Deck 4: Sentencing: Beginning the Corrections Process

Question 1

According to public opinion survey results collected over the past three decades, what percentage of Canadians view sentencing as too lenient?

A) 55 percent
B) 65 percent
C) 75 percent
D) 85 percent

Answer 1

75 percent

Question 2

What sentencing goals are exemplified when a judge imposes a term of imprisonment for a convicted offender and states that the sentence is designed to discourage the offender from repeating the offence?

A) utilitarian goals
B) deterrence goals
C) restorative goals
D) retributive goals

Answer 2

utilitarian goals

Question 3

What sentencing goals are exemplified when a judge imposes a term of probation for a convicted offender and states the sentence is designed to address the offender's drug addiction issues, which contributed to the offender's criminality?

A) utilitarian goals
B) deterrence goals
C) restorative goals
D) retributive goals

Answer 3

utilitarian goals

Question 4

Which sentencing goals are based on the principle that criminal behaviour injures NOT only the victim but also communities and offenders, and are designed to protect the public from future criminal behaviour?

A) utilitarian goals
B) deterrence goals
C) restorative goals
D) retributive goals

Question 5

Which term refers to serving time on a "part-time" basis (generally weekends, from Friday evening until Monday morning) and generally for NO more than 90 days?

A) pretrial detention
B) day parole
C) interim release
D) intermittent sentence

Question 6

A convicted offender is required to fulfil the conditions of a probation order. Upon successfully completing the order, the offender is set free without a criminal record. Which sentencing option does this situation exemplify?

A) absolute discharge
B) suspended sentence
C) conditional discharge
D) conditional sentence order

Question 7

Upon conviction, an offender is placed under supervision in the community for a specified period of time (maximum three years), must fulfill general conditions, and may be required to adhere to, or complete, specific conditions (e.g., attend alcohol or drug counselling). What is this sentence called?

A) probation
B) parole
C) bail
D) intermittent sentence

Question 8

A person convicted of a sexual assault (Level 1) will serve six months on house arrest, and then be subjected to a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew. He is also ordered to provide a sample of his DNA for the National DNA Data Bank and will be listed on the National Sex Offender Registry for 20 years. He must abstain from the purchase, possession, consumption, and use of alcohol and illegal substances; attend assessment, treatment, and counselling; NOT associate with the victims of his assault; and NOT be present in the community where the assault occurred without the permission of his probation officers. What type of sentence is has this person received?

A) judicial interim release
B) bail
C) probation
D) statutory release

Question 9

In R. v. Ipeelee, in which two Indigenous men were arrested for drug smuggling at the U.S. border, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that they should NOT be extradited to the United States. Which statement best reflects the basis of this decision?

A) Americans do NOT like Indigenous people, and they would likely be mistreated at the border.
B) The men's Indigenous heritage would NOT be considered at sentencing, as required in Canada.
C) Drug trafficking across the border is too minor an offence for them to be extradited to the United States.
D) U.S. jails were already too full of drug importers, and they would NOT have room for them.

Question 10

Which of the following was a finding in the Supreme Court decision on R. v. Gladue?

A) Indigenous persons should NOT receive special consideration at sentencing.
B) Indigenous persons CANNOT be sent to prison unless there are exceptional circumstances.
C) Judges can impose, and then suspend, the imposition of a prison sentence for Indigenous persons.
D) Where a term of incarceration would normally be imposed, judges must consider the unique circumstances of Indigenous people

Question 11

An offender is sentenced to six years in prison and becomes eligible to apply for parole after serving three years. What Criminal Code clause did the judge impose on the offender at sentencing?

A) the faint-hope clause
B) judicial determination
C) long-term offender designation
D) dangerous offender designation

Question 12

Which term refers to a person who has been convicted of committing a serious personal injury offence (except murder) or has a pattern of serious violent offences, has been deemed to present a danger to society, and is highly likely to put the community at risk if NOT imprisoned?

A) a serial criminal
B) a habitual criminal
C) a committed violent offender
D) a dangerous offender

Question 13

What type of sentence can a judge order for an offender who has been designated as dangerous?

A) a life sentence (25 years)
B) a sentence of 10 years plus 1 day
C) a sentence of indeterminate period
D) a psychiatric assessment (60 days)

Question 14

What are judicial determination and dangerous and long-term offender designations designed to manage?

A) the risk of sexual offenders
B) the risk of federal offenders
C) the risk of Indigenous offenders
D) the risk of provincial/territorial offenders

Question 15

What specific crimes can receive the long-term offender designation, when the Crown lacks the rigid requirements or level of evidence needed to file a dangerous offender application?

A) frauds over $5,000
B) second-degree murders
C) infanticides
D) sexual offences

Question 16

When deciding on sentencing, the judge considers that the offender abused a position of authority when committing sexual assault. What type of factor did the judge consider?

A) the pre-sentence report
B) a victim impact statement
C) a mitigating circumstance
D) an aggravating circumstance

Question 17

What term refers to the variety of courts that have been developed to divert offenders with special needs from the criminal justice system, including mental health courts, domestic violence courts, and others?

A) Judicial Branch Courts
B) Superior Courts of Jurisdiction
C) Provincial/Territorial Courts
D) Problem-Solving Courts

Question 18

What term refers to the process that involves using the law and the courts' authority as change agents to promote the health and well-being of offenders, while also ensuring that their legal rights are protected and that justice is done?

A) therapeutic justice
B) healthy offender status
C) psychological impudence
D) stem the flow with nutrition

Question 19

Which of the following is a principle of circle sentencing?

A) The result is least important.
B) The focus is on past conduct.
C) The sentence resolves the issue.
D) The crime is viewed as the conflict.

Question 20

What does research evidence reveal about the effectiveness of sentencing?

A) There is consistency in sentencing.
B) The certainty of punishment has the greatest deterrent effect on offenders.
C) Increasing the severity of punishment results in reduced rates of reoffending.
D) Judges have perfected the art of matching sentencing options with the needs and risks of offenders.

Question 21

Today's criminal justice system has shifted to a newer approach to dealing with special high-risk groups in court. Compare the various functions of the traditional court with the various functions of the newer problem-solving court.

Question 22

Circle sentencing, a form of restorative justice, was first developed in several Yukon communities as a collaboration between community residents and territorial justice personnel, primarily RCMP officers and judges from the Territorial Court of Yukon. Compare the formal, adversarial criminal court system with the community-based, restorative approach as exemplified by community circles.