Deck 3: Crime, Victims, and the Community

Question 1

Official statistics indicate that the police-reported crime rate has been decreasing.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Television, newspapers, and the Internet are the main sources of information about crime and the criminal justice system for the majority of Canadians.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Surveys indicate that Canadians are "less satisfied" with the performance of the criminal courts than with the performance of the police.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Research studies indicate that the media reporting of crime generally reflects actual patterns of crime.

Question 5

Persons over the age of 65 and those who have been previously victimized tend to be more fearful of crime.

Question 6

Victim rights are enshrined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Question 7

Findings from surveys indicate that few crime victims make use of formal victim services.

Question 8

One of the common critiques of federal crime statistics is that police reporting practices vary widely.

Question 9

The annual cost of operating the criminal justice system is approximately $1.3 billion.

Question 10

Fewer than 5 percent of all crimes are discovered by the police without being brought forward by a victim or member of the public.

Question 11

The crime rate is expressed as a ratio comparing police-reported crime to police clearance rates.

Question 12

Police-reported crime is at its lowest level since the early 1970s.

Question 13

Research studies indicate that individuals are more likely to report crimes in 2014 than they were several years ago.

Question 14

Criminal justice agencies can be held accountable by crime victims and offenders through the civil courts.

Question 15

The high rates of crime and victimization in many Aboriginal communities and the overrepresentation of Aboriginal people at all stages of the justice process are two of the biggest challenges facing the criminal justice system.

Question 16

Violent offences are much more likely to be reported to the police.

Question 17

Victimization research generally collects information through self-report surveys.

Question 18

The Crime Severity Index reflects the number of criminal incidents known to the police as a ratio to the size of the population.

Question 19

Over the past three decades, policies and programs have been developed to reduce the high levels of Aboriginal involvement in the criminal justice system, achieving success as demonstrated by reduced rates of Aboriginal participation.

Question 20

Recent decreases in crime rates are likely due to the federal government's increased focus on crime control and the introduction of mandatory minimum sentences for certain offences.

Question 21

Which of the following best defines the term "crime rate"?

A) the number of persons who telephone the police about criminal incidents
B) the number of criminal incidents known to police expressed as a ratio to the population
C) an average of the number of criminal offences committed by individual offenders
D) the rate at which groups of offenders commit specific types of crimes

Question 22

What is the "dark figure" of crime?

A) the disparity between the amount of crime that occurs and the number of crimes reported to or discovered by the police
B) the amount of crime that is committed at night
C) the difference between the number of offenders who are apprehended by the police and the number of offenders who are ultimately convicted of a crime
D) the police estimate of the amount of crime that is committed in a community

Question 23

Which statement is most accurate regarding the results of a review of official crime statistics in Canada?

A) The crime rate reported by police as official statistics is declining.
B) The rate of property crime continues to increase.
C) Crime rates are highest in the eastern part of Canada.
D) Crime rates have not changed in the past ten years.

Question 24

Angela is attempting to compare levels of violent crime across different jurisdictions in Canada. She finds that in 2012, Canada as a whole had 11.9 police-reported violent crimes for every 100,000 citizens. What type of data is Angela examining?

A) the victimization index
B) the crime severity index
C) the victimization rate
D) the crime rate

Question 25

What is indicated by research studies on crime in Aboriginal and Inuit communities?

A) that the patterns of crime are similar in all First Nations/Inuit reserves and communities
B) that similar levels of risk of victimization exist among urban Aboriginal peoples
C) that crime rates in Yukon, N.W.T., and Nunavut are five times higher than for the general Canadian population
D) that community-based justice programs have been shown to affect the high levels of Aboriginal conflict with the law

Question 26

What do survey findings indicate about the feelings of Canadians toward criminal justice system agencies?

A) Generally positive attitudes exist toward all components of the criminal justice system.
B) The police have a high public approval rating.
C) The courts have a high public approval rating.
D) The prison and parole systems are highly regarded by the public.

Question 27

What is indicated by research studies investigating Canadians' perceptions of various issues in the criminal justice system?

A) Canadians tend to underestimate the level of crime.
B) Canadians tend to believe that the system is biased in favour of defendants.
C) Canadians tend to underestimate the rates of parole release.
D) Canadians tend to underestimate the average term of imprisonment given for all offences.

Question 28

What is indicated by research studies on how the news media cover crime?

A) The media generally present an accurate view of police enforcement against crime.
B) Crime stories are increasingly focused on the causes of crime.
C) Most media coverage of crime does not reflect the actual patterns of crime.
D) Most media coverage reflects the actual patterns of crime.

Question 29

Which of the following is NOT a complaint or concern commonly voiced by crime victims?

A) a lack of information about developments in the case
B) an inability to contribute to key decisions regarding the case
C) having difficulty understanding the criminal justice process
D) being pressured to provide a victim impact statement

Question 30

What is one of the key critiques of federal crime statistics?

A) focusing on overall volume of crime rather than rates of crime
B) focusing on rates of crime rather than the overall volume of crime
C) accounting for multiple offenders involved in a single offence commission
D) not accounting for multiple offenders involved in a single offence commission

Question 31

Which of the following options is true regarding victims of crime and civil law options?

A) They can, in some cases, file a lawsuit against the offender's family member(s) if a suit against the offender is unsuccessful.
B) They are prevented by law from filing a civil suit against an offender.
C) They can, in some cases, file a lawsuit against the justice system for failure to provide adequate protection.
D) They cannot sue the justice system, which has immunity from civil suits.

Question 32

Which of the following is an example of the "dark figure of crime?"

A) the number of property crimes in Ottawa that the police are not aware of
B) the number of property crimes in Ottawa that the police are aware of but have not yet responded to
C) the number of property crimes in Ottawa that the police are aware of but have not yet laid formal charges in
D) the number of property crimes in Ottawa that the police are aware of but have decided not to proceed with formal charges in

Question 33

Erik is conducting a survey where he asks Canadian citizens about their criminal offence histories. What type of a survey is he conducting?

A) a crime history survey
B) a crime severity survey
C) a self-report crime survey
D) a victimization survey

Question 34

Which of the following is NOT an individual or neighbourhood factor that has been shown to contribute to perceptions of crime and the fear of crime among community residents?

A) Individuals perceiving high levels of neighbourhood social disorder are more fearful of crime.
B) Individuals in areas with a high proportion of single-parent families are more fearful of crime.
C) Individuals who have been previously victimized are more fearful of crime.
D) Individuals between the ages of 35 and 65 tend to be more fearful of crime.

Question 35

What percentage of crimes are discovered by the police without the assistance of the public?

A) 5 percent
B) 10 percent
C) 15 percent
D) 25 percent

Question 36

What is the current trend in the severity of police-reported crime?

A) It has been increasing.
B) It has been decreasing.
C) No significant change has been noted.
D) Violent crime has been increasing, while property crime has been decreasing.

Question 37

Sonya is a 72-year-old woman who is retired and lives alone. She resides in an urban, multicultural community in British Columbia. She gets the majority of her news through print and television media. Which of the following is likely to be true about Sonya?

A) Sonya is likely to be well-informed regarding the reality of crime in her neighbourhood and in Canada.
B) Sonya is likely to base her knowledge of crime predominantly on her personal experiences and history.
C) Sonya is likely to have an increased fear of crime relative to her potential for victimization.
D) Sonya is likely to have a decreased fear of crime relative to her potential for victimization.

Question 38

Regina is a 24-year-old female full-time university student. She is married and has a one-year-old child. She has a part-time job and also engages in part-time volunteer work. Which of the following is most relevant in determining Regina's potential for victimization?

A) Regina's level of education, employment history, and parental status
B) Regina's parental status, gender, and level of education
C) Regina's gender, age, and marital status
D) Regina's age, marital status, and employment history

Question 39

Christopher was the victim of an attempted murder. Though he was initially eager to help in any way, as the case progressed he felt that his needs as a victim were not being taken into account. He was not provided with up-to-date information on his case, and he felt unsafe testifying against the alleged offender. What was Christopher experiencing?

A) re-traumatisation
B) re-victimization
C) vicarious traumatisation
D) vicarious victimization

Question 40

Kevin's sister was murdered years ago, and the offender is eligible for parole next year. Kevin would like to deliver a statement in the parole hearing detailing the effects of the crime on his life. What is this statement generally called?

A) a secondary victimization statement
B) a vicarious victimization statement
C) a victim influence statement
D) a victim impact statement

Question 41

While being arrested on assault charges, Leah was injured by the arresting officers. Leah alleges that the officers handled her very roughly, despite the lack of any struggle on her part, resulting in a serious shoulder injury. What form of compensation can Leah seek for this incident?

A) civil compensation
B) criminal injury compensation
C) remuneration
D) restitution

Question 42

Members of the Canadian public often see and interact with police officers. Conversely, many of the actions of the courts are carried out behind closed doors. What effect might this have on public confidence?

A) higher confidence ratings for the system as a whole
B) higher confidence ratings for judges
C) lower confidence ratings for lawyers
D) lower confidence ratings for police officers

Question 43

Caroline is uncomfortable with plans to establish a halfway house for recently released offenders in her community. What type of behaviour is this?

A) community crime prevention
B) community crime watch
C) NOTE syndrome
D) NIMBY syndrome

Question 44

Maria was the victim of a physical assault that resulted in a broken arm and several bruised ribs. As a result, she missed several weeks of work and had to pay for multiple prescriptions that were not covered by her medical plan. If Maria would like to be reimbursed for the lost wages and medical costs, which of the following forms of financial redress would she likely seek first?

A) civil compensation
B) criminal injury compensation
C) remuneration
D) restitution

Question 45

Kyle recently committed a first-degree murder that has received considerable media attention. He is a 28-year-old Caucasian male of low socio-economic status. Which aspects of this crime are likely to receive the most media coverage?

A) Kyle's age
B) Kyle's gender
C) Kyle's socio-economic status
D) the type of crime Kyle committed

Question 46

What is the "crime rate" and how is it calculated?

Question 47

Identify the most commonly stated reasons why crime victims do not report their victimization to the police.

Question 48

Identify the ways in which criminal justice agencies can be held civilly accountable. Provide an example of each type.

Question 49

Discuss the consequences of community overdependence on the criminal justice system and the "vicious cycle" of unmet community expectations of the criminal justice system.

Question 50

Immigrant and visible minority women who have been victimized may have trouble accessing services and programs. Provide three reasons for this potential difficulty.

Question 51

What have studies found about victim impact statements? What are some of the concerns regarding the use of such statements?

Question 52

When calculating the costs of crime, there are some costs that are not readily foreseeable. Discuss these "intangible" costs, providing examples.

Question 53

What are some of the reasons for high rates of crime and victimization among Aboriginal peoples in urban communities?

Question 54

What is the "dark figure of crime," and what is its impact on official crime statistics?

Question 55

Identify and briefly discuss the two biggest challenges facing the criminal justice system with respect to First Nations and Inuit communities.

Question 56

Identify and briefly discuss the options that victims of crimes have with respect to financial compensation.

Question 57

How do you perceive your personal safety? Are you afraid of becoming a victim of crime? If so, do you adjust your activities to avoid being victimized? Are there any areas of the city/community you tend not to go to because of fear of crime? What are these areas, and upon what basis have you decided to avoid the area(s)? If not, for what reasons are you unafraid of victimization? What contributes to your feelings of personal safety?

Question 58

There have been concerns expressed that, although the creation of programs and services for crime victims is a welcome development, the criminal justice system may be unable to "deliver" in terms of addressing the needs of crime victims. Discuss this issue.

Question 59

What do opinion polls generally say about public attitudes toward, and trust in, the criminal justice system. What suggestions do you have as to how the current state of affairs could be improved?

Question 60

Where do you tend to get information about crime and criminal offenders and the criminal justice system (other than in college/university courses)? Where do members of your families get their information? What are the consequences of getting information from the sources you have identified?

Question 61

Given the way in which the media reports crime and the impact of this on public perceptions of crime, what suggestions would you have to address this situation? How might the strong impact of the media on public perceptions of crime and criminal offenders be mitigated?

Question 62

What television crime programs have you viewed in the past? Do you view any of these programs regularly? What impact might these shows have on public perceptions of crime, the police, and criminal justice? Do the images and stories on these shows "match up" with the reality of crime and criminal justice?

Question 63

Why might northern and remote communities in Canada have the highest rates of crime and violence in the country and in North America?

Question 64

How confident are you in various parts of the Canadian criminal justice system? Why do you think this is? How do your opinions compare to those confidence ratings presented in the textbook?

Question 65

How do you feel about the increased importance of technology and social media in our society? How does this relate to the operations of the criminal justice system? Provide examples.

Question 66

How do you feel about cyber bullying? Why do you think it is so prevalent? What do you think about the actions of various online "hacktivist" groups in response to some of these cases (e.g., Amanda Todd, Rehtaeh Parsons)? How should the criminal justice system deal with hacktivist groups?