Chapter 1

Question 1

describe the two most common models of how society determines which acts are criminal.

Answer 1

The consensus model argues that the majority of citizens will agree on which activities should be outlawed and punished as crimes.
The conflict model argues that in a diverse society, the dominant groups in power establish the rules.

Question 2

Define crime

Answer 2

crime is:

1. any action punishable under criminal statues and is considered an offense against society
2. criminals are punished by state officials and law, no victims are their associates
3. Are punishable by sanction that bring about a loss of personal freedom or, in some cases fines.

Question 3

outline the three levels of law enforcement

Answer 3

1. federal- national level
2. state- state level
3. local-county level

Question 4

list the essential elements of the corrections system

Answer 4

1. criminal offenders are placed on probation
2. incarcerated in a jail or prison
3. transferred to community-based corrections facilities or released on parole

Question 5

explain the difference between the formal and informal criminal justice processes.

Answer 5

the formal process: works like an assembly line, has limited discretion, and is idealist.
the informal process: is realistic and haas a vast amount of discretion .

Question 6

define ethics and describe the role that they play in discretionary decision making.

Answer 6

ethics are the moral principles that guide a person’s perception of right and wrong.
Most criminal justice professionals have a discretionary leeway, and their ethical beliefs can help ensure they make decisions they coincide with society’s values

Question 7

Contrast the crime control and due process models.

Answer 7

The crime control model’s main goal is to protect the public from criminals, and punish and repress criminal conduct.
The due process control model’s main goal is to protect the rights of those accused, make sure the process is fair, and that you are innocent until proven guilty.

Question 8

List the major issues of the criminal justice system today.

Answer 8

1. falling violent and property crime rates
2. the impact of an extended recession on crime rates
3. improved policing strategies
4. street gangs
5. gun sales and gun control
6. use of illegal drugs
7. homeland security
8. the patriot act and civil liberties
9. america’s shrinking, though still massive, inmate population
10. cost-cutting measures in the corrections system
11. possible bias against minorities in the criminal justice system
12. social media in the criminal justice system

Question 9

true or false: behaviors that constitute a “crime” change with society

Answer 9

true

Question 10

what is federalism?

Answer 10

a duel government system that combines federal and state governments

Question 11

what are the three C’s of the criminal justice system?

Answer 11

Cops
Courts
Corrections

Question 12

what is the quality of fairness that must exist in the processes designed to determine whether individuals are guilty of criminal wrongdoing

Answer 12

Justice

Question 13

What are the three states of corrections for each level of law enforcement?

Answer 13

federal-prison
state-prison
local-jail

Question 14

What is the difference between felonies and misdemeanors?

Answer 14

felonies are generally are more serious and receive harsh punishment in comparison to a misdemeanor.

Question 15

what is a set of interacting parts that, when functioning properly, achieve a desired result?

Answer 15

system

Question 16

what are methods to identify a person based on his or her unique physical characteristics, such as fingerprints or facial configuration?

Answer 16

biometrics

Question 17

what is a street gang?

Answer 17

a group of people who share a common identity and engage in illegal activities

Question 18

what is a drug?

Answer 18

any substance that modifies biological, psychological, or social behavior; in particular, an illegal substance with those properties

Question 19

what are chemicals that affect the brain, causing changes in emotions, perceptions, and behavior?

Answer 19

psychoactive drugs

Question 20

what is homeland security?

Answer 20

a concerted national effort to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States and reduce the country’s venerability to terrorism

Question 21

what is terrorism?

Answer 21

the use or threat of violence to achieve political objectivess

Question 22

What is the Patriot Act and what is it’s purpose?

Answer 22

The Patriot Act was passed six weeks after the 9/11 attack. It’s purpose is to fund efforts against terrorism, greater leeway for law enforcement against terrorism, and less evidence is required to tale a terrorist suspect.

Question 23

what is the basic rights and freedoms for American citizens guaranteed by the U.S Constitution, particularly in the Bill of Rights?

Answer 23

Civil Liberties

Question 24

What is recidivism?

Answer 24

the act of committing a new crime after a person has already been punished for a previous crime by being convicted and sent to jail or prison.

Question 25

What is a capital crime?

Answer 25

a criminal act that makes the offender eligible to receive the death penalty.

Question 26

The consensus model of crime assumes that diverse members of society share similar ________, or ideals of right and wrong.

Answer 26

morals

Question 27

the ________ model, in contrast, focuses on dissimilarities of such attitudes within society.

Answer 27

conflict

Question 28

A criminal act is a wrong against ________ and therefore is “avenged”, or prosecuted, by ________ ________, not by the individual victims of a crime.

Answer 28

society

public officials/the government

Question 29

The concept of ________ is closely linked with ideas of fairness and equal treatment for all, and it is a primary goal of American police officers, judges, and prison administrators.

Answer 29

justice

Question 30

Other goals include _______ society from criminal behavior, _________ those who are guilty of criminal wrongdoing, and supporting the ________ of crime.

Answer 30

protecting
punishing
victims

Question 31

To protect against a too powerful central government, the framers of the U.S. Constitution relied on the principle of _________ to balance power between the national government and the states.

Answer 31

federalism

Question 32

Consequently, the United States has a _________ court-systemone at the federal level and one at the __________.

Answer 32

dual

state

Question 33

One expert has compared the ________ criminal justice process to an assembly line involving a series or routine operations.

Answer 33

formal

Question 34

At every level, the criminal justice system relies on the _________ of its employees to keep it from being bogged down by formal rules.

Answer 34

discretion

Question 35

Some critics think that this freedom to make decisions leads to the dominance of an ________ criminal justice system, which can, in some cases, result in unwell treatment and even discrimination.

Answer 35

informal

Question 36

Ideally, to avoid this kind of injustice,criminal justice professionals will incorporate proper _______ in their decision-making process.

Answer 36

ethics

Question 37

The __________ _________ model of criminal justice places great importance on high rates of apprehension and conviction of criminal suspects.

Answer 37

crime control

Question 38

In contrast, the _______ _______ model emphasizes the rights of the ______ over the powers of the government.

Answer 38

due process

individual

Question 39

Despite predictions to the contrary, crime rates in the United States have steadily ________ over the past several years.

Answer 39

decreased

Question 40

At the same time, _______ populations are also decreasing for the first time since the early 1970’s .

Answer 40

prison

Question 41

Legislation known as the _________ Act was the initial, and the most comprehensive, reaction to the _______ attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001.

Answer 41

Patriot

terrorist