Deck 13: The Failed Experiment: Getting Tough on Crime

Question 1

Just deserts theory proposes that punishment is

A) the icing on the cake for bad behavior
B) ineffective in changing behavior
C)morally justified
D) given to offenders only as a last resort
E) particularly effective with drug offenders

Answer 1

morally justified

Question 2

"Get tough" laws (e.g., three-strikes, truth-in-sentencing) have been associated with

A) decreased general recidivism
B) decreased violent recidivism
C) increased violent recidivism
D)higher prison populations
E) fairer sentencing

Answer 2

higher prison populations

Question 3

The meta-analysis by Smith, Goggin, and Gendreau (2002) on the effects of imprisonment on recidivism found

A)a small increase in recidivism
B) no impact on recidivism
C) a very small decrease in recidivism that was of little practical significance
D) a reduction of violent recidivism only
E) decreases in recidivism in studies that compared community sanctions with prison sanctions

Answer 3

a small increase in recidivism

Question 4

A review of intermediate sanctions has found

A) electronic monitoring programs to reduce recidivism
B)reductions in recidivism when there is a treatment component
C) Scared Straight programs sufficiently frighten delinquents from doing crime
D) boot camps to be particularly effective in reducing recidivism
E) that these programs reduce the recidivism of chronic offenders only

Question 5

According to the text, the effectiveness of punishment in suppressing behavior is more likely when

A) there is a short delay in punishment that allows the offender to think about what he or she has done
B) the punishment is given by someone in authority
C) there are no distractions and the offender is fully attentive
D) the punishment is not very harsh because it could cause bad side effects
E)the punishment immediately follows that behavior

Question 6

Punishment can produce the following unintended effect(s)

A)interfere with desirable behaviors
B)increase anger toward the punisher
C)teach aggressive behavior through modeling
D)b and c only
E)all of the above

Question 7

Restorative justice

A) is a new approach that is being tried with offenders who are of Native American or Aboriginal heritage
B) is a movement trying to obtain more services to victims
C) brings together victim, offender, and sometimes community members to settle on the best form of punishment for the offender
D)views crime as a disruption in the relationship between those harmed by crime and the offender
E) recognizes the importance of the state in giving out fair justice

Question 8

Many restorative justice programs have the following features:

A) face-to-face meetings between the offender and the victim
B) the offender accepts responsibility for the crime
C) victims and offenders decide on how amends can be made
D) the offender has an opportunity to apologize to the victim
E)all of the above

Question 9

The research on restorative justice shows

A) high rates of satisfaction with the process from victims
B) a small decrease in recidivism
C) wide applicability to offenders and victims
D)a and b only
E) all of the above

Question 10

The positive impact of restorative justice on recidivism may be due to

A)the inclusion of appropriate treatment for the offender
B) the offender seeing how the crime has hurt the victim
C) the victim forgiving the offender
D) reconciliation between offender and victim
E) restitution being paid to the victim