Deck 12: Prisons and Jails: Structure and Function

Question 1

What is an inmate's security and treatment plan based on his/her security, social, vocational, psychological, and educational needs while incarcerated?

A) classification
B) sentencing
C) presentence investigation
D) assessment

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Facilities designed to hold convicted felons for a duration of 1 year or more are known as ______.

A) prisons
B) quarantines
C) jails
D) diversion

Answer 2

A

Question 3

It is necessary for correctional staff to make classification decisions of inmates in at least two areas. What are those two areas?

A) the inmate's physical characteristics and their criminal history
B) the inmate's willingness to cooperate with correctional staff and their mental health needs
C) the inmate's level of physical restraint and their custody grade
D) the inmate's medical needs and their mental health needs

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Which of the following reflects the mission of correctional agencies?

A) to securely house convicted offenders away from the community
B) to protect citizens from crime by managing offenders and providing rehabilitative opportunities
C) to treat offenders with dignity and respect
D) to empower offenders to reach their highest potential

Question 5

Which of the following correctional organizations emphasizes rehabilitation of inmates?

A) custodial
B) enforcement
C) treatment
D) enforcement

Question 6

Which of the following is a feature of a prison?

A) It is a short-term holding facility for unsentenced offenders.
B) The majority of convicted misdemeanants serve their sentences there.
C) The majority of convicted felons serve their sentence there.
D) Sentences are generally a duration of 1 year or less.

Question 7

Approximately how much money do state and local governments spend on corrections institutions annually?

A) US$10 billion
B) US$30 billion
C) US$50 billion
D) US$60 billion

Question 8

Experts suggest that incarceration works as a punishment under two conditions. The first condition is if incarceration makes the inmate fear that they will be excluded from their social group. What is the second condition?

A) The offender is deprived of their freedom of movement.
B) The offender is forced to live under an oppressive set of rules.
C) The offender is given vocational training.
D) The offender's social standing is injured by the punishment.

Question 9

How is the classification of inmates' housing needs determined differently now than in the past?

A) Inmate housing is now determined on a "first come, first served" basis.
B) Inmate housing is now determined based on questionnaires, similar to how roommates are determined in college dorms.
C) Inmates are now assigned to housing based on an objective "lottery" system.
D) Inmates are now assigned to live with prisoners similar to themselves based on an internal classification.

Question 10

The ______ organization type of correctional organization emphasizes the caretaker functions of controlling and observing inmates.

A) custodial
B) treatment
C) enforcement
D) prevention

Question 11

According to Michelle Alexander, what is the primary cause of the disproportionately high incarceration rates of people of color in the United States?

A) the "War on Drugs"
B) cultural deficiencies in minority communities
C) the increase in illegal immigration of people with criminal records
D) the decrease in affirmative action policies providing opportunity to minority populations

Question 12

Steve was sentenced to 6 months incarceration for a misdemeanor drunk driving offense. In which type of facility would he be housed?

A) prison
B) federal penitentiary
C) jail
D) diversion

Question 13

Which type of prison classification would determine an inmate's level of supervision and types of privileges the inmate may have?

A) custody
B) security
C) housing
D) program

Question 14

Which of the following is a feature of a jail?

A) It is a short-term holding facility for unsentenced offenders.
B) It is a long-term holding facility for sentenced offenders.
C) The majority of convicted felons serve their sentences there.
D) It is used to house those sentenced for federal crimes.

Question 15

A correctional official is reviewing the files of a newly convicted offender named Joe. Joe was already serving a life-sentence for murder in a state correctional facility. While serving his sentence, Joe killed another inmate and seriously injured a prison guard. Based on the circumstances, the official decides that Joe should be housed in an institution with the highest level of security, so he assigns the inmate to a supermax facility. What type of prison classification category is being used to classify the inmate?

A) custody
B) security
C) housing
D) program

Question 16

Which of the following reasons explains why contemporary prisons may not apply the same stigmatizing effects to all offenders as in the past?

A) It is the best way for many offenders to receive a good education.
B) Many of the offenders' family and friends have also been to prison.
C) Prisons offer better vocational training than on the outside.
D) Offenders are given a fair amount of money once they are released from custody.

Question 17

Which of the following factors has contributed to recent trends in jail and prison populations?

A) an increase in "mandatory minimum" sentencing policies
B) an increase in violent and property crimes
C) states enacting legislation intended to reduce prison populations to save costs
D) releasing thousands of first-time offenders who were incarcerated for violent crimes

Question 18

If an offender comes from a community where serving a prison term is seen as a "badge of honor" that elevates their status, which of the following can be inferred?

A) Incarceration is unlikely to be effective in deterring offenders from returning to prison after their release.
B) The offender will experience an increased standard of living while they are incarcerated.
C) The offender will feel isolated while incarcerated.
D) Incarceration will lead the offender to abide by society's norms after their release.

Question 19

There are two different philosophies regarding what a correctional organization should be. What is the main difference between the two philosophies?

A) one emphasizes retribution, the other emphasizes deterrence
B) one emphasizes control of inmates, the other emphasizes rehabilitation of inmates
C) one emphasizes the injury of an inmate's social standing, the other emphasizes the inmate's exclusion from the group
D) one emphasizes incarceration, the other emphasizes racialized control

Question 20

Levinson identified four categories into which corrections officials classify new inmates. These categories include each of the following EXCEPT ______.

A) security
B) custody
C) program
D) seniority status

Question 21

Which prison type is considered to be work and program oriented?

A) supermax
B) high security
C) medium security
D) minimum security

Question 22

What are the two related management subsystems utilized by correctional institutions to achieve their goals?

A) managing correctional employees and delivering services to an offender population
B) managing offenders and ensuring the safety of correctional employees
C) protecting the public and rehabilitating the offender population
D) protecting correctional employees and reducing recidivism in the offender population

Question 23

Which of the following terms describes a system of classification that breaks the prison into more manageable sections with some degree of decision-making authority?

A) custody management
B) mini-institution
C) security department
D) unit management

Question 24

What is the main difference between prison wardens today and prison wardens before the beginning of the 20th century?

A) In the past, wardens were civil service employees.
B) Today, wardens are appointed via a system of political patronage.
C) In the past, wardens did not have absolute control over the prisons.
D) Today, wardens earn their positions thorough seniority and merit.

Question 25

The chief administrator of a federal penitentiary or state prison is the _______.

A) warden
B) lieutenant
C) sergeant
D) superintendent

Question 26

According to your text, approximately 4.65 million adults are now either on probation or parole as an alternative to incarceration. Which of the following explains the impact of the expanded use of these types of alternatives?

A) It has increased the crime rate due to more offenders being returned to their communities.
B) It has increased recidivism rates in serious offenders.
C) It is one factor that has led to the recent decrease in prison and jail populations.
D) It has increased public costs due to the intensified need for police to ensure parolees are sufficiently supervised and discouraged from reoffending.

Question 27

Michael has just finished serving a sentence for felony drug possession, and now lives in Kentucky, a state that permanently revokes the voting rights of convicted felons. He is among the 26% of African Americans in Kentucky who are politically disenfranchised, and no longer has a say in which elected officials represent him. Which of the following describes this situation, according to Michelle Alexander?

A) rehabilitation
B) incapacitation
C) racialized social control
D) mass imprisonment

Question 28

An inmate's custody grade is synonymous with which of the following?

A) level of supervision
B) physical restraint
C) security level
D) program assignments

Question 29

Rachel is incarcerated at an institution that has the following features: reinforced walls, cell-type housing, and the highest staff-to-inmate ratio when compared to other institutions. What is the security level of the institution where she is incarcerated?

A) low security
B) medium security
C) high security
D) correctional complex

Question 30

Which of the following terms describes the use of prison and jail inmates to produce goods or provide services for a public agency or private corporation?

A) prison industries
B) work release
C) community service
D) boot camp

Question 31

Mary has completed interviews and tests to determine what type of vocational training she should receive when she begins serving her sentence in a minimum-security prison. What type of inmate classification is she undergoing?

A) security
B) custody
C) housing
D) program

Question 32

Which of the following deputy wardens would oversee the library, mental health services, and religious services?

A) deputy warden for special services
B) deputy warden for administration
C) deputy warden for operations
D) deputy warden for unit management

Question 33

What distinguishes minimum security institutions from low security institutions?

A) the staff-to-inmate ratio is higher in low security institutions
B) the perimeter fencing is more secure in minimum security institutions
C) low security institutions have electronic detection systems
D) minimum security institutions have cell-type housing

Question 34

Mr. Smith is a deputy warden at a state penitentiary. He is responsible for overseeing the largest department in the prison: the correctional security department. What type of deputy warden is he?

A) deputy warden for special services
B) deputy warden for administration
C) deputy warden for operations
D) deputy warden for unit management

Question 35

The two purposes of unit management are to decentralize the administration of the prison and to do which of the following?

A) decrease recidivism rates for inmates once they are released
B) improve communication between staff and inmates as well as among staff members
C) improve safety of correctional staff
D) decrease the oversight of inmates

Question 36

Which type of classification category involves determining the type of supervision that an inmate will have when they are incarcerated?

A) security
B) custody
C) housing
D) program

Question 37

Federal sentencing guidelines went into effect in 1987. Since then, what is the maximum amount of days that can be subtracted from a federal sentence each year?

A) 20
B) 54
C) 65
D) 75

Question 38

Which of the following is usually the largest department in a prison?

A) security
B) kitchen
C) intake
D) education

Question 39

Federal institutions with dormitory housing, a low staff-to-inmate ratio, and limited to no perimeter fencing would be considered which type of prison?

A) correctional complexes
B) medium security
C) minimum security
D) low security

Question 40

Which of the following would reflect the structure of a correctional complex?

A) Limited to no perimeter fencing and an emphasis on work or program participation.
B) Dormitory or cubicle housing with double-fenced perimeters.
C) Double-fenced perimeters and mostly cell-type housing units.
D) Administrative facilities with different missions and security levels.

Question 41

Which of the following institutions is primarily responsible for to holding accused law violators who are awaiting trial and to hold those persons convicted of lesser offenses?

A) jails
B) prisons
C) parole
D) penitentiaries

Question 42

All of the following factors influences jail organization EXCEPT ______.

A) size
B) staff-to-inmate ratio
C) budget
D) level of crowding

Question 43

Which of the following are most likely to be detained in private prisons?

A) state prison inmates
B) federal prisoners
C) state jail inmates
D) immigrant detainees

Question 44

Which of the following is true of the relationship between arguments made by proponents and opponents of prison privatization and the findings of the 2016 inspector general's report comparing private prisons and public prisons in the federal system?

A) Opponents argued that private prisons would not be guaranteed to uphold public standards, but the report found that there was no difference between the standards of care between federal public and private prisons.
B) In contrast to proponent arguments that private prisons would be more cost-effective, private prisons at the federal level were found to have higher operational costs.
C) The report confirmed the proponent argument that private prisons would be less costly than public prisons.
D) The report confirmed the opponent argument that no one would maintain security when private employees went on strike.

Question 45

Supermax prisons do not offer vocational programs, educational opportunities, or even social activity of any kind. Based on what you've learned in this chapter, which type of organizational philosophy do supermax prisons exemplify?

A) custodial
B) treatment
C) classification
D) rehabilitation

Question 46

Which court case concluded that supermax prisons were not appropriate for inmates who suffered from serious mental illnesses?

A) Madrid v. Gomez
B) Jones-El v. Berge
C) Gideon v. Wainwright
D) Griffin v. Illinois

Question 47

Which features would reflect the design of "new-generation" jails?

A) a distinct barrier between inmates and staff
B) padded carpets and movable furniture
C) high-resolution cameras for better inmate monitoring
D) cell phones and tablets for inmates to use

Question 48

What is the term for a low security level inmate?

A) trusted offender
B) exempt detainee
C) trusty
D) privileged inmate

Question 49

Which of the following characteristics distinguishes jails from prisons?

A) Prisons are the only corrections institution that holds people who are awaiting trial.
B) Jails hold people who have been charged with more serious offenses, as well as those awaiting trial.
C) Prisons hold people serving sentences for minor convictions.
D) Jails typically hold people serving sentences of a year or less for misdemeanor convictions.

Question 50

Jail organizations are determined by several factors, including each of the following EXCEPT ______.

A) level of crowding
B) local views
C) local police operations
D) education of the jail administrator

Question 51

Which of the following describes a correctional institution in which publicly owned prison facilities are operated by a private company?

A) state prison
B) managed prison
C) supermax prison
D) private prison

Question 52

Compared to most prisons, local jails consider rehabilitation programs to be ______.

A) primary goals
B) secondary goals
C) tertiary goals
D) unimportant to the mission of the organization

Question 53

Which of the following is a prison where offenders rarely leave their cells, eat meals alone, and do not participate in educational or vocational programs?

A) medium security
B) supermax
C) high security
D) maximum security

Question 54

Supermax prisons have all of the following effects on inmates EXCEPT ______.

A) increased sleep disturbances
B) increased claustrophobia
C) decreased anger
D) decreased anxiety

Question 55

Which configuration of new generation/direct supervision jails features inmate cells arranged around a dayroom with an officer permanently station with inmates?

A) podular/direct supervision jails
B) linear/intermittent supervision jails
C) podular/remote supervision jails
D) linear/remote supervision jails

Question 56

All of the following are criteria used by the Federal Bureau of Prisons to classify pay grades for employees EXCEPT ______.

A) general schedule
B) level of difficulty
C) level of responsibility
D) qualifications

Question 57

Sheldon is incarcerated in a small, minimum-security satellite camp located outside of a larger medium-security institution. Which of the following terms describes the place where Sheldon is incarcerated?

A) privately managed complex
B) community-based complex
C) medium-security complex
D) federal correctional complex

Question 58

Removal of symbols of incarceration, movable furniture, and close monitoring of bathroom and shower areas are all facility features of new generation/direct supervision jails that are meant to do which of the following?

A) cooperate with court-ordered improvements for inmates based on findings that traditional facilities violated the constitutional rights of prisoners
B) increase the privileges of offenders
C) reduce the trauma of incarceration
D) reduce the interaction of staff and inmates

Question 59

Which of the following is among the concerns about the use of supermax prisons?

A) Lack of access to vocational and educational programs.
B) Lack of access to visitors from the outside.
C) Lack of access to others for social or group activities.
D) Lack of access to religious services.

Question 60

Which of the following is true of supermax prisons when compared to high-security prisons?

A) Supermax prisons have more work opportunities than high-security prisons.
B) High-security prisons have more heavily fortified perimeter fences than supermax prisons.
C) High-security prisons have fewer vocational training programs than supermax prisons.
D) Supermax prisons typically allow no social activity of any kind, while high-security prisons still allow for social interaction between inmates.

Question 61

For some, incarceration is not a punishment; instead, it can be considered a lifestyle improvement.

Question 62

Custodial organizations emphasize the caretaker function of corrections, such as controlling and observing inmates.

Question 63

Why are prisons concerned with the potential of inmates gaining possession of cell phones within the facility?

A) Inmates can arrange for assassination and harassment of victims.
B) Inmates can access pornography.
C) Inmates can engage in identity theft.
D) Inmates fight over phones so they can contact loved ones.

Question 64

What is an outcome of correctional institutions transitioning to a video visitation system as opposed to an in-person visitation system?

A) decreases in inmate mental health
B) increases in costs due to expanded staff training
C) increased inmate tension
D) Reduced risk of contraband

Question 65

Most prison industries are self-supporting and use no tax dollars to run the programs.

Question 66

An inmate's program classification determines where the inmate should be placed for work, treatment, and training programs.

Question 67

What technology has improved public safety by reducing inmate visits to hospitals and courtrooms?

A) remote electrocardiograms
B) videoconferencing technology
C) retinal scans
D) social media

Question 68

Parole was abolished in the federal system in 1987.

Question 69

Which innovative correctional facility was created in response to the increase in inmate lawsuits regarding deplorable conditions?

A) prison industries
B) correctional complexes
C) supermax prisons
D) new generation/direct supervision jails

Question 70

All of the following are examples of daily reports available to jail administrators with computer assistance, EXCEPT ______.

A) court schedules
B) inmate rosters
C) maintenance costs
D) status of inmate appeals

Question 71

What is the benefit of virtual visits to medical facilities for correctional inmates?

A) It is a cost-effective way to deal with numerous inmate medical complaints.
B) It alleviates public safety concerns with physically transporting inmates to medical facilities.
C) It allows prisons to comply with requirements to provide medical services to inmates.
D) It eliminates the need for medical staff at the prison.

Question 72

Medium-security correctional institutions are also known as U.S. penitentiaries.

Question 73

What is the benefit of officers providing privileges and activities for inmates in new generation/direct supervision jails?

A) increases good behavior and reduces idleness
B) allows inmates to develop hierarchies and enjoy the benefits of higher status
C) improves mental health outcomes for inmates
D) increases the length of time visitors are willing to stay during visits

Question 74

Jails and prisons are essentially the same, with no distinguishing features between the two.

Question 75

Jails are long-term holding facilities designed to house sentenced felony offenders.

Question 76

The largest department in a prison is the correctional security department.

Question 77

What are the purposes of technologies in correctional facilities?

A) to ease overcrowding
B) to reduce recidivism and ease the stigma of incarceration
C) to improve safety, efficiency, and effectiveness
D) to increase technological literacy in inmates

Question 78

What was the impact of the 1984 Justice Assistance Act?

A) It ensured that inmates would serve the entire sentence they were given.
B) It removed restrictions on interstate commerce of prisoner-made goods.
C) It allowed inmates to sue correctional facilities for mistreatment.
D) It permitted states to privatize prisons.

Question 79

Prisons are generally operated by state or federal governments, while jails are typically operated by a county sheriff's department.

Question 80

One outcome of new generation/direct supervision jails is that they ______.

A) reduce the trauma of incarceration
B) increase sexual assaults
C) increase tension in the unit
D) reduce control exerted by correctional staff