Criminal Justice and Policing Concepts

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary focus of incident driven policing?

Proactively preventing crime through community engagement

Understanding the root causes of crime in neighborhoods

Responding to and addressing single incidents (correct)

Building long-term relationships with the community

What does community policing primarily aim to achieve?

Strict enforcement of laws without community input

Increased police presence in high-crime areas

Reduction of crime through community engagement and problem-solving (correct)

More efficient response times to emergency calls

According to the broken windows theory, what does an unfixed broken window symbolize?

A sign of community resilience

Economic prosperity of the area

Lack of social concern leading to neighborhood decay (correct)

Policing effectiveness in the community

Which statement best describes the characteristics of community policing?

Promotes decentralized services and community partnerships Signup and view all the answers

What is a major consequence of relying on incident driven policing?

Limited understanding of recurring problems in the community Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of criminal cases in comparison to civil cases?

Defendants in criminal cases have a constitutional right to an attorney. Signup and view all the answers

Which amendment is referenced in relation to state power?

10th Amendment Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following cases would fall under the jurisdiction of federal courts?

Bank robbery and drug trafficking Signup and view all the answers

What is a fundamental difference between federal courts and state courts?

Federal courts have limited jurisdiction, whereas state courts have general jurisdiction. Signup and view all the answers

What role does the Bill of Rights play in the context of state and federal powers?

It ensures protections that the federal government must uphold across states. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of case does NOT typically involve federal jurisdiction?

Local zoning regulations Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following highlights the relationship between federal and state powers?

Federal power applies only to those areas explicitly outlined in the Constitution. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of federal courts in the justice system?

They only hear cases of specific constitutional or federal significance. Signup and view all the answers

What was the main outcome of Tennessee v. Garner (1985) regarding police use of force?

The use of force must be limited to what a reasonable officer would use. Signup and view all the answers

How did Graham v. Connor (1989) influence the perception of police use of force?

It reinforced the idea of objective reasonableness in using force. Signup and view all the answers

What was a consequence of the first major push to reduce police killings from 1970 to 1985?

A significant decrease in police killings from 353 to 172 annually. Signup and view all the answers

What did the courts allow concerning an officer's perception of threat?

Subjective interpretation of threat to justify excessive force. Signup and view all the answers

What effect did the investigations of officers involved in misconduct have on police culture?

They reinforced a sense of cultural alliance among officers. Signup and view all the answers

Which event marked the end of the initial reform movement to reduce police killings?

The Supreme Court's ruling in Tennessee v. Garner. Signup and view all the answers

What traumatic experiences can trigger overreactions to perceived threats in officers?

Past direct and vicarious traumas. Signup and view all the answers

What was a direct consequence of departments adopting more lethal weapons and higher homicide rates?

An increase in the number of police killings. Signup and view all the answers

What does the misinformation effect primarily result from?

Misleading post-event information Signup and view all the answers

How does stress affect memory for peripheral details?

Interferes with memory for these details Signup and view all the answers

What is a major problem with witness confidence in relation to accuracy?

Witness confidence may not indicate actual accuracy Signup and view all the answers

What often happens to eyewitnesses when the true perpetrator is absent from a lineup?

They are more likely to identify the wrong person Signup and view all the answers

What does the weapons focus effect imply about a witness's attention?

Witnesses concentrate more on weapons than the assailant Signup and view all the answers

What is unconscious transference in the context of eyewitness memory?

A face seen in one context is mistaken for another Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following reflects the cross-race effect in eyewitness identification?

Own-race identification is more likely to be accurate Signup and view all the answers

What are estimator variables in relation to eyewitness accuracy?

Factors affecting eyewitness memory outside legal control Signup and view all the answers

How can leading or suggestive comments affect eyewitness recall?

They can inadvertently provide cues to expected answers Signup and view all the answers

What is a key development in the history of interrogation regulations that occurred in the 1960s?

Requirements for Miranda warnings Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of suspects typically make full confessions during police interrogations?

39-48% Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is least likely to contribute to false confessions?

Personal conviction of guilt Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of police questioning during an interrogation?

To elicit a confession from the suspect Signup and view all the answers

In what percentage of wrongful convictions do false confessions play a role?

27% Signup and view all the answers

Which group is most likely to provide false confessions during interrogations?

Vulnerable and suggestible suspects Signup and view all the answers

What legal right was developed in response to inquisition and political persecution?

Right to remain silent Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about the psychology of confession is false?

Individuals never confess to crimes they did not commit. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of state courts in the American legal system?

To handle the majority of cases related to state laws. Signup and view all the answers

Which amendment rights are highlighted in the case of Miranda v. Arizona?

5th Amendment rights against self-incrimination. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of the Supreme Court in the United States?

To interpret and decide whether laws are constitutional. Signup and view all the answers

What concept does 'stare decisis' refer to in legal reasoning?

The principle of maintaining established rulings in court cases. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a type of case handled by state courts?

Federal tax evasion cases. Signup and view all the answers

Who has the authority to appoint Supreme Court justices?

The President, with Senate approval. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of judicial review in the context of the Supreme Court?

It provides the authority to declare laws unconstitutional. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accurately describes the appeals process?

Citizens have the right to appeal if they feel treated unfairly by governmental actions. Signup and view all the answers

How does police power function within the legal system?

It involves passing laws, enforcing them, and punishing violators. Signup and view all the answers

What role does the concept of 'parens patriae' play in the legal system?

It requires state protection of individuals who cannot protect themselves. Signup and view all the answers

Which criteria determine if a case can be heard by the Supreme Court?

Cases are chosen through the writ of certiorari. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following types of reasoning uses a major premise and a minor premise?

Deductive reasoning. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to a case when the Supreme Court declines to hear it?

The decision made by the lower court stands. Signup and view all the answers

Which court is considered the first level in the federal court system?

District court. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Governments exist initially for collective security, with monarchies granting protection to the wealthy in exchange for taxes. Empires developed better infrastructure (transport, sanitation, energy) leading to increased productivity and wealth.
The Enlightenment period emphasized the importance of rules based on agreement, rather than religious or monarchical decree. The question of who should create and enforce these rules became a critical societal issue.
20th-century governments saw the rise of social legislation, like universal healthcare in Germany, to mitigate risks like illness and poverty thereby improving social and economic productivity. This also increased national identity.
Franklin D. Roosevelt's "Four Freedoms," influenced Truman's 1947 legislative package, which introduced universal healthcare, free college tuition, paid parental leave, and paid sick leave.

Workers' Rights to Sick Leave

Maps presented show the prevalence of paid sick leave across countries including the USA
States/localities/countries with mandated paid sick leave are highlighted by effective dates.

Health Care Costs and Life Expectancy

Charts show trends in health care costs as a percentage of GDP across various countries from 1970-2016.
The countries depicted in the chart show how their health care costs are trending over time.
Charts also show the trend of life expectancy figures. The data suggests a positive correlation between the percentage of GDP spent on healthcare and life expectancy.

Wages and Incarceration Rates

Graphs and tables detail cumulative changes in real annual wages by wage group from 1979-2017 and international incarceration rates by country.
The data shows top 1% earners saw drastic increases, mid-range groups modestly increased, and bottom 90% saw some increases.
Incarceration rates differ considerably across countries, with some nations experiencing significantly higher or lower rates.

Incarceration Rates and Youth Issues

A geographical map highlights incarceration rates per 100,000 of the population in the U.S.
Data on youth incarceration rates is presented in a bar chart comparing rates between the U.S. and various other countries
The chance of a 14-year-old's parent having been imprisoned is presented in a bar graph categorized by parent's education level and race.

Death Penalty Statistics

Maps presented show the number of executions in each U.S. state since 1976 when the death penalty was reintroduced.
Charts/Maps and Data show death row executions by country over the period from 1982 to 2013.

Tax Rates and Military Spending

A vertical bar graph shows statutory corporate tax rates by OECD nation across various countries for 2013.
A line graph displays U.S. Military spending over time. Military spending in the USA shows fluctuation over the years depicted in the graph.

Legal Systems and Constitutional Principles

The social contract, where citizens cede some freedom to the government in exchange for social order, is examined and its historical roots discussed.
American legal systems are rooted in English Common Law and have evolved over centuries, incorporating social customs, rules, and case precedents.
Different types of remedies exist in courts of law (monetary relief) and courts of equity (non-monetary relief) both based on notions of justice and fair dealing.
Constitutional principles are discussed, highlighting the limitations and scope of government's intervention in citizens' lives to ensure both the safety and well being of the community.

Bill of Rights and Primary Sources of Law

The Bill of Rights' first ten amendments are described, along with their role in ensuring due process, prohibiting cruel and unusual punishment, and outlawing double jeopardy.
The documents that create and guide the U.S. system of laws are identified.

Types of Law and Litigation

Substantive law defines rights and obligations, while procedural law details the processes to exercise those rights.
Civil law governs disputes between individuals or individuals and governments (e.g., breach-of-contract) and deals with monetary damages.
Criminal law addresses violations against society as a whole (e.g., crimes) and usually results in penalties like jail time.

Court Systems and Judicial Review

The dual court system in the U.S., composed of federal and state courts, is explained
The workings of the court system and the powers of the U.S. Supreme Court, including the process of judicial review (interpreting laws), are discussed.
Cases that have significantly impacted legal interpretations are identified (i.e., Miranda v. Arizona)

Moral Panics

The concept of moral panic, a disproportionate public response to a perceived social threat, is explained and examples like the 1940s-60s Red Scare and 1970s War on Drugs are examined.
An examination of how various factors can affect public perception of issues like immigration, critical race theory, etc.
How moral entrepreneurs and the media contribute to and shape the dynamics of moral panics are presented.
The social construction of moral panics, different types of such public concerns and their relationship to social policies and the use of law to address those perceived societal problems.

Police Use of Force, Policing Stress, and Myths about Prisons

A variety of factors that contribute to and are associated with police use of force are discussed:
The impact of training, staffing, policies, and community relations on use of force and related outcomes
Myths surrounding prison facilities and practices, including the portrayal of prisons as places for the deserving, issues of humanity and fairness, and myths about the use of distance from the public eye as a punishment method.

Eyewitness Testimony and Memory

The inaccuracy of eyewitness testimony is discussed as issues that affect legal decisions, including errors in perception, memory, and procedures in both legal and policing contexts
The effect of factors like stress, suggestive questioning, and cross-racial identification on eyewitness accuracy.
Various techniques to improve the reliability of eyewitness accounts are highlighted

False Confessions

The causes and impact of false confessions, including the role of police interrogation tactics, psychological vulnerabilities, and societal biases is examined
The ways in which false confessions affect the criminal justice system are also described
Solutions and recommendations are put forward to minimize the chances of wrongful convictions resulting from false confessions and the use of improved interrogation techniques or a reliance on documented and evidence-based decision-making tools

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Description

This quiz delves into essential concepts of criminal justice, focusing on policing strategies such as incident-driven and community policing. It also covers the roles of federal and state courts, as well as pertinent amendments and the Bill of Rights in relation to the justice system. Test your knowledge of these fundamental principles and their implications.