Deck 15: The Corrections Subsystem and White-Collar Crime

Question 1

What did Wheeler et al. conclude in their 1982 study of sentencing practices for white-collar offenders?

A) White-collar offenders were sentenced to a very narrow range of sanctions.
B) Offenders were deterred from re-offending by lengthy prison sentences.
C) Corporate officers were not included in sentencing of a corporation.
D) White-collar offenders were more likely to go prison for longer periods of time than conventional offenders.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which factor leads to lenient sentences for white-collar offenders?

A) the "status shield"
B) media attention
C) incompetent attorney
D) the offender's attitude

Answer 2

A

Question 3

What was the purpose of the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984?

A) give white-collar offenders harsher sentences
B) give white-collar offenders a lower chance of incarceration
C) equalize sentences for street criminals and white-collar offenders
D) increase sentences for street criminals to increase the gap between street criminals and white-collar offenders

Answer 3

C

Question 4

What was the result of the Supreme Court's review of the federal sentencing guidelines in Booker v. Washington?

A) The guidelines set forth in the Sentencing Reform Act were made more advisory than mandatory.
B) The Sentencing Reform Act was declared unconstitutional.
C) Judges were given less discretion in sentencing white-collar offenders.
D) The guidelines were revised to allow harsher sentences.

Question 5

How did the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in 2002 affect sentences for white-collar criminals?

A) made them less strict
B) gave more offenders probation over prison
C) gave more offenders fines over prison
D) dramatically increased prison time for some white-collar crimes

Question 6

How does the three-strikes law come into play with white-collar offending?

A) It does not apply to white-collar offending.
B) It applies the same way as it does for street criminals.
C) White-collar offenders are only given two strikes.
D) It provides sentencing guidelines.

Question 7

How does Gerber's 1994 study explain what is perceived by some to be unusually high sentences for white-collar offenders?

A) White-collar offenders are sentenced according to federal guidelines.
B) A majority of white-collar offenders make it through the criminal justice process because there is substantial evidence against them, which leads to harsher sentences.
C) Only a small proportion of offenders receive extremely large prison sentences, raising the average dramatically and giving the perception that all white-collar offenders have particularly long sentences.
D) There are rarely high sentences for white-collar offenders who commit serious crimes when compared to conventional criminals.

Question 8

What is ironic about the short prison sentences white-collar offenders are likely to receive?

A) The short sentences can still ruin their life and career.
B) With short sentences white-collar offenders are more likely to offend again when released or while in prison because they have the attitude that it can't get any worse.
C) Most depression and adjustment problems in prison occur in the first six months.
D) White-collar offenders are determined to rehabilitate themselves when they are released.

Question 9

What problem is accompanying the growing prison sentences of white-collar offenders?

A) Offenders are more likely to offend again or while in prison.
B) Offenders are being placed in higher-level-security prisons.
C) Offenders are less able to repay victims.
D) Offenders have difficulty adapting to the prison environment.

Question 10

What is it called if a white-collar offender uses a prison phone to commit a crime, like orchestrating a fraud scheme?

A) jailstripe crime
B) rule violations
C) relapse
D) prison deviance

Question 11

Which of the following is a community-based sanction for white-collar criminals?

A) incarceration
B) probation
C) fines
D) community service

Question 12

In a study conducted by Michael Benson, which of the following plays a role in probation, allowing white-collar offenders to deny their criminal status?

A) Probation officers are supervising from a lower-class status.
B) Probation officers believe white-collar offenders need closer supervision.
C) White-collar offenders are expected to take probation seriously.
D) White-collar offenders report to their probation offers willingly.

Question 13

How do judges typically view using large fines as criminal sanctions for white-collar offenders?

A) It's a fair way to punish white-collar offenders.
B) For some offenders, large fines could be worse than jail.
C) Money collected from criminal fines are not used properly.
D) Fines do not have a significant impact on offending.

Question 14

How do some organizations view large fines that are imposed on their companies for white-collar crimes?

A) They are unfair to their customers.
B) Many see them as extremely punitive.
C) They are viewed as just a cost of doing business.
D) The cost of such fines can be passed on to investors.

Question 15

What is one problem that arises from the optimal penalty theory?

A) Offenders who have the ability to pay large fines don't go to prison.
B) There are no guidelines for determining the dollar amount for fines or ability to pay.
C) White-collar offenders often spend more time in prison than conventional criminals in addition to a fine.
D) White-collar offenders receive longer prison sentences because of their inability to pay a fine.

Question 16

Who would most likely be affected by large punitive damages a company is forced to pay for committing a white-collar crime?

A) CEOs who may be forced to resign and forfeit bonuses
B) top managers who would get lower bonuses or lose other perks to repay the damages
C) lower-level employees who would not get wage increases until the damages are recovered by the company
D) customers who will pay higher prices so the company can recover profits lost to paying the damages

Question 17

The feeling of being controlled while under house arrest falls under which type of deprivation?

A) deprivation of liberty
B) deprivation of heterosexual relations
C) watching others effect
D) deprivation of autonomy

Question 18

Which of the following demonstrates how community service is a beneficial sanction for white-collar offenders?

A) White-collar offenders can serve their community service in a specialty area, like a medical clinic.
B) Community service places white-collar offenders in a group of traditional criminals and forces them to come to terms with their criminal status.
C) Community service allows the community time to heal as well.
D) White-collar offenders can serve their sentence anywhere they desire.

Question 19

Which of the following describes a difference between disintegrative shaming and reintegrative shaming?

A) Disintegrative shaming focuses on the bad act itself and reintegrative shaming focuses on causing embarrassment.
B) Reintegrative shaming has the potential to cause more harm, whereas disintegrative shaming tries to fix the harm that has already been caused.
C) Reintegrative shaming tries to minimize harm to family and disintegrative shaming focuses on deterring others from offending.
D) Disintegrative shaming has the potential to cause a lot of anger and reintegrative shaming focuses on communicating messages of disapproval, but at the same time helping the offender integrate back into society.

Question 20

How is the loss of a job an appropriate sanction for white-collar offenders?

A) They are not able to support their family.
B) They can be barred from working in a certain industry.
C) It is a part of shaming.
D) They can start a new career.

Question 21

How do criminologists view monetary fines as punishments for corporations?

A) Fines are useful when added onto other punishments, like probation
B) They are adequate punishment as long as the dollar amount is high enough
C) Fines are useful as punishments for corporations
D) They appear to be arbitrarily based on an organization's size or number of employees.

Question 22

Which of the following is not a sanction that can be applied to corporations?

A) rehabilitation
B) fines
C) punitive damages
D) restitution

Question 23

Forcing corporations to publicly apologize for their misconduct is an example of which type of sanction?

A) probation
B) shaming
C) community service
D) restitution

Question 24

What is one reason described by criminologists why society punishes white-collar criminals?

A) rehabilitation
B) victimization
C) justice
D) moral guideline

Question 25

Which of the following describes a reason for punishing criminals simply because they deserve it?

A) general deterrence
B) specific deterrence
C) just deserts
D) restitution

Question 26

In criminal proceedings, judges take into consideration punishments already imposed on the offender by civil and administrative proceedings.

Question 27

A complex white-collar case is more likely to receive a lenient plea bargain than a straightforward case.

Question 28

In white-collar cases the attention is given more to the actor than the action.

Question 29

Offenders can fake their way into treatment programs they do not really need to get out of prison early.

Question 30

Probation officers take white-collar criminals very seriously and monitor them to the fullest extent.

Question 31

Punitive damages are frequently sought out and applied only in civil cases initiated by a civilian.

Question 32

Monetary fines are often not applied swiftly enough to be considered a deterrent for future crime.

Question 33

Disintegrative shaming is effective because white-collar criminals want to minimize the harm done to their family.

Question 34

The organizational guidelines for sentencing corporations have been applauded for determining sanctions based on organizational characteristics of the company.

Question 35

General deterrence refers to the idea that offenders should be punished to keep other potential offenders from offending.

Question 36

List two results of the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984.

Question 37

List three sources of depression for white-collar inmates.

Question 38

List the three dangers white-collar offenders face in prison.

Question 39

Describe the four types of monetary fines for white-collar offenders.

Question 40

Describe two specific ways in which house arrest can be penalizing for a white-collar offender.

Question 41

Define the factors that contribute to leniency in the sentencing of white-collar crime offenders.

Question 42

Define and discuss the merits of the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984.

Question 43

Provide an argument for an alternative sanction versus imprisonment for white-collar criminals.