.
C)police placebos.
D)tolerated lies.

Question 21

Prior to the 2004 Republican convention in New York, undercover officers infiltrated activist groups that they believed might cause problems during the convention. Officers attended meetings, made friends, signed petitions, and then reported on the groups' activities to supervisors. In order to support such a plan from a utilitarian viewpoint, all of the following must be true, except:

A)the process of undercover intelligence gathering must be a plausible way to achieve the desired outcome.
B)there must be no better alternative to achieve the goal of collecting the intelligence.
C)the gathering of this intelligence must be more important to society than the privacy of the people in the targeted groups.
D)the general community must be consulted and indicate its approval.

Question 22

What percentage of police said that they lied about evidence to induce a confession, according to the text?

A)10 percent
B)50 percent
C)60 percent
D)90 percent

Question 23

Midland County has become a major thoroughfare for distributors of crystal methamphetamine. Sheriff Johnson has put together a profile of meth dealers and distributors, specifically identifying their tendency to travel by motorcycle or older-model van, and noting they often sport tattoos and facial hair. He has instructed his deputies to be on the lookout for people matching this profile. A citizen who objects to the plan points out that the sheriff might dismiss it as an "inconvenience" to innocent people but that he would probably not agree that he himself and members of his family should be subjected to such suspicion and treatment. This citizen is making the _____________ argument against the policy.

A)utilitarian
B)pretext
C)legalistic
D)universality

Question 24

In __________ investigations, a crime has already occurred and the police sift through clues to determine the perpetrator

A)proactive
B)reactive
C)primary
D)secondary

Question 25

Prior to the 2004 Republican convention in New York, undercover officers infiltrated activist groups that they believed might cause problems during the convention. Officers attended meetings, made friends, signed petitions, and then reported on the groups' activities to supervisors. All of the following ethical systems would reject this plan, except:

A)utilitarianism.
B)ethical formalism.
C)religious ethics.
D)legalistic ethics.

Question 26

The use of physical force to obtain a conviction became illegal with which Supreme Court case?

A)Diaz v. Texas
B)Bartley v. Montana
C)Brown v. Mississippi
D)Miranda v. Connecticut

Question 27

Wisnieski points out that __________set an extremely high bar to prove outrageous government conduct.

A)Sorrells v. United States
B)United States v. Russell
C)United States v. Black
D)United States v. Martinez-Fuerte

Question 28

A bomb exploded at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, killing one and wounding more than 100. The FBI conducted an investigation and within days, Richard Jewell was identified as a suspect. After several months, the Justice Department announced that Jewell was no longer a suspect. Jewell was publicly scorned, and followed incessantly by the media and law enforcement for the three months that he was believed to be the bomber. Evidence in the case was interpreted in such a way as to support the idea that Jewell was guilty. For example, Jewell was known to have seen the bag containing the bomb before it detonated, and moved people from the area. This life- saving act was seen as evidence that he was the bomber, because the investigators believed that he had planted the bomb in order to be able to be seen as a hero for saving people. The tendency to ignore contrary evidence or overstate existing evidence when investigators believe they have identified the guilty party is a likely practice of

A)religious ethicists.
B)the ethics of care.
C)ethical formalists.
D)utilitarians.

Question 29

Which Supreme Court case is the current basis for evaluation of entrapment?

A)Sorrells v. United States
B)United States v. Russell
C)United States v. Black
D)United States v. Martinez-Fuerte

Question 30

Prior to the 2004 Republican convention in New York, undercover officers infiltrated activist groups that they believed might cause problems during the convention. Officers attended meetings, made friends, signed petitions, and then reported on the groups' activities to supervisors. The operation described in this case can be described as a(n)_____________ .

A)informal inquiry
B)proactive investigation
C)reactive investigation
D)pretext investigation

Question 31

In terms of undercover operations, ethical formalism would most likely:

A)condemn undercover operations where innocent people are deceived because the actions could not be justified under the categorical imperative.
B)support undercover operations even if innocent people are deceived, as long as the greater good was being served.
C)support undercover operations under any circumstances.
D)allow undercover operations only if the general community approved the action ahead of time.

Question 32

Midland County has become a major thoroughfare for distributors of crystal methamphetamine. Sheriff Johnson has put together a profile of meth dealers and distributors, specifically identifying their tendency to travel by motorcycle or older-model van, and noting they often sport tattoos and facial hair. He has instructed his deputies to be on the lookout for people matching this profile. The Midland County Sheriff's practice of stopping motorists who meet the profile for a minor infraction, with the hope of catching some in possession of methamphetamine, is known as:

A)proactive investigation.
B)reactive investigation.
C)pretext stop.
D)Terry stop.

Question 33

Which of the following statements about interrogations is true?

A)The "third degree" approach involves a sympathetic paternal figure to whom the defendant confides.
B)The "good cop/bad cop" approach is only used in the movies and on television.
C)The "third degree" is no longer officially allowed.
D)The father confessor approach typically involves physical force.

Question 34

Midland County has become a major thoroughfare for distributors of crystal methamphetamine. Sheriff Johnson has put together a profile of meth dealers and distributors, specifically identifying their tendency to travel by motorcycle or older-model van, and noting they often sport tattoos and facial hair. He has instructed his deputies to be on the lookout for people matching this profile. "Driving While Black" is a term that describes the experience of __________.

A)excessive force
B)racial profiling
C)entrapment
D)victimization

Question 35

The classic father confessor approach to interrogations involves:

A)physical force in the form of beatings to get a confession.
B)a sympathetic figure for the defendant to confide to.
C)one nice officer and a seemingly brutal, threatening officer.
D)one nice officer and a seemingly uncaring, withdrawn officer.

Question 36

Which does the Supreme Court not currently consider when evaluating issues of entrapment?

A)Whether police actions provided essential elements to a crime
B)The defendant's predisposition toward crime
C)The defendant's background
D)The defendant's character

Question 37

Midland County has become a major thoroughfare for distributors of crystal methamphetamine. Sheriff Johnson has put together a profile of meth dealers and distributors, specifically identifying their tendency to travel by motorcycle or older-model van, and noting they often sport tattoos and facial hair. He has instructed his deputies to be on the lookout for people matching this profile. When challenged, Sheriff Johnson explained that the goal of protecting society by interdicting illegal drugs outweighs the inconvenience suffered by innocent people who may be stopped and harassed. This explanation represents which ethical system?

A)Utilitarianism
B)Universalism
C)Ethics of care
D)Ethical formalism

Question 38

A bomb exploded at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, killing one and wounding more than 100. The FBI conducted an investigation and within days, Richard Jewell was identified as a suspect. After several months, the Justice Department announced that Jewell was no longer a suspect. Jewell was publicly scorned, and followed incessantly by the media and law enforcement for the three months that he was believed to be the bomber. Evidence in the case was interpreted in such a way as to support the idea that Jewell was guilty. For example, Jewell was known to have seen the bag containing the bomb before it detonated, and moved people from the area. This life- saving act was seen as evidence that he was the bomber, because the investigators believed that he had planted the bomb in order to be able to be seen as a hero for saving people. In this case, the FBI was under intense scrutiny from the public, which demanded a resolution to the investigation. This public pressure may have led to the premature naming of a suspect. When investigators are committed to a conclusion, they may be tempted to engage in " _____________ " corruption and alter evidence to ensure a conviction.

A)blue-curtain
B)reactive
C)pretext
D)noble cause

Question 39

A bomb exploded at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, killing one and wounding more than 100. The FBI conducted an investigation and within days, Richard Jewell was identified as a suspect. After several months, the Justice Department announced that Jewell was no longer a suspect. Jewell was publicly scorned, and followed incessantly by the media and law enforcement for the three months that he was believed to be the bomber. Evidence in the case was interpreted in such a way as to support the idea that Jewell was guilty. For example, Jewell was known to have seen the bag containing the bomb before it detonated, and moved people from the area. This life- saving act was seen as evidence that he was the bomber, because the investigators believed that he had planted the bomb in order to be able to be seen as a hero for saving people. The operation described in this case can be described as a(n)_____________ .

A)informal inquiry
B)proactive investigation
C)reactive investigation
D)pretext investigation

Question 40

According to the text, the most common reasons for false convictions include all of the following except:

A)inaccurate reporting in the media.
B)false confessions.
C)inaccurate eyewitness identifications.
D)mishandled evidence.

Question 41

Schoeman, in criticizing the exploitation of personal relationships in undercover operations, argues from a utilitarian perspective.

Question 42

A _____________ refers to the practice of police officers using some minor traffic offense as a justification to stop the individual and, in the course of the traffic stop, look for evidence of wrongdoing.

Question 43

The fact that the suspect had a prior history of committing the same crime would be considered significant in the subjective test for entrapment.

Question 44

According to research cited in the text, both black and white officers were significantly more likely to perceive black drivers as disrespectful, noncompliant, and/or resistant.

Question 45

Most ethical dilemmas that police officers face derive from their powers of discretion.

Question 46

Research shows that the frequency of use-of-force events varies by region, with the highest rate of occurrence in the _______________.

Question 47

Deontological ethics would focus on the duty of the officer when determining whether physical coercion or deception is ethically justified.

Question 48

Research indicates that use-of-force incidents are evenly distributed among all patrol officers.

Question 49

The U.S. Supreme Court has defined legal force as force that is objectively reasonable.

Question 50

Police are required to divulge the name of the informant on affidavits for search warrants unless there is evidence that revealing the informant's identity would be dangerous.

Question 51

The _____________ approach allows proportional force to the suspect's resistance, with increasing levels of force by the officer in direct response to escalating resistance of the suspect.

Question 52

Undercover officers may legally pose as prostitutes to collect evidence of crime.

Question 53

Research indicates that police officers who use greater than average amounts of force often exhibit a lack of empathy and antisocial tendencies.

Question 54

Evidence indicates that _____________ and skill are more effective than persuasion in getting suspects to confess.

Question 55

The Supreme Court has ruled that deceptive tactics in extracting confessions are unconstitutional.

Question 56

The use of physical force to obtain a conviction has been only been illegal since 1978.

Question 57

The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA)developed standards that guide the use of informants.

Question 58

Tasers (CEDs)have generally been shown to reduce the risk of injury to officers.

Question 59

In asset forfeiture cases, most property is seized through civil asset forfeiture actions that require less due process than criminal procedures.

Question 60

"Reasonable" force is defined as that which is proportional to _____________ .

Question 61

Define and describe what is meant by "reactive investigations." Give an example.

Question 62

The common name for any CED is _________

Question 63

Compare and contrast the "third degree," "the father confessor," and the "good cop/bad cop" approaches to police investigations.

Question 64

List and discuss the psychological traits associated with officers that are likely to use excessive force.

Question 65

_____________ are civilians who are used to obtain information about criminal activity and/or participate in it so that evidence can be obtained during an investigation.

Question 66

_____________ was the landmark Supreme Court case that upheld the legality of "pretext stops."

Question 67

Justifiable homicide is almost always performed by a _____________.

Question 68

Characteristics correlated with use of force include characteristics of the target, situational characteristics, and characteristics of the ___________________.

Question 69

The term _____________ refers to a situation where an otherwise innocent person is enticed or encouraged by police to commit a crime.

Question 70

Analyze the ethical challenges that arise from going undercover.

Question 71

Discuss the perceptions black communities have of the police.

Question 72

In _____________ police investigations, police officers initiate investigations rather than simply respond to crimes.

Question 73

List and discuss the situational elements that influence an officer's likelihood to use excessive force.

Question 74

Analyze the Supreme Court's decisions related to entrapment.

Question 75

When forensics labs "make up" scientific results without actually running any tests, it is referred to as__________.

Question 76

List and discuss the two approaches used to determine whether entrapment has occurred. Give an example of each.

Question 77

Testilying is a type of ______ lie, as defined by Klockars.

Question 78

Prosecutors are legally required to disclose exculpatory information by compiling a _________ list.

Question 79

Explain some of the reasons why an innocent suspect might confess to a crime.

Question 80

Analyze the treatment of Latinos by law enforcement in the southwestern United States, using Maricopa County as a point of reference.