Deck 3: And the Poor Get Prison

Question 1

In the United States, prisons are filled predominantly with poor people.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

There are more black men than white men in prison because black men commit more crimes.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

College students are an example of a population that is frequently targeted by police.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

White-collar criminals are rarely arrested or charged.

Question 5

A lower-class man who steals a bike would be more likely to be charged than a wealthy man who embezzles.

Question 6

There is considerable evidence that double discrimination affects death penalty sentencing.

Question 7

Most business executives who commit financial fraud are convicted for their crimes.

Question 8

According to the President's Crime Commission survey, __________.

A) middle-class teens are frequently targeted by police
B) most Americans have violated laws
C) CEOs are frequently arrested for theft
D) crime is rare in low-income communities

Question 9

Many black people are arrested for the crime of ___________.

A) "driving while black"
B) "cell phone abuses"
C) "black embezzlement"
D) "crimes of convenience"

Question 10

Why did federal law enforcement dismiss many potential criminal cases arising out of the savings and loan scandals?

A) because the CEOs involved were mostly black
B) because financial fraud is not technically a crime
C) because they lacked the personnel to pursue the cases
D) because of generally decreased crime surveillance

Question 11

Why is being released on bail important?

A) Those who are not released on bail are treated as though they are guilty.
B) Black defendants are more likely to be released on bail than white defendants.
C) It can only be done before an individual is arrested.
D) Only individuals who have been imprisoned for twenty days can be released on bail.

Question 12

Why have some judges spoken out against the system of sentencing and mandatory minimum sentences?

A) They were upset about the rampant ageism in recent court cases.
B) They wanted to protect white-collar criminals.
C) They were against the racism inherent in the criminal justice system.
D) They wanted to improve the perception of the judicial system among inmates.

Question 13

What is an example of the double discrimination seen in the United States?

A) A white man who embezzles from a white man and released on bail, while a white man who embezzles from a black man is sentenced to three years in prison.
B) A black man kills a white man and is given the death penalty, while a black man who kills another black man is imprisoned.
C) A black cop who arrests a black man is more likely to be financially rewarded than a white cop who arrests another white man.
D) A white man who kills another white man is more likely to be released on bail than a black man who kills another black man.

Question 14

Apply your knowledge of the criminal justice system to choose which of the following people would most likely receive the harshest sentence for the same crime of dealing drugs.

A) a middle-class white college student
B) a wealthy black man
C) a middle-class black woman
D) a lower-class white man

Question 15

Why do most Americans think dangerous crimes are committed mainly by poor people?

Question 16

What would most likely happen to a white-collar criminal who is accused of embezzlement?

Question 17

Apply your knowledge of the Watergate and S&L scandals to describe how they impacted the public perception of crime.

Question 18

Analyze the role of double discrimination in the criminal justice system, and provide two real or hypothetical examples.

Question 19

Evaluate the relationship between class, race, and criminal justice in the United States. Use specific examples to support your arguments.

Question 20

Propose a set of reforms to the current criminal justice system to address issues of discrimination and injustice. What specific changes to the current system would have to be made?