Criminal Justice in Action 7th Edition by Larry K. Gaines – Test Bank

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Criminal Justice in Action 7th Edition by Larry K. Gaines – Test Bank

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Chapter 2: Test Bank

 

TRUE/FALSE

 

1. Cesare Beccaria is referred to as the father of criminology.

 

ANS:  F                    REF:   37                  OBJ:   3

2. Choice theorists believe the key to controlling crime is deterrence.

 

ANS:  T                    REF:   38                  OBJ:   2

 

3. The criminal model of addiction asserts that drug abusers endanger society with their behavior and should be punished the same as those who commit non-drug-related offenses.

 

ANS:  T                    REF:   58                  OBJ:   8

 

4. Wolfgang, Figlio, and Sellin asserted that a small group of juveniles, 9 percent, were responsible for a disproportionate amount of violent crime.

 

ANS:  T                    REF:   58                  OBJ:   9

 

5. Trait theories suggest that certain biological or psychological traits can trigger criminal behavior in certain circumstances.

 

ANS:  T                    REF:   38                  OBJ:   3

 

6. A correlation demonstrates a cause of behavior.

 

ANS:  F                    REF:   35                  OBJ:   1

 

7. The continuity of theory of crime asserts that once negative behaviors have been established they cannot be changed.

 

ANS:  T                    REF:   52                  OBJ:   6

 

8. Social conflict theories view criminal behavior as a result of contact with deviant family and friends.

 

ANS:  F                    REF:   48                  OBJ:   5

 

 

9. Utilitarianism involves the calculation of pain and pleasure.

 

ANS:  T                    REF:   37                  OBJ:   2

 

 

 

10. Social disorganization theory holds that crime is largely related to the quality of neighborhoods.

 

ANS:  T                    REF:   43                  OBJ:   4

 

 

11.   Strain results from the lack of available means to achieve life goals.

 

ANS:  T                    REF:   44                  OBJ:   4

 

12. Labels applied by the justice system can only improve life.

 

ANS:  F                    REF:   46                  OBJ:   5

 

13. Self-control is an important variable in life course criminology.

 

ANS:  T                    REF:   51                  OBJ:   6

 

14. Studies indicate that individuals with low self -control are at a greater risk of victimization.

 

ANS:  T                    REF:   53                  OBJ:   7

 

15. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain which is highly correlated with addiction and physical dependency.

 

ANS:  T                    REF:   56                  OBJ:   7

 

 

 

MULTIPLE CHOICE

 

1. Strain theory has its roots in the concept of

a.	power.
b.	employment.
c.	anomie.
d.	peers.

 

 

ANS:  C                    REF:   44                  OBJ:   4

 

2. The idea that certain people are more likely to be victims of crime than others is called

a.	repeat victimization.
b.	recidivism.
c.	chronic offending.
d.	system revictimization.

 

 

ANS:  A                    REF:   53                  OBJ:   7

 

 

 

3. For the positivist, behavior is

a.	the result of a rational decision making process
b.	the result of exposures to family and friends
c.	influenced by the environment surrounding the offender
d.	beyond the control of the individual

 

 

ANS:  D                    REF:   37                  OBJ:   3

 

4. Classical theorists believe that a crime was an expression of a person’s

a.	conscience.
b.	ethics.
c.	genetics.
d.	rational decision making process.

 

 

ANS:  D                    REF:   36-37             OBJ:   2

 

5. An explanation of a happening or circumstance based on observation, experimentation, and reasoning is a

a.	hypothesis.
b.	theory.
c.	utilitarian view.
d.	positivist view.

 

 

ANS:  B                    REF:   35                  OBJ:   1

 

 

6. The Chicago School showed a correlation between crime and

a.	physiology.
b.	rational decision making.
c.	neighborhood conditions.
d.	low levels of self-control.

 

 

ANS:  C                    REF:   43                  OBJ:   4

 

7. Which of the following is not a main branch of social process theory?

a.	Labeling theory
b.	Deviance theory
c.	Control theory
d.	Learning theory

 

 

ANS:  B                    REF:   45                  OBJ:   5

 

8. Which model holds that substance abusers are forced into petty crime to feed their addictions?

a.	Criminal
b.	Medical
c.	Addiction
d.	Treatment

 

 

ANS:  B                    REF:   58                  OBJ:   8

9. Wolfgang, Figlio, and Sellin’s research regarding the “chronic 6 percent” has resulted in

a.	harsher sentences for repeat offenders
b.	mentoring programs for young offenders
c.	an increased emphasis on the victim
d.	a concerted effort to avoid labeling juvenile delinquents

 

 

ANS:  A                    REF:   59                  OBJ:   9

 

10. Which of the following is a social process theory?

a.	Social disorganization theory
b.	Strain theory
c.	Labeling theory
d.	Life course theory

 

 

ANS:  C                    REF:   46                  OBJ:   5

 

11. Which of the following is consistent with control theory?

a.	Offenders learn deviant values from parents and peers
b.	Individuals are restrained from offending by their relationships between parents and peers.
c.	Individuals must be taught to commit illegal activities
d.	Individuals commit crimes after being labeled by society.

 

 

ANS:  B                    REF:   46                  OBJ:   5

 

12. In Bentham’s classical criminology, punishment aims to

a.	incapacitate offenders.
b.	rehabilitate offenders.
c.	return the victim to the state they were in before the crime.
d.	give an incentive not to harm people.

 

 

ANS:  D                    REF:   37                  OBJ:   2

 

13. Social conflict theory focuses on

a.	psychology.
b.	biology.
c.	sociology.
d.	power.

 

 

ANS:  D                    REF:   48                  OBJ:   5

 

14. Routine activities theory includes all of the following elements except

a.	a suitable target.
b.	repeat victimization.
c.	a likely offender.
d.	absence of a capable guardian.

 

 

ANS:  B                    REF:   52-53             OBJ:   6

 

15. The theory that people adapt to the values of the subculture to which they belong is

a.	social learning theory.
b.	cultural deviance theory.
c.	anomie.
d.	social control theory.

 

 

ANS:  B                    REF:   45                  OBJ:   4

 

16. All of the following are true according to Beccaria, except that

a.	All decisions are the result of rational choice
b.	Fear of punishment can deter the choice to commit crime
c.	The more swift and certain a punishment is, the more effective it will be
d.	Punishment must be designed to diagnose and treat the underlying causes of criminal behavior

 

 

ANS:  D                    REF:   37                  OBJ:   2

 

 

17. Theories are based on all of the following except

a.	common sense.
b.	observation.
c.	experimentation.
d.	reasoning.

 

 

ANS:  A                    REF:   35                  OBJ:   1

 

18. Researchers who study the causes of crime are called

a.	positivists.
b.	sociologists.
c.	ideologists.
d.	criminologists.

 

 

ANS:  D                    REF:   35                  OBJ:   1

 

19. Social conflict theory includes

a.	a foundation of rational choice.
b.	issues of power and wealth.
c.	the idea that the criminal justice system is out of control.
d.	a focus of community values.

 

 

ANS:  B                    REF:   54                  OBJ:   5

 

20. The research published in Delinquency in a Birth Cohort asserted that ________ of juvenile offenders were responsible for the majority of violent crime.

a.	1%
b.	6%
c.	14%
d.	22%

 

 

ANS:  B                    REF:   58                  OBJ:   9

 

21. The belief that illegal drug abusers are a danger to society and should be punished accordingly is consistent with

a.	The medical model of addiction.
b.	The enslavement theory of addiction.
c.	The criminal model of addiction.
d.	The systemic model of addiction.

 

 

ANS:  C                    REF:   58                  OBJ:   8

 

 

22. _________________ is widely referred to as “the father of criminology.”

a.	Edward Sutherland.
b.	Cesare Lombroso.
c.	Travis Hirschi.
d.	Emile Durkheim.

 

 

ANS:  B                    REF:   37                  OBJ:   3

 

23. Biochemical explanations of misbehavior include all of the following except

a.	testosterone.
b.	postpartum psychosis.
c.	attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
d.	male hormones.

 

 

ANS:  C                    REF:   38-40             OBJ:   3

 

24. To understand the basics of addiction and physical dependence, one must understand the role of

a.	testosterone in the brain.
b.	serotonin in the brain.
c.	androgen in the brain.
d.	dopamine in the brain.

 

 

ANS:  D                    REF:   56                  OBJ:   7

 

25. Practitioners of life course criminology assert that the strongest predictors of future criminal behavior can be found by evaluating

a.	childhood behaviors.
b.	family structure and interaction.
c.	the mental and physical health of the offender.
d.	neighborhood conditions.

 

 

ANS:  A                    REF:   51                  OBJ:   6

 

26. Gottfredson and Hirschi believe that low self-control can be primarily attributed to

a.	school failure.
b.	poor parenting.
c.	mental deficiencies.
d.	hormones.

 

 

ANS:  B                    REF:   51                  OBJ:   6

27. Rational choice theory is an updated version of

a.	classical theory.
b.	anomie theory.
c.	ego theory.
d.	control theory.

 

 

ANS:  A                    REF:   37-38             OBJ:   2

 

 

28. Labeling an individual

a.	is evil.
b.	affects one’s self concept.
c.	can only be applied by the community.
d.	cannot be reversed.

 

 

ANS:  B                    REF:   48                  OBJ:   5

 

 

29. When considering the relationship between drugs and crime, the systemic model asserts that

a.	individuals act violently or criminally as a result of the drugs they have ingested.
b.	drug abusers commit crimes to get the funds to purchase drugs.
c.	the criminal justice response to drug addicted individuals leads to their repeated offending.
d.	violence is a by-product of the interpersonal relationships within the drug-using community.

 

 

ANS:  D                    REF:   56                  OBJ:   7

 

 

COMPLETION

 

1. Shaw and McKay popularized the idea of ecology in criminology through their ____________________ theory..

 

ANS:  social disorganization                                                                                 REF:   43                  OBJ:   4

 

2. From the early days of this country, the general presumption of criminal law has been that behavior is a consequence of                     .

 

ANS:  free will                                                                                                                                                                      REF:   36                  OBJ:   2

 

3. The                  is the part of the personality which is directly related to the conscience and determines which actions are right or wrong.

 

ANS:  superego                                                                                                                                                                  REF:   41                  OBJ:   3

 

 

4. Criminal activity in males has been linked to the elevated levels of the hormone                             .

 

ANS:  testosterone                                                                                                                                              REF:   39                  OBJ:   3

 

5. A proposition that can be tested by researchers or observers to determine if it is valid is a                 .

 

ANS:  hypothesis                                                                                                                                       REF:   35                  OBJ:   1

 

6. The                   model of addiction believes that addicts are mentally or physically ill.

 

ANS:  medical                                                                                                                                                                         REF:   58                  OBJ:   8

 

7. A school of criminology which asserts that individuals have free will to engage in any behavior, including criminal behavior is ___________________________________.

 

ANS:  classical criminology                                                                                       REF:   37                  OBJ:   2

 

8. A school of criminology that studies why certain people are the victims of crimes is ______________.

 

ANS:  victimology                                                                                                                                            REF:   52                  OBJ:   6

 

9. Learning theory has recently expanded to include the growing influence of the                              .

 

ANS:  media                                                                                                                                                                                    REF:   46                  OBJ:   5

 

10. Labeling can lead to a                         prophecy.

 

ANS:  self-fulfilling                                                                                                                                       REF:   48                  OBJ:   5

 

11. The study of behavior patterns of childhood predicting adult criminality is part of                          criminology.

 

ANS:  life course                                                                                                                                                         REF:   51                  OBJ:   6

 

12. Strain has its roots in _______________ which is derived from the Greek word for “without norms.”

 

ANS:  Anomie                                                                                                                                                                        REF:   44                  OBJ:   4

 

13. Career criminals are also known as _____________________.  .

 

ANS:  chronic offenders                                                                                                          REF:   58                  OBJ:   9

 

14. The                  model of addiction holds that addicts endanger society and should be punished in the same manner as other drug offenders.

 

ANS:  criminal                                                                                                                                                                        REF:   57                  OBJ:   8

 

 

 

15. The theory that certain people are more likely to be subject to criminal activity and that past victimization is the greatest predictor of future victimization is ______________.

 

ANS: repeat victimization                                                                                          REF:   53                  OBJ:   7

 

 

ESSAY

 

1. Discuss the difference between a hypothesis and a theory in the context of criminology.

 

REF: 35                              OBJ:  1

 

ANS:

• A hypothesis is a statement of relationship between two researchers, which can be tested.
• A theory is a hypothesis that has been tested and accepted by researchers as a plausible explanation for criminal behavior.

 

2   Explain why classical criminology is based on choice theory.

 

REF:   36-37             OBJ:   2

 

ANS:

 

• Choice theory hold that those who commit crimes choose to do so.
• Classical criminology is based on a model of a person rationally making a choice before committing a crime – weighing the benefits against the costs.

 

 

3. Contrast positivism with classical criminology.

 

REF:   37-38             OBJ:   3

 

ANS:

 

 

• Classical criminologists believe that criminals choose to commit crimes, after a rational decision making process through which they weigh the benefits of the criminal activity with the potential costs.
• Positivists believe that criminal behavior is not the result of rational decision making, rather it is determined by psychological, biological, or social forces.

 

 

4. List and briefly describe the three theories of social structure.

 

REF:   43-45             OBJ:   4

 

ANS:

 

• Social disorganization theory purposes that crime is caused by zones of disorganization within communities.
• Strain theory argues that crime is causes by the strain people experience as they are unable to meet their goals of wealth through legal means.
• Cultural deviance theory asserts that people adapt their behavior to the values of the subculture to which they belong.

 

5. List and briefly describe the three branches of social process theory.

 

REF:   45-48             OBJ:   5

 

 

ANS:

 

• Learning theory contends that offenders learn criminal behavior from their family and peers.
• Control theory holds that the bonds people form with family and peers serve to prevent criminal offending.
• Labeling theory suggests that assigning and individual a negative label will result in that person becoming what he or she has been labeled.

 

6. Why do life course theorists believe the key to criminal offending lies in childhood?

 

REF:   51-52             OBJ:   6

 

 

ANS:

 

• Life course theorists believe there is a link between childhood behavior and criminal offending, and that the roots of criminality can be identified in the childhood behaviors of lying, stealing, and bullying.

 

7. Discuss the connection between criminal offenders and victims of crime.

 

REF:   53                  OBJ:   7

 

ANS:

 

• Those who are at the greatest risk for criminal offending are also those at greatest risk for criminal victimization.

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. Contrast the medical model of addiction with the criminal model of addiction.

 

REF:   58                  OBJ:   8

 

ANS:

 

• Those who subscribe to the medical model of addiction believe that addicts are not criminals, but mentally or physically ill individuals who are forced into petty crimes to support their drug habits.
• Those in favor of the criminal model of addiction believe that abusers and addicts pose a danger to society and should be treated just like any other criminal offender.

 

 

9. Explain the theory of the chronic offender and its importance for the criminal justice system.

 

REF:   58-59             OBJ:   9

ANS:

 

• Wolfgang’s research in the 1970’s resulted in the theory that chronic offenders are responsible for the majority of violent criminal offending.
• As a result of this research, law enforcement and prosecutors have developed strategies  to identify and convict chronic offenders.
• Habitual offenders laws which assign longer sentences to repeat offenders are also a result of chronic offender research.

Chapter 4: Test Bank

 

TRUE/FALSE

 

1. The due process clause basically requires that government not act unfairly or arbitrarily.

 

ANS:  T                    REF:   123                OBJ:   9

 

2. Insanity is a valid justification defense.

 

ANS:  F                    REF:   114                OBJ:   6

 

3. The necessity defense asserts that circumstances required the defendant to commit the illegal act.

 

ANS:  T                    REF:   119                OBJ:   7

 

4. English traditions are the exclusive source of common law.

 

ANS:  F                    REF:   99                  OBJ:   1

 

5. The primary functions of the law are to protect citizens from harm and to maintain and promote social values.

 

ANS:  T                    REF:   104                OBJ:   3

 

6. A state of being aware that a risk does exist and then disregarding that risk is recklessness.

 

ANS:  T                    REF:   109                OBJ:   4

 

7. The Bill of Rights is comprised of the ten Amendments to the Constitution.

 

ANS:  T                    REF:   122                OBJ:   8

 

8. Criminal law specifies that there must be concurrence between the guilty act and the guilty intent.

 

ANS:  T                    REF:   111                OBJ:   5

 

9. Statutory law does not include ordinances passed by cities and counties.

 

ANS:  F                    REF:   101                OBJ:   2

 

 

10. Case law effectively establishes a single legal interpretation of a statute across multiple jurisdictions.

 

ANS:  F                    REF:   103                OBJ:   2

 

11. Substantive due process requires that the laws used in accusing and convicting offenders be fair.

 

ANS:  T                    REF:   123                OBJ:   9

 

12. Inchoate offenses are those committed with an accomplice.

 

ANS:  F                    REF:   113                OBJ:   5

 

13. Precedent is a court decision that serves as example of authority for deciding subsequent cases

 

ANS:  T                    REF:   99                  OBJ:   1

 

14. Statutory rape is an example of a strict liability crime.

 

ANS:  T                    REF:   111                OBJ:   5

 

15. Substantive due process mandates that the law must be carried out in a method that is fair and orderly.

 

ANS:  F                    REF:   120                OBJ:   8

 

16. An act that is deemed reckless is more serious than one that is purposefully committed.

 

ANS:  F                    REF:   109                OBJ:   4

 

MULTIPLE CHOICE

 

1. Alcohol intoxication can be used as a defense when

a.	it does not involve large amounts.
b.	it is involuntary.
c.	there is a designated driver.
d.	no injuries are sustained by victims.

 

 

ANS:  B                    REF:   116-117         OBJ:   6

 

2. Which of the following is not one of the functions of criminal law?

a.	Teach societal boundaries
b.	Rehabilitate criminal offenders
c.	Express public morality
d.	Protection of citizens from criminal harm

 

 

ANS:  B                    REF:   104-105         OBJ:   3

3. The ________ amendment protects against double jeopardy.

a.	Fourth
b.	Sixth
c.	Fifth
d.	Seventh

 

 

ANS:  C                    REF:   122                OBJ:   9

 

4. The rules, orders, and decisions of regulatory agencies are known as

a.	statutory law
b.	case law
c.	bureaucratic law
d.	administrative law

 

 

ANS:  D                    REF:   103                OBJ:   2

 

 

5. Mens rea may be categorized as

a.	premeditated and deliberate.
b.	reckless or negligent.
c.	with malice aforethought.
d.	purposeful, knowing, negligent, or reckless.

 

 

ANS:  D                    REF:   108                OBJ:   4

 

6. ________________ makes it possible to convict a person of a crime he or she did not actually commit.

a.	Criminal liability
b.	Strict liability
c.	Accomplice liability
d.	Attendant circumstances

 

 

ANS:  C                    REF:   111                OBJ:   5

 

7. Many states use the concept of __________________ to impose harsher penalties on certain crimes.

a.	accomplice liability
b.	attendant circumstances
c.	strict liability
d.	concurrence

 

 

ANS:  B                    REF:   112                OBJ:   5

 

8. The _____________ amendment requires states to adhere to the Bill of Rights.

a.	First
b.	Sixth
c.	Ninth
d.	Fourteenth

 

 

ANS:  D                    REF:   122                OBJ:   8

 

9. The M’Naughten rule is

a.	a test for measuring sanity.
b.	case law use at pretrial.
c.	admission of intoxication test results at trial.
d.	evidence exclusions under Mapp v. Ohio.

 

 

ANS:  A                    REF:   114-115         OBJ:   6

 

10. Which of the following is not a justification defense?

a.	Duress
b.	Involuntary intoxication
c.	Necessity
d.	Entrapment

 

 

ANS:  B                    REF:   118-120         OBJ:   7

 

11. The purpose of the social function of law is to

a.	socialize offenders.
b.	reflect values and norms of society.
c.	rehabilitate offenders.
d.	preserve common law.

 

 

ANS:  B                    REF:   104                OBJ:   3

 

12. Statutory law includes all of the following except

a.	state and federal statutes.
b.	county ordinances.
c.	city ordinances.
d.	case law.

 

 

ANS:  D                    REF:   101                OBJ:   2

 

13. One of the earliest known examples of written law was

a.	the Code of Hammurabi.
b.	the Mosaic Code.
c.	English common law.
d.	the Bill of Rights.

 

 

ANS:  A                    REF:   99                  OBJ:   1

 

14. Lex talionis is the concept of

a.	equity.
b.	causation.
c.	retribution.
d.	concurrence.

 

 

ANS:  C                    REF:   99                  OBJ:   1

 

 

 

15. All of the following are requirements for the defense of duress, except:

a.	the threat must be of serious bodily harm or death
b.	the threat must be induced by a public official
c.	the threat must be immediate and inescapable
d.	the harm threatened must be greater than the harm caused by the crime

 

 

ANS:  B                    REF:   118                OBJ:   7

 

16. The legal function of the law is to

a.	protect and punish.
b.	protect and rehabilitate.
c.	rehabilitate and release.
d.	rehabilitate and teach.

 

 

ANS:  A                    REF:   104                OBJ:   3

 

17. Hate crime laws make a person’s __________ an important attendant circumstance to his or her criminal act.

a.	motive
b.	mens rea.
c.	ethnicity
d.	negligence

 

 

ANS:  A                    REF:   112-113         OBJ:   5

 

18. Public backlash against the insanity defense led to enacting

a.	the substantial capacity test.
b.	the irresistible impulse test.
c.	“guilty but mentally ill” statutes.
d.	the Durham rule.

 

 

ANS:  C                    REF:   116                OBJ:   6

 

19. Unlawful pressure brought to bear on a person, causing the person to perform an act that he or she would not otherwise perform is __________________.

a.	duress
b.	mistake
c.	necessity
d.	entrapment

 

 

ANS:  A                    REF:   118                OBJ:   7

 

20. In criminal law, _____________ prevents unfair practices such as forced confessions, denial of counsel, or unreasonable searches.

a.	substantive due process
b.	procedural due process
c.	stare decisis
d.	Lex talionis

 

 

ANS:  B                    REF:   123                OBJ:   9

21. A wrongful mental state is known as ________________.

a.	actus reus
b.	corpus delicti
c.	mens rea
d.	stare decisis

 

 

ANS:  C                    REF:   108                OBJ:   4

 

22. The __________ Amendment contains the prohibition against double jeopardy.

a.	4th
b.	5th
c.	6th
d.	8th

 

 

ANS:  B                    REF:   122                OBJ:   8

 

23. The ___________ Amendment provides that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law.

a.	4th
b.	5th
c.	6th
d.	8th

 

 

ANS:  B                    REF:   123                OBJ:   9

 

24. Ultimately, it is the ______________ which determines whether an individual’s due process has been violated.

a.	United States Supreme  Court
b.	Federal Legislature
c.	Prosecutor
d.	President

 

 

ANS:  A                    REF:   125                OBJ:   9

 

25. The model penal code sets forth

a.	case law decisions.
b.	general principles of criminal responsibility.
c.	administrative laws and rules.
d.	common law.

 

 

ANS:  B                    REF:   102                OBJ:   2

 

 

COMPLETION

 

1. ________________ is the failure to exercise the standard of care that a reasonable person would exercise in similar circumstances.

 

ANS:  Negligence                                                                                                                                                   REF:   109                OBJ:   4

 

2. The primary legal function of the law is to maintain social order by protecting citizens from ____________________.

 

ANS:  criminal harm                                            REF:              104     OBJ:               3

 

3. Legislatures enact                               .

 

ANS:  statutes                                                                                                                                                                          REF:   101                OBJ:   2

 

4. Through its                                          , the American Law Institute seeks to bring uniformity to U.S. law.

 

ANS:  Model Penal Code                                                                                                   REF:   102                OBJ:   2

 

5. ______________ is the guilty act.

 

ANS:  Actus reus                                                                                                                                                       REF:   107                OBJ:   3

 

6. Strict liability allows a finding of guilt even if                        is lacking.

 

ANS:  intent                                                                                                                                                                                      REF:   110                OBJ:   5

 

7. Precedents are rules of law announced in                               .

 

ANS:  court decisions                                                                                                                           REF:   99                  OBJ:   1

 

8. Infancy is a defense in which the individual’s wrongdoing is excluded because he/she is too                      to understand the consequences of his/her actions.

 

ANS:  young                                                                                                                                                                                   REF:   114                OBJ:   6

 

 

9. The law that defines the acts the government will punish is called                                        .

 

ANS:  substantive criminal law                                                                 REF:   120                OBJ:   8

 

10. ______________ is unlawful pressure brought upon a person causing them to perform an act they would not otherwise have performed.

 

ANS:  Duress                                                                                                                                                                               REF:   118                OBJ:   7

 

11. A wrongful mental state, or intent, is called               .

 

ANS:  mens rea                                                                                                                                                                   REF:   109                OBJ:   4

 

 

 

 

12. The rules that define how the rights and duties of individuals can be enforced is   criminal law.

 

ANS:  procedural                                                                                                                                                       REF:   134                OBJ:   8

 

13. An act that is deemed criminal because it could do harm, which laws try to prevent, is called a(n)                                     .

 

ANS:  inchoate offense                                                                                                                 REF:   113                OBJ:   5

 

14. The                               Amendment provides that no person should be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.

 

ANS:  Fourteenth                                                                                                                                                     REF:   135                OBJ:   9

 

15. The practice of deciding new cases with reference to precedents is known as ____ .

 

ANS:  Stare decisis                                                                                                                                           REF:   100                OBJ:   1

 

ESSAY

 

1. Explain precedent and the importance of stare decisis.

 

REF:   99-100           OBJ:   1

 

 

ANS:

 

• Precedent is the concept that one case decision becomes the authority for deciding future cases with similar facts.
• Under the doctrine of stare decisis, judges in a particular jurisdiction are bound to follow precedents in the same jurisdiction.
• Stare decisis leads to efficiency in the judicial system.

 

2. List the four written sources of United States criminal law.

 

REF:   100-101         OBJ:   2

 

ANS:

 

• The four written sources of American criminal law are (1) the U.S. Constitution and state constitutions, (2) statutes passed by congress and the state legislatures, (3) administrative agency regulations, and (4) case law.

 

 

 

3. Name and explain the two basic functions of criminal law.

 

REF:   104-105         OBJ:   3

 

ANS:

 

 

• The primary function of criminal law is to protect citizens from harm and to punish criminal offenders.
• The second function of criminal law is to maintain and teach social values.

 

4. Delineate the elements required to establish mens rea.

 

REF:   109                OBJ:   4

 

ANS:

 

• The elements required to establish mens rea include (1) purpose, (2) knowledge, (3) negligence, and (4) recklessness.

 

5. Explain how the doctrine of strict liability applies to criminal law.

 

REF:   110                OBJ:   5

 

ANS:

 

 

• Strict liability laws hold offenders accountable for their actions, even if there is no criminal intent.

 

6. Identify and explain four excuse defenses against a criminal charge.

 

REF:   114-117         OBJ:   6

 

ANS:

 

 

• The first excuse defense is (1) infancy.  According to common law, an individual must be old enough to understand the nature of his or her actions and their associated consequences before they can be held accountable.
• (2) Insanity is a defense which asserts that the defendant lacks the mental capacity to understand or control his or her actions.
• (3) Intoxication is an excuse defense which suggests the defendant was under the influence of a controlled substance and thus not responsible for his or her actions.
• The final defense is (4) mistake.  Mistake of law suggests that the offender was unaware of the law while mistake of fact asserts that the defendant honestly did not know that he or she was breaking the law.

 

 

 

7. Identify and explain four justification defenses against a criminal charge.

 

 

REF:   118-120         OBJ:   7

 

ANS:

 

 

• The defense of (1) duress assumes that the defendant was forced by another to commit the crime under threat of death or serious injury.
• (2) Self-defense asserts that the defendant acted in defense of life or property.
• (3) Necessity argues that the defendant committed the harm to prevent an even greater harm from occurring.
• Finally, the defense of (4) entrapment argues that the criminal behavior was induced by a public official.

 

8. Distinguish between substantive and procedural criminal law.

 

REF:   120                OBJ:   8

 

ANS:

 

• Substantive criminal law defines which acts are considered criminal, and their associated punishments.
• Procedural criminal law describes the process by which they law should be carried out in order to protect the rights of individuals from the power of government.

 

9. Explain the importance of the due process clause in the criminal justice system.

 

REF:   123                OBJ:   9

 

ANS:

 

• The due process clause is designed to limit the power of government by outlining the procedures that must be followed during the criminal justice process.