Question 1

Regarding race and ethnicity in the Texas criminal justice system,

Accepted Answer

A)  more than two-thirds of Texas law enforcement agencies targeted minorities for stops and searches. 
B)  African Americans and Latinos are overrepresented in elected and appointed leadership positions. 
C)  only a tiny fraction of the prison population are African American and Latino. 
D)  racial and ethnic bias in criminal justice ended with the successes of the Civil Rights movement. 
A)  more than two-thirds of Texas law enforcement agencies targeted minorities for stops and searches. 
B)  African Americans and Latinos are overrepresented in elected and appointed leadership positions. 
C)  only a tiny fraction of the prison population are African American and Latino. 
D)  racial and ethnic bias in criminal justice ended with the successes of the Civil Rights movement.

Question 2

In the 1972 Furman vs. Georgia case the death penalty was found unconstitutional because

Accepted Answer

A)  the justices disagreed generally with the practice of executions. 
B)  the death penalty's use was arbitrary and its application was racially biased. 
C)  of the Eighth Amendment ban on "cruel and unusual punishment." 
D)  different methods of execution were being used in different states, making it unfair. 
A)  the justices disagreed generally with the practice of executions. 
B)  the death penalty's use was arbitrary and its application was racially biased. 
C)  of the Eighth Amendment ban on "cruel and unusual punishment." 
D)  different methods of execution were being used in different states, making it unfair.

Question 3

Most low-level drug offenders have complicating issues such as

Accepted Answer

A)  homelessness and poverty. 
B)  overly busy work and home lives. 
C)  high levels of education and socioeconomic status. 
D)  histories of violence. 
A)  homelessness and poverty. 
B)  overly busy work and home lives. 
C)  high levels of education and socioeconomic status. 
D)  histories of violence.

Question 4

Which of the following is true of prisons run by the TDCJ?

Accepted Answer

A)  A lack of air-conditioning has led to prisoner deaths. 
B)  Comfortable facilities and good food lead to many repeat offenders who want a place to stay. 
C)  Corrections officers are always qualified, and properly screened and trained. 
D)  Gang activity in the prison system has been largely eliminated. 
A)  A lack of air-conditioning has led to prisoner deaths. 
B)  Comfortable facilities and good food lead to many repeat offenders who want a place to stay. 
C)  Corrections officers are always qualified, and properly screened and trained. 
D)  Gang activity in the prison system has been largely eliminated.

Question 5

In Texas one's punishment varies based on

Accepted Answer

A)  the severity and category of the crime. 
B)  district attorney's opinion of the case. 
C)  which city one lives in. 
D)  mandatory sentencing. 
A)  the severity and category of the crime. 
B)  district attorney's opinion of the case. 
C)  which city one lives in. 
D)  mandatory sentencing.

Question 6

Between 1989 and 2014 there have been roughly ____________ inmates exonerated across the nation after DNA analysis.

Accepted Answer

A)  50 
B)  115 
C)  225 
D)  315 
A)  50 
B)  115 
C)  225 
D)  315

Question 7

Which of the following is not one of the ways that state legislators have sought to address high incarceration rates for drug offenders?

Accepted Answer

A)  Easing parole criteria for nonviolent offenders 
B)  Establishing in-prison treatment options 
C)  Creating specialty drug courts 
D)  Establishing harsher and longer sentences for drug crimes 
A)  Easing parole criteria for nonviolent offenders 
B)  Establishing in-prison treatment options 
C)  Creating specialty drug courts 
D)  Establishing harsher and longer sentences for drug crimes

Question 8

Which of the following is not a common problem facing Texas prisons?

Accepted Answer

A)  Excessive spending on education for prisoners 
B)  Overcrowding 
C)  Mental illness 
D)  Misconduct by district attorneys 
A)  Excessive spending on education for prisoners 
B)  Overcrowding 
C)  Mental illness 
D)  Misconduct by district attorneys

Question 9

How does the state decide on the proper punishment for an individual's criminal offenses? Should incarceration continue to be used as aggressively as it is today? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The state decides on the proper punishme

Question 10

Which of the following is true of the death penalty?

Accepted Answer

A)  Its use has declined across the United States and Texas in recent years. 
B)  It has been definitively proven to deter crime. 
C)  Anyone convicted of murder is eligible for the death penalty. 
D)  It is carried out using the electric chair. 
A)  Its use has declined across the United States and Texas in recent years. 
B)  It has been definitively proven to deter crime. 
C)  Anyone convicted of murder is eligible for the death penalty. 
D)  It is carried out using the electric chair.

Question 11

Which is true of county jails in Texas?

Accepted Answer

A)  All have been privatized, leaving no public county jails. 
B)  They are designed to house felons serving long sentences. 
C)  They are all of exceptionally high quality. 
D)  Most of them do not offer rehabilitation programs. 
A)  All have been privatized, leaving no public county jails. 
B)  They are designed to house felons serving long sentences. 
C)  They are all of exceptionally high quality. 
D)  Most of them do not offer rehabilitation programs.

Question 12

The minimum sentence for a capital felony is

Accepted Answer

A)  death by lethal injection. 
B)  life with the possibility of parole. 
C)  99 years to life. 
D)  life without parole. 
A)  death by lethal injection. 
B)  life with the possibility of parole. 
C)  99 years to life. 
D)  life without parole.

Question 13

Part of the mission of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice is to reintegrate offenders into the general society after their release. Assess their efforts to achieve this mission, and suggest improvements that may help them better fulfill that mission in the future. Are there things that other levels or branches of government can do to help?

Accepted Answer

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice

Question 14

The Texas Penal Code is a body of laws that covers

Accepted Answer

A)  code of conduct for attorneys. 
B)  requirements for prison officials. 
C)  crime and punishment. 
D)  tax laws in Texas. 
A)  code of conduct for attorneys. 
B)  requirements for prison officials. 
C)  crime and punishment. 
D)  tax laws in Texas.

Question 15

Part of the mission of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice is to assist crime victims. Assess their efforts to achieve this mission, and suggest improvements that may help them better fulfill that mission in the future. Are there things that other levels or branches of government can do to help?

Accepted Answer

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice

Regarding race and ethnicity in the Texas criminal justice system,

In the 1972 Furman vs. Georgia case the death penalty was found unconstitutional because

Most low-level drug offenders have complicating issues such as

Which of the following is true of prisons run by the TDCJ?

In Texas one's punishment varies based on

Between 1989 and 2014 there have been roughly ____________ inmates exonerated across the nation after DNA analysis.

Which of the following is not one of the ways that state legislators have sought to address high incarceration rates for drug offenders?

Which of the following is not a common problem facing Texas prisons?

How does the state decide on the proper punishment for an individual's criminal offenses? Should incarceration continue to be used as aggressively as it is today? Why or why not?

Which of the following is true of the death penalty?

Which is true of county jails in Texas?

The minimum sentence for a capital felony is

The Texas Penal Code is a body of laws that covers

The Environment of Texas Politics

Federalism and the Texas Constitution

Local Governments

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

The Media and Politics in Texas

The Politics of Interest Groups

The Legislative Branch

The Executive Branch

Public Policy and Administration

The Judicial Branch

Finance and Fiscal Policy

Filters

Exam 12: The Criminal Justice System

Regarding race and ethnicity in the Texas criminal justice system,

In the 1972 Furman vs. Georgia case the death penalty was found unconstitutional because

Most low-level drug offenders have complicating issues such as

Which of the following is true of prisons run by the TDCJ?

In Texas one's punishment varies based on

Between 1989 and 2014 there have been roughly ____________ inmates exonerated across the nation after DNA analysis.

Which of the following is not one of the ways that state legislators have sought to address high incarceration rates for drug offenders?

Which of the following is not a common problem facing Texas prisons?

How does the state decide on the proper punishment for an individual's criminal offenses? Should incarceration continue to be used as aggressively as it is today? Why or why not?

Which of the following is true of the death penalty?

Which is true of county jails in Texas?

The minimum sentence for a capital felony is

The Texas Penal Code is a body of laws that covers

The Environment of Texas Politics

Federalism and the Texas Constitution

Local Governments

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

The Media and Politics in Texas

The Politics of Interest Groups

The Legislative Branch

The Executive Branch

Public Policy and Administration

The Judicial Branch

Finance and Fiscal Policy

Filters