Chapter 3

Question 1

Is Congress trying to expand the powers of the FBI?

Answer 1

Yes

Question 2

Do defendants who win appeals typically go free?

Answer 2

No

Question 3

What are the most common violations of criminal law at the federal level?

Answer 3

Drug offenses

Question 4

About what percentage of offenders are supervised in the community?

Answer 4

68%

Question 5

Are minorities subjected to much higher rates of incarceration than white majority?

Answer 5

Yes

Question 6

Are criminal justice agencies dependent on others for funding?

Answer 6

Yes

Question 7

Is doing justice a goal of criminal justice?

Answer 7

Yes

Question 8

Because police usually observe the crime that occurs, they are at an advantage in being able to quickly arrest offenders?

Answer 8

No

Question 9

In the criminal justice system, do all cases undergo the same process and receive equal attention?

Answer 9

No, as cases in level 4 are treated much differently than level 1 cases as speed is prioritized with discretion.

Question 10

In the US is it true that the law can be interpreted differently in various states?

Answer 10

Yes, due to the dual court system and discretion.

Question 11

Know the wedding cake model

Answer 11

Layer 1; celebrated cases, highly unusual, jury trial. Layer 2; serious felonies, prepare for trial but many get plea bargained. Layer 3; lesser felonies, offenders may have no record, officials want to dispose quickly. Layer 4; misdemeanors, about 90% of all cases, “garbage” handled by lower courts.

Question 12

Is plea bargaining an example of an exchange relationship in the criminal justice system?

Answer 12

Yes

Question 13

In the American criminal justice system do most cases proceed all the way to trial?

Answer 13

No

Question 14

Which level of government administers prisons, jails, and other correctional facilities?

Answer 14

Local, state, and federal

Question 15

Know the difference between probable cause and reasonable suspicion

Answer 15

Probable cause; Reliable information indicating that evidence will likely be found in a specific location or that a specific person is likely to be guilty of a crime. Reasonable suspicion- A police officer’s belief, based on articulable facts, that criminal activity is taking place, so that intruding on an individual’s reasonable expectation of privacy is necessary

Question 16

Which agency is best to pursue criminal investigations across state borders?

Answer 16

The FBI and other federal agencies.

Question 17

Arrest

Answer 17

The physical taking of a person into custody on the grounds that probable cause exists to believe that he or she has committed a criminal offense. Police may use only reasonable physical force in making an arrest. The purpose of the arrest is to hold the accused for a court proceeding.

Question 18

Warrant

Answer 18

A court order authorizing police officials to take certain actions; for example, to arrest suspects or to search premises

Question 19

Indictment

Answer 19

A document returned by a grand jury as a true bill charging an individual with a specific crime on the basis of a determination of probable cause from evidence presented by a prosecuting attorney

Question 20

Information

Answer 20

A document charging an individual with a specific crime. It is prepared by a prosecuting attorney and presented to a court at a preliminary hearing.

Question 21

Adjudication

Answer 21

The process of determining whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty

Question 22

Booking

Answer 22

When the suspect is taken to the police station to make a record of the arrest, including their fingerprints, photograph, interrogation, and a line up by the victim or witness, they may also be read their rights, and bail may be set

Question 23

What happens to the suspect at the initial appearance before a judge

Answer 23

The suspect is given notice of their charges, told their rights, and the judge will set bail based on the charges, and determine whether there is enough evidence to continue prosecution.

Question 24

How much greater is the incarceration rate for African Americans as compared to whites?

Answer 24

The incarceration rate is 6 times that of whites

Question 25

Know the difference between felony and misdemeanor

Answer 25

Misdemeanor; offenses less serious than felonies and usually punishable by incarceration of no more than one year, probation, or intermediate sanctions. Felony; serious crimes usually carrying a penalty of incarceration for more than one year or the death penalty.

Question 26

The criminal justice system is designed to control crime by arresting, prosecuting, convicting, and what those who disobey the law.

Answer 26

Punishing

Question 27

Discretion

Answer 27

The authority to make decisions without reference to specific rules or facts, using instead one’s own judgment; allows for individualization and formality in the administration of justice

Question 28

plea bargain

Answer 28

A defendant’s plea of guilt to a criminal charge with the reasonable expectation of receiving some consideration from the state for doing so, usually a reduction of the charge. The defendant’s ultimate goal is a penalty lighter than the maximum punishment formally warranted by the original charge

Question 29

Federalism-

Answer 29

A system of government in which power is divided between a central (national) government and regional (state) governments.

Question 30

System-

Answer 30

A complex whole consisting of interdependent parts whose operations are directed toward goals and are influenced by the environment within which they function.

Question 31

Exchange-

Answer 31

A mutual transfer of resources; a balance of benefits and deficits that flow from behavior based on decisions about the values and costs of alternatives.

Question 32

Discretion-

Answer 32

The authority to make decisions without reference to specific rules or facts, using instead one’s own judgment; allows for individualization and formality in the administration of justice.

Question 33

Filtering process-

Answer 33

A process by which criminal justice officials screen out some cases while advancing others to the next level of decision making.

Question 34

Adjudication-

Answer 34

The process of determining whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty.

Question 35

Dual court system-

Answer 35

A system based on a separate judicial system for each state, in addition to a court system under the national government. Each case is tried in a court of the same jurisdiction as that of the law or laws allegedly broken.

Question 36

Arrest-

Answer 36

The physical taking of a person into custody on the grounds that probable cause exists to believe that he or she has committed a criminal offense. Police may use only reasonable physical force in making an arrest. The purpose of the arrest is to hold the accused for a court proceeding.

Question 37

Warrant-

Answer 37

A court order authorizing police officials to take certain actions; for example, to arrest suspects or to search premises.

Question 38

Information-

Answer 38

A document charging an individual with a specific crime. It is prepared by a prosecuting attorney and presented to a court at a preliminary hearing.

Question 39

Indictment-

Answer 39

A document returned by a grand jury as a true bill charging an individual with a specific crime on the basis of a determination of probable cause from evidence presented by a prosecuting attorney.

Question 40

Disparity-

Answer 40

The unequal treatment of members of one demographic group by the criminal justice system, compared with treatment accorded members of other groups.

Question 41

Discrimination-

Answer 41

Differential treatment of individuals or groups based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or economic status, instead of treatment based on the actual behavior or qualifications of each individual

Question 42

What are the 13 steps in the criminal justice decision-making process?

Answer 42

The 13 steps in the criminal justice decision-making process are investigation, arrest, booking, charging, initial appearance, preliminary hearing/grand jury, indictment/information, arraignment, trial, sentencing, appeal, corrections, and release.