Deck 13: Crime and Corrections Policy

Question 1

If you are convicted of a misdemeanor in Texas,

A) you retain your right to vote and possess a weapon.
B) you are automatically sentenced to at least 120 days in county jail.
C) there is a minimum fine of $4,000.
D) your rights are restricted until you complete your sentence.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

One of the most controversial issues facing police in Texas and across the United States involves

A) unlawful searches and seizures.
B) entrapment.
C) the use of force.
D) the use of plea bargains.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles makes recommendations about

A) federal prison sentences.
B) juvenile prisons.
C) probation.
D) clemency and parole.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The licensing of police officers in Texas is regulated by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. How are the nine members of this commission selected?

A) They are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate.
B) They are elected in state-wide, staggered elections.
C) They are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the House.
D) They are appointed by the mayors of the nine largest cities.

Question 5

________ is a punishment where, instead of a jail or prison sentence, an offender remains in the community with the understanding that the offender will meet certain requirements that are imposed by the court.

A) A plea bargain
B) Probation
C) Parole
D) A misdemeanor

Question 6

After you are arrested and taken to jail, you must appear before a judge and be told what charges you are being accused of and reminded of your right to an attorney and right to remain silent. What is this process called?

A) arraignment
B) pre-trial hearing
C) grand jury indictment
D) plea bargain

Question 7

If a person cannot provide bail on his or her own or cannot pay a bondsman, the accused can possibly be released

A) on 10 percent of bail amount.
B) on personal recognizance.
C) on collateral.
D) by a cosigner.

Question 8

How are people selected to serve on grand juries in Texas?

A) through the "pick-a-pal" system
B) through a random selection process
C) through the "key man" system
D) through a county election

Question 9

________ are less serious crimes.

A) Felonies
B) Juvenile crimes
C) Misdemeanors
D) Aggravated assaults

Question 10

In the state of Texas, what is the policy for felons' right to vote?

A) Felons are allowed to vote upon full discharge of their sentences.
B) Felons are allowed to vote upon full discharge of their sentences and completed community service.
C) Felons are allowed to vote only if their convictions involved crimes lesser than third-degree felonies.
D) Felons are allowed to vote only upon governor approval.

Question 11

A serious criminal offense that subjects a person to state prison punishment is a(n)

A) felony.
B) indictment.
C) petty crime.
D) misdemeanor.

Question 12

The most serious felony is ________, for which the penalty can be death or life imprisonment without parole.

A) aggravated assault
B) capital murder
C) aggravated kidnapping
D) aggravated sexual assault

Question 13

A major criticism of the grand jury is that it

A) only considers "true bills."
B) usually rules "no bill."
C) consists of more men than women.
D) usually hears only what the prosecutor chooses to let it hear.

Question 14

Which of the following makes the decision to grant parole?

A) a judge
B) a district attorney
C) the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles
D) the Texas Board of Prison Release

Question 15

Money that is provided by the defendant to ensure his or her appearance in court is referred to as

A) a court fee.
B) bail.
C) bounty.
D) defendant compensation.

Question 16

Regarding the rules of community supervision (probation) requirements, what are the results of compliance versus violation?

A) A criminal in compliance will likely have his or her record expunged, while a criminal in violation will likely be given a harsher sentence in the future.
B) A criminal in compliance will likely receive an early release of up to one-third of the term, while a criminal in violation may be sent to jail for the remainder of his or her sentence.
C) A criminal in compliance will likely receive monetary compensation for his or her time, while a criminal in violation may be sent to jail for the remainder of his or her sentence.
D) A criminal in compliance will likely receive an early release of up to two-thirds of the term, while a criminal in violation may be sent to jail for the remainder of his or her sentence, with an additional amount of time added to his or her initial sentencing.

Question 17

Grand juries do not find people guilty of a crime but instead will

A) vote a "true bill."
B) usually rule "no bill."
C) vote with the prosecutor.
D) vote for a bill.

Question 18

The Sandra Bland Act requires which of the following?

A) Officers must obtain written consent to search a vehicle.
B) Jail deaths must be investigated by an independent agency.
C) Individuals may not be jailed at any point if the maximum punishment for the suspected offense is a fine.
D) Mandatory investigation of all officer-involved shootings by a specialized organization.

Question 19

A person convicted of a third felony can be sentenced to life imprisonment based on

A) repeat felony offending.
B) the three strikes provision.
C) the writ of mandamus.
D) unpaid bail.

Question 20

If sentenced by a judge to probation, you would most likely have to do which of the following?

A) report to the local jail during the weekends, report to your probation officer on a regular basis, abstain from drug and alcohol use, and pay any fines or restitution
B) have a steady job and have no contact with the police during the period of your probation
C) pay any fines or restitution, perform the required number of community service hours, and report to your probation officer on a regular basis
D) have a steady job, report to your probation officer on a regular basis, abstain from drug and alcohol use, and pay any fines or restitution

Question 21

The prison population reached its highest level in which year?

A) 1980
B) 1990
C) 2000
D) 2016

Question 22

While ________ states have the death penalty, _______ states do not.

A) 15; 35
B) 40; 10
C) 31; 19
D) 23; 27

Question 23

It is often quite difficult for people to readjust to life after prison because

A) family members may have moved, died, or cut off communications, thereby removing a support network.
B) there is not an economic incentive for employers to hire felons.
C) once convicted of a felony in Texas, you never fully regain all of your rights, including your right to vote.
D) the state requires that you repay the cost of your incarceration, so you are in debt to the state the minute you leave the prison.

Question 24

What are plea bargains used to do?

A) appeal convictions in municipal court to a district court
B) appeal a decision of the Texas Supreme Court to the U.S. Supreme Court
C) clear a crowded district court docket by negotiating guilty pleas in criminal cases
D) negotiate whether a dispute goes to a criminal court or a civil court

Question 25

A(n) ________ is a common method prosecutors use to maintain high conviction rates.

A) bench trial
B) jury trial
C) plea bargain between the defendant and the state
D) indictment from a grand jury

Question 26

In Texas, felony juries are composed of ________ people and misdemeanor juries are composed of ________.

A) 9; 6
B) 12; 5
C) 12; 6
D) 6; 3

Question 27

When thinking about the total number of people in state prisons across the United States, which of the following is true?

A) Texas has an average number of people incarcerated in its state prisons.
B) About half of the people incarcerated in Texas state prisons are actually sent to Texas from neighboring states, such as Louisiana and Oklahoma.
C) Texas has fewer people incarcerated in its state prisons than any other state.
D) Texas has more people incarcerated in its state prisons than any other state.

Question 28

Individuals who cannot afford an attorney have a constitutional right to have one appointed to them. Which Supreme Court case was instrumental in guaranteeing this right?

A) Ruiz v. Estelle
B) Gideon v. Wainwright
C) Miranda v. Arizona
D) Betts v. Brady

Question 29

Which of the following issues was part of the Ruiz case?

A) excessive fines
B) the types of drugs used in the death penalty
C) visitation rights
D) health care

Question 30

Today, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates the prison system. Who runs this agency?

A) a nine-member board that is appointed by the sheriffs of the largest counties (by population)
B) a nine-member board that is elected in state-wide at-large elections
C) a nine-member board that is appointed by the governor
D) a nine-member board that is appointed by members of the Texas Supreme Court and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

Question 31

For which type of offenses are Texas prison inmates most likely to be imprisoned?

A) property
B) drug
C) personal
D) violent

Question 32

The most prison-prone group in society is between the ages of

A) 15 and 25.
B) 18 and 25.
C) 20 and 29.
D) 18 and 25.

Question 33

Even if you are not sentenced to jail time, how is your freedom of movement restricted if you are convicted of a drug-related offense?

A) Your driver's license is suspended for the amount of time that you are on probation, without the ability to get an occupational driver's license. You must find another way to get to work-which is a condition of your probation.
B) Your driver's license is suspended for one year. You have the option to go to court to get an occupational driver's license, but you must have a cosigner on an insurance policy.
C) Your driver's license is suspended for six months. You have the option to go to court to get an occupational driver's license, but then you have to get an expensive high-risk SR-22 car insurance policy.
D) Your driver's license is suspended for six months. You have the option to go to court to get an occupational driver's license, but only if you can demonstrate that there is no public transportation available to get from your legal residence to your place of employment.

Question 34

Drug and alcohol treatment programs throughout the criminal justice system in Texas began during the administration of which governor?

A) Allan Shivers
B) William Clements
C) Ann Richards
D) George Bush

Question 35

What is the maximum sentence of an offender who is sentenced to serve time at state jail?

A) 180 days
B) five years
C) two years
D) ten years

Question 36

Why would a judge direct an offender to be housed at the Substance Abuse Felony Punishment Facilities (SAFPF)?

A) The offender has substance abuse problems that need to be treated, and treatment options are not always available in other prison facilities.
B) It is cheaper to house offenders at specialized centers like SAFPF rather than in general population prisons.
C) The SAFPF location is closer to the offender's family, thereby increasing the likelihood that he or she will have a successful recovery from substance abuse.
D) The prosecuting district attorney has recommended this option.

Question 37

A(n) ________ is a lawyer who is appointed by a judge to represent an individual who can't afford legal representation.

A) district attorney
B) assigned counsel
C) prosecutor
D) county attorney

Question 38

The ________ usually provides legal advice to the county commissioners.

A) county judge
B) district attorney
C) attorney general
D) county attorney

Question 39

Jurors determine a guilty verdict in criminal cases

A) with a unanimous vote.
B) by a majority vote.
C) by a hung jury, declaring a mistrial.
D) by deferring to the judge's decision.

Question 40

In Texas, the legal standard of proof "beyond a reasonable doubt" is used in which type(s) of cases?

A) felony
B) misdemeanor
C) civil
D) both felony and misdemeanor cases

Question 41

Police departments are now required to report officer-involved shootings to the state.

Question 42

Texas leads the nation in the number of state-sanctioned executions.

Question 43

What is the process for granting clemency in Texas?

A) The governor has complete control of whether to grant clemency.
B) The governor must follow the recommendations of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.
C) The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles makes a unilateral collective decision.
D) There is no procedure for clemency in Texas.

Question 44

In order to use testimony from a jailhouse informant, prosecutors will now have to

A) independently verify all informant testimony with at least two other witnesses.
B) share with the defense attorneys the criminal history of the jailhouse informant and anything offered to the informant in return for his or her testimony.
C) use aliases in all documents to protect the privacy of the informant.
D) There are no restrictions on using testimony from a jailhouse informant.

Question 45

In cases where the prosecution believes it will be difficult to get a conviction, it might agree to a plea bargain allowing community supervision for a long period.

Question 46

Texas has more verified ______________ than any other state.

A) cases of jury nullification
B) justified pardons
C) commutations
D) wrongful convictions

Question 47

The major criticism of the grand jury is that it usually hears only what the prosecutor chooses to let it hear.

Question 48

People serving time for capital crimes are eligible for parole.

Question 49

In the Texas criminal justice system, crimes are classified as felonies or misdemeanors.

Question 50

If you were wrongfully convicted and exonerated, the Timothy Cole Act requires that the state pays you __________________ per year you wrongfully spent in prison.

A) $50,000
B) $100,000
C) $80,000
D) $25,000

Question 51

It is more expensive to place a person on probation than in prison.

Question 52

Plea bargains are not often used in Texas criminal trials.

Question 53

Constitutional carry

A) would limit what Texas could do with respect to handguns to only what the federal government directly authorized.
B) would limit legal gun ownership to sworn peace officers.
C) would not require gun training classes or any licensing process before someone could legally carry a weapon in public.
D) would amend the Texas Constitution to clarify what kind of restrictions the legislature can put on where people can carry their firearms.

Question 54

The most important actor in the Texas criminal justice system is the Federal Government.

Question 55

The governor of Texas is unable to grant clemency to death-row inmates without the recommendation of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Question 56

If you are convicted of a misdemeanor, you retain your right to vote.

Question 57

According to the Texas Forensic Science Commission, which of the following is junk science and should not be used as evidence in a criminal trial?

A) testimony that connects a partial fingerprint to a specific defendant
B) testimony that connects a voice recording to a specific defendant
C) testimony that connects an IP address to a specific defendant's physical address
D) testimony that connects a bite mark to a specific defendant's teeth

Question 58

Grand juries decide the guilt or innocence of the accused.

Question 59

The average time spent on death row prior to execution is 10.87 years.

Question 60

In the state of Texas, which race/ethnicity is most likely to be on death row today?

A) Caucasian
B) African American
C) Hispanic
D) Asian American

Question 61

Discuss the options a judge and prosecutor may have when addressing a criminal case. Review the levels of criminal charges and the possibility of a plea bargain and probation. Based on this knowledge, how "tough" is the Texas system?

Question 62

How are urban police forces different from suburban or rural police forces? What are the challenges facing police departments in Texas today? What changes have been implemented to deal with these challenges? Do these changes go far enough?

Question 63

Scientific advances in DNA technology have helped exonerate many people who were wrongfully convicted.

Question 64

Explain the implications of court-ordered prison reforms on the criminal justice system in Texas and the state's large number of executions. Which court case precipitated the prison reform?

Question 65

The integrity of the Texas judicial system has been called into question many times. Explain what events have caused it to be called into question. Discuss the outcome of the situations and what the state of Texas is doing to combat future accusations.

Question 66

The Michael Morton Act established a uniform policy for district attorneys to make material that can help defendants' cases available to defense attorneys.

Question 67

What are the steps after a person is arrested? Do you believe the criminal justice system creates criminals? Explain the process of how an accused person obtains a criminal defense. What are the concerns with a court-appointed attorney?

Question 68

Arson science is evolving and we now know that what were once believed to be indicators of arson may also appear in an accidental fire.

Question 69

One of the most controversial judicial issues in Texas is the death penalty. Explain some of the reasons for the controversy. How does race play a role in the controversy? What role does the court of criminal appeals play? What is the process by which clemencies are offered?