The Going Rate

Question 1

What is the going rate for crime?

Answer 1

The standard and predictable punishment for a crime.

Question 2

The President’s Crime Commission described the flow of cases through the system using a funnel effect. True or False?

Answer 2

True

Question 3

An ________ in the severity of the penalty will result in ________ frequent application of that penalty.

Answer 3

An increase in the severity of a penalty will result in less frequent application of that penalty.

Question 4

The ______ often a severe penalty is applied, the ________ arbitrary will be the occasions when it is applied.

Answer 4

The less often a severe penalty is applied, the more arbitrary will be the occasions when it is applied.

Question 5

Why is the concept of going rate important for effective crime control policies?

Answer 5

Many policies are based on mistaken assumptions and do not take into consideration the stableness of the system; and many proprosed reforms would have trouble being implemented because of the courtroom workgroup.