Corrections in America - CRJU 204 - Corrections in America - Chapter 4 - Assignment

Name___________________________________

MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the
question.

1) One of the main problems with the sentencing decision is that

1)

_______

A) judges tend to ignore sentencing recommendations in presentence reports.

B) judges are required to predict human behavior.
C) reform options have been designed to limit judicial discretion.
D) judges may be penalized if there are too many appeals of their sentences.

2) The presentence report is used for all of the following EXCEPT

2) _______

A) the probation and parole processes.

B) potential future appeals.
C) the initial arrest process.
D) making sentencing decisions.

3) A judicial order requiring conformity to a court's decision is called

3) _______

A) a writ of mandamus.
B) a violation of due process.
C) a writ of habeas corpus.
D) civil rights.

4) A court-prepared document that investigates an offender's background in order to determine

punishment is a(n)

4) _______

A) background report.
B) correctional brief.
C) Appeal.
D) presentence report.
5) In 2005, the Supreme Court ruled that the Federal Guidelines violated the Sixth Amendment right to a
jury trial because

5) _______

A) defendants had not initially been given a fair jury trial.

B) juries had not been selected fairly in the first place.
C) juries had been given too much power.
D) judges were asked to consider facts not originally presented to a jury.

6) Who has the most discretionary power to dismiss or reduce charges prior to the trial?

6) _______

A) The police
B) Judges
C) Victims' advocates
D) Prosecutors

7) Due process has been a constitutional right since the passage of the

7) _______

A) 14th Amendment.
B) 12th Amendment.
C) 15th Amendment.
D) 13th Amendment.

8) One problem with the increasing geriatric prison population is that

8) _______

A) medical care costs can skyrocket.

B) prison staff struggle to punish elderly inmates.
C) it seems to cause an increase in violence.
D) it seems to cause a decrease in deterrence.
9) Which of the following was not one of the ways the Prison Litigation Reform Act attempted to reduce
the number of petitions filed by inmates claiming civil rights violations?

9) _______

A) Inmates must exhaust all administrative remedies before filing in federal court.
B) Inmates must observe a one-year statute of limitations from the time their conviction becomes
final after all direct appeals have been exhausted.
C) Inmates must pay applicable filing fees and court costs even if filing in forma pauperis.
D) Inmates are forbidden from filing in forma pauperis if they have had prior petitions dismissed as
frivolous or malicious.

10) An appellate court cannot reverse the factual finding of the trial court unless

10) ______

A) the court of last resort weighs in.

B) the case has been remanded.
C) there was a substantial error of law.
D) a petition to the U.S. Supreme Court is made.

11) Which of the following is NOT a reason for plea bargaining?

11) ______

A) High caseloads
B) Limited resources
C) Overcrowding in jails and prisons
D) Suspects claiming innocence

12)

The formal or informal violation of an accused person's civil rights that leads to unjustified punishment
is a concept known as

12) ______

A) Railroading.
B) presumptive sentencing.
C) due process.
D) sentencing disparity.
13) The concept that describes the various sentencing options in the criminal justice system is

13) ______

A) sentencing disparity.
B) the correctional filter.
C) Prosecution.
D) plea bargaining.

14) Which of the following statements regarding the impact of new sentencing structures and practices
is TRUE?

14) ______

A) Judges' discretionary power has decreased.

B) The discretionary power of many prosecutors has decreased.
C) Prison populations will begin to decrease started to decrease.
D) Judges no longer have any discretion in sentencing decisions.

15) Which of the following is NOT a commonly cited reason for habeas corpus petitions by state
inmates?

15) ______

A) Physical security
B) Ineffective assistance of counsel
C) Self-incrimination
D) Due process violations