Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a controversy that has led to the questioning of the integrity of the Texas criminal justice system?

Accepted Answer

A)  the false drug arrests in Tulia 
B)  the false witness case in Burleson County 
C)  the Houston Crime Lab scandal 
D)  the Dallas DNA exonerations 
E)  the University of Texas corruption scandal 
A)  the false drug arrests in Tulia 
B)  the false witness case in Burleson County 
C)  the Houston Crime Lab scandal 
D)  the Dallas DNA exonerations 
E)  the University of Texas corruption scandal E

Question 2

A major criticism of the grand jury is that it

Accepted Answer

A)  only considers "true bills." 
B)  usually rules "no bill." 
C)  consists of more men than women. 
D)  usually hears only what the prosecutor chooses to let it hear. 
E)  is a conviction. 
A)  only considers "true bills." 
B)  usually rules "no bill." 
C)  consists of more men than women. 
D)  usually hears only what the prosecutor chooses to let it hear. 
E)  is a conviction. D

Question 3

All of the following reasons listed make adjustment to life outside prison an extremely difficult experience EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A)  lack of employment. 
B)  length of time in prison. 
C)  family members either moved on or died. 
D)  lack of education. 
E)  a lack of economic incentive to hire parolees. 
A)  lack of employment. 
B)  length of time in prison. 
C)  family members either moved on or died. 
D)  lack of education. 
E)  a lack of economic incentive to hire parolees. E

Question 4

What is the process for granting clemency in Texas?

Accepted Answer

A)  The governor has complete control of whether to grant clemency. 
B)  The governor must follow the recommendations of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. 
C)  The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles makes a unilateral collective decision. 
D)  There is no procedure for clemency in Texas. 
E)  The court of criminal appeals must overturn the case. 
A)  The governor has complete control of whether to grant clemency. 
B)  The governor must follow the recommendations of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. 
C)  The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles makes a unilateral collective decision. 
D)  There is no procedure for clemency in Texas. 
E)  The court of criminal appeals must overturn the case.

Question 5

For which type of offense are Texas prison inmates least likely to be imprisoned?

Accepted Answer

A)  prostitution 
B)  drug 
C)  property 
D)  misdemeanor 
E)  theft 
A)  prostitution 
B)  drug 
C)  property 
D)  misdemeanor 
E)  theft

Question 6

Which of the following states has NOT outright banned or considered a ban on the death penalty?

Accepted Answer

A)  California 
B)  New Jersey 
C)  North Carolina 
D)  Texas 
E)  Illinois 
A)  California 
B)  New Jersey 
C)  North Carolina 
D)  Texas 
E)  Illinois

Question 7

The ________ usually provides legal advice to the county commissioners.

Accepted Answer

A)  county judge 
B)  district attorney 
C)  attorney general 
D)  county attorney 
E)  assistant attorney 
A)  county judge 
B)  district attorney 
C)  attorney general 
D)  county attorney 
E)  assistant attorney

Question 8

A(n) ________ is a salaried lawyer funded by the government or by grants who represents indigents in Texas in some counties or for some types of cases.

Accepted Answer

A)  assigned counsel 
B)  public defender 
C)  prosecutor 
D)  county attorney 
E)  district attorney 
A)  assigned counsel 
B)  public defender 
C)  prosecutor 
D)  county attorney 
E)  district attorney

Question 9

A crime defined as "aggravated" involves

Accepted Answer

A)  the use of some sort of weapon. 
B)  sexual assault. 
C)  possession of 50 to 2,000 pounds of marijuana. 
D)  arson of a habitation. 
E)  capital murder. 
A)  the use of some sort of weapon. 
B)  sexual assault. 
C)  possession of 50 to 2,000 pounds of marijuana. 
D)  arson of a habitation. 
E)  capital murder.

Question 10

The governor can alter a prisoner's sentence without the majority support of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Wrongfully convicted individuals in the state of Texas can receive a lump sum of ________ for each year they wrongfully served prison time, plus some additional yearly payments of up to ________ per year.

Accepted Answer

A)  $50,000; $50,000 
B)  $75,000; $100,000 
C)  $80,000; $80,000 
D)  $80,000; $100,000 
E)  $100,000; $100,000 
A)  $50,000; $50,000 
B)  $75,000; $100,000 
C)  $80,000; $80,000 
D)  $80,000; $100,000 
E)  $100,000; $100,000

Question 12

Lethal injection has been the means for execution in Texas since 1977.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

In cases in which the accused CANNOT provide bail or CANNOT pay a bondsman, what option may this individual have?

Accepted Answer

A)  The individual can provide his or her home as collateral to the court. 
B)  The individual can work off his or her payment in community service. 
C)  The individual can voluntarily serve time to avoid bail costs. 
D)  The individual can be released on his or her personal promise to appear. 
E)  The individual has no options and must remain incarcerated. 
A)  The individual can provide his or her home as collateral to the court. 
B)  The individual can work off his or her payment in community service. 
C)  The individual can voluntarily serve time to avoid bail costs. 
D)  The individual can be released on his or her personal promise to appear. 
E)  The individual has no options and must remain incarcerated.

Question 14

A(n) ________ is a common method prosecutors use to maintain high conviction rates.

Accepted Answer

A)  bench trial 
B)  jury trial 
C)  plea bargain between the defendant and the state 
D)  indictment from a grand jury 
E)  plea bargain between the defendant and the plaintiff 
A)  bench trial 
B)  jury trial 
C)  plea bargain between the defendant and the state 
D)  indictment from a grand jury 
E)  plea bargain between the defendant and the plaintiff

Question 15

Money that is provided by the defendant to assure his or her appearance in court is referred to as ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  a court fee 
B)  bail 
C)  bounty 
D)  defendant compensation 
E)  a bond 
A)  a court fee 
B)  bail 
C)  bounty 
D)  defendant compensation 
E)  a bond

Question 16

The lowest class of misdemeanor is which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Class A 
B)  Class B 
C)  Class C 
D)  state jail 
E)  second degree 
A)  Class A 
B)  Class B 
C)  Class C 
D)  state jail 
E)  second degree

Question 17

Plea bargains are NOT often used in Texas criminal trials.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Stalking is an example of a third-degree felony.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

In most situations, the first driving-while-intoxicated charge is filed as a Class B misdemeanor.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT an explanation for why Texas has one of the most controversial death penalty systems in the United States?

Accepted Answer

A)  The court of criminal appeals has overturned no death penalty cases. 
B)  The court-appointed lawyers the state provides for defendants have often been subpar. 
C)  There are racial and ethnic disparities in who receives the death penalty and who does not. 
D)  Texas has led the nation in the number of executions since 1976. 
E)  Since 1977, the electric chair has been the means for execution in Texas. 
A)  The court of criminal appeals has overturned no death penalty cases. 
B)  The court-appointed lawyers the state provides for defendants have often been subpar. 
C)  There are racial and ethnic disparities in who receives the death penalty and who does not. 
D)  Texas has led the nation in the number of executions since 1976. 
E)  Since 1977, the electric chair has been the means for execution in Texas.

Which of the following is NOT a controversy that has led to the questioning of the integrity of the Texas criminal justice system?

A major criticism of the grand jury is that it

All of the following reasons listed make adjustment to life outside prison an extremely difficult experience EXCEPT

What is the process for granting clemency in Texas?

For which type of offense are Texas prison inmates least likely to be imprisoned?

Which of the following states has NOT outright banned or considered a ban on the death penalty?

The ________ usually provides legal advice to the county commissioners.

A(n) ________ is a salaried lawyer funded by the government or by grants who represents indigents in Texas in some counties or for some types of cases.

A crime defined as "aggravated" involves

The governor can alter a prisoner's sentence without the majority support of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Wrongfully convicted individuals in the state of Texas can receive a lump sum of for each year they wrongfully served prison time, plus some additional yearly payments of up to per year.

Lethal injection has been the means for execution in Texas since 1977.

In cases in which the accused CANNOT provide bail or CANNOT pay a bondsman, what option may this individual have?

A(n) ________ is a common method prosecutors use to maintain high conviction rates.

Money that is provided by the defendant to assure his or her appearance in court is referred to as ________.

The lowest class of misdemeanor is which of the following?

Plea bargains are NOT often used in Texas criminal trials.

Stalking is an example of a third-degree felony.

In most situations, the first driving-while-intoxicated charge is filed as a Class B misdemeanor.

Which of the following is NOT an explanation for why Texas has one of the most controversial death penalty systems in the United States?

The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas

The Texas Constitution

Texas in the Federal System

Political Parties in Texas

Elections in Texas

Interest Groups and Lobbying

The Texas Legislature

The Texas Executive Branch

The Texas Judiciary

Local Government in Texas

Public Finance in Texas

Public Policy in Texas

Filters

Exam 13: Crime and Corrections Policy in Texas

Which of the following is NOT a controversy that has led to the questioning of the integrity of the Texas criminal justice system?

A major criticism of the grand jury is that it

All of the following reasons listed make adjustment to life outside prison an extremely difficult experience EXCEPT

What is the process for granting clemency in Texas?

For which type of offense are Texas prison inmates least likely to be imprisoned?

Which of the following states has NOT outright banned or considered a ban on the death penalty?

The ________ usually provides legal advice to the county commissioners.

A(n) ________ is a salaried lawyer funded by the government or by grants who represents indigents in Texas in some counties or for some types of cases.

A crime defined as "aggravated" involves

The governor can alter a prisoner's sentence without the majority support of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Wrongfully convicted individuals in the state of Texas can receive a lump sum of ________ for each year they wrongfully served prison time, plus some additional yearly payments of up to ________ per year.

Lethal injection has been the means for execution in Texas since 1977.

In cases in which the accused CANNOT provide bail or CANNOT pay a bondsman, what option may this individual have?

A(n) ________ is a common method prosecutors use to maintain high conviction rates.

Money that is provided by the defendant to assure his or her appearance in court is referred to as ________.

The lowest class of misdemeanor is which of the following?

Plea bargains are NOT often used in Texas criminal trials.

Stalking is an example of a third-degree felony.

In most situations, the first driving-while-intoxicated charge is filed as a Class B misdemeanor.

Which of the following is NOT an explanation for why Texas has one of the most controversial death penalty systems in the United States?

The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas

The Texas Constitution

Texas in the Federal System

Political Parties in Texas

Elections in Texas

Interest Groups and Lobbying

The Texas Legislature

The Texas Executive Branch

The Texas Judiciary

Local Government in Texas

Public Finance in Texas

Public Policy in Texas

Filters

Wrongfully convicted individuals in the state of Texas can receive a lump sum of for each year they wrongfully served prison time, plus some additional yearly payments of up to per year.