Deck 1: Crime and Justice in the United States

Question 1

According to a 2006 ABCNEWS.com survey, approximately what percentage of Americans who perceive a crime problem nationally say their belief is based on crime reports they have seen on the news?

A) 20%
B) 40%
C) 60%
D) 80%

Answer 1

80%

Question 2

Approximately how many hours a day does the average American spend in front of the television, according to a 2009 study by Ball State University's Center for Media Design?

A) 2
B) 5
C) 8
D) 12

Answer 2

5

Question 3

Critics of the American media argue that the news media have a dual obligation to

A) present news that reflects a higher focus on international crime than on domestic crime and maintain their presentation of sensational crimes.
B) present news that reflects a more balanced picture of the overall crime problem and increase their presentation of sensational crimes.
C) present news that reflects a more balanced picture of the overall crime problem and reduce their presentation of sensational crimes.
D) present news that reflects a higher focus on international crime than on domestic crime and reduce their presentation of sensational crimes.

Answer 3

present news that reflects a more balanced picture of the overall crime problem and reduce their presentation of sensational crimes.

Question 4

According to a 2010 public opinion poll, approximately what percentage of Americans responded that they had a "great deal" or "quite a lot"
Of confidence in the criminal justice system?

A) 5%
B) 25%
C) 50%
D) 75%

Question 5

Approximately how many agencies of federal, state, and local governments comprise criminal justice in the United States?

A) 50
B) 500
C) 5,000
D) 50,000

Question 6

About ________ of criminal defendants plead guilty to the charges against them, in an arrangement called plea bargaining.

A) 95%
B) 75%
C) 50%
D) 25%

Question 7

Defendants can appeal their convictions on constitutional grounds. Which of the following is NOT one of the constitutional grounds described in your textbook?

A) freedom of speech and public assembly
B) incompetent assistance of counsel
C) improper questioning of the defendant by the police
D) identification of the defendant through a defective police lineup

Question 8

On which of the following components of criminal justice was the most money spent in 2009?

A) police protection
B) judicial/legal services
C) corrections
D) reentry

Question 9

In 2009, which level of government spent the most on police protection?

A) federal
B) state
C) local
D) Expenses were equally divided among all levels of government.

Question 10

In 2009, which level of government spent the most on corrections?

A) federal
B) state
C) local
D) Expenses were equally divided among all levels of government.

Question 11

In 2009, approximately what percentage of all government expenditures were spent on criminal justice?

A) 4%
B) 8%
C) 16%
D) 27%

Question 12

How much did the state of Florida reportedly spend to administer justice to serial murderer Ted Bundy?

A) $10,000
B) $100,000
C) $1,000,000
D) $10,000,000

Question 13

Criminal justice is primarily a state and local function.

Question 14

Assume that an arrest is made and the defendant is found guilty. Number the following steps in the order in which they occur in the criminal justice process. Numbers should be from 1 to 11.
____ Possible appeal
____ Either indictment by a grand jury followed by arraignment, or arraignment on an information
____ Formal charging of the suspect
____ Arrest
____ Preliminary hearing (for a felony)
____ Sentencing
____ Booking
____ Investigation
____ Initial appearance
____ Punishment
____ Either a plea bargain or a trial

Question 15

List the three principal kinds of charging documents and describe for which type of offense each is used.

Question 16

Your neighbor realizes you are studying criminal justice and asks for your opinion regarding his cousin's recent encounter with the law. It seems that cousin Michael, a 25-year-old and a new homeowner, had a fight with his neighbor, Jack. Michael had just planted some new roses on what he thought was his property when Jack came outside and claimed the roses were on his property. At first, Michael tried to handle the situation calmly, but when Jack said he would pull out the roses, Michael and Jack started shouting loudly at one another. A friend called the police, who responded and warned both Michael and Jack that they needed to calm down or they could be charged with a misdemeanor for disturbing the peace. After the police left, Jack waited and then stole the roses from out of the ground and was observed by Michael's newly-installed video cameras as the culprit. Michael went to the police and signed a complaint for felony larceny due to the cost of the roses. Now, your neighbor wants to know what is likely to happen to Jack. Explain what is likely to occur by outlining the stages from arrest to the possible disposition of the case, using either the crime control or due process model. Assume this is Jack's first offense and that he fully admits to taking the roses.

Question 17

Using your local law enforcement jurisdiction as an example, gather the most recently published crime statistics, as well as a review of recent headlines, and prepare an answer to the following scenario: