Criminal Justice SDC Practice Test

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• What model posits that the majority shares the same values and that criminal acts conflict with these values?
• Which case held that deadly force may be used to prevent escape only if the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious bodily injury?
• What term describes the authority of a court to hear and decide a matter?
• Which sentencing approach involves an offender serving a period of confinement followed by a period of supervision in the community?
• What is the function of a pretrial detention hearing?
• Which statement best describes the protections of the Fifth Amendment in criminal prosecutions?
• Who served as the first director of the FBI?
• The taking of property under the amount of $500 is called
• Which decision prohibits racially based peremptory challenges in jury selection?
• An offender is sentenced to 25 years to life for a third 'strike' offense. The offender appeals the sentence on the grounds that such a lengthy sentence is excessively harsh for the particular offense he/she committed. Which Amendment to the U.S Constitution is relevant to the offenders claim?
• Which statement correctly distinguishes homicide from murder?
• Which statement about victim participation is NOT a typical role in the criminal justice process?
• Which case halted the implementation of the death penalty because its application was viewed as arbitrary, capricious, and discriminatory?
• Which of the following is a common exception to the Fourth Amendment warrant requirement?
• Which term describes acts that are illegal only because a criminal statute exists, not because they are inherently wrong?
• Which of the following is an example of direct evidence?
• What is the chain of custody in criminal proceedings?
• Which theories consider criminal behavior to be the predictable result of a person's interactions with his or her environment?
• Grand Theft (larceny) is defined as taking property over the amount of:
• Which common-law principle allows the state to act as guardian for a child's welfare?
• How is evidence evaluated in court for admissibility and weight?
• Which model focuses on safeguarding individuals' rights during criminal proceedings and procedural fairness?
• Which type of deterrence states that person sees the general public being punished and decides not to risk crime because of the risk of arrest and punishment?
• Which model of addiction treats drug addiction as a mental illness and focuses on rehabilitation rather than punishment?
• Which of the following is NOT true about Supreme Court Justices?
• Mens rea refers to which concept?
• Which description best captures assault as defined in the material?
• Which statement characterizes a plea bargain?
• The purpose of a juvenile preliminary hearing is ___________________.
• Which criminal justice model emphasizes protecting the rights of individuals from government power?
• Which US Constitutional Amendment guarantees the right to a jury trial in adult cases?
• Which Amendment guarantees the right to a jury trial in criminal cases?
• Which theory holds that delinquents must be taught both practical and emotional skills to participate in illegal activity?
• What are the three major components of the U.S. criminal justice system?
• Arson is defined as:
• What does the principle of double jeopardy prohibit?
• Which of the following is an example of circumstantial evidence?
• Which term best matches the description: the knowing and intentional damaging of a structure by fire or explosion?
• Which dataset is the FBI's crime statistics collection based on police reports?
• Which is the most common form of punishment?
• Which city is identified as initiating the first police force in the United States?
• What is the difference between a search warrant and a probable cause affidavit?
• Assault is defined as?
• Which office is primarily responsible for law enforcement at the county level in the United States?
• Which term is used to describe juvenile actions illegal because of the offender's age?
• What is a branch of social structure theory based on the assumption that members of certain subcultures reject the values of the dominant culture by exhibiting deviant behavior patterns?
• Under the automobile exception, a warrant is not required for a vehicle search if which condition exists?
• Which theory focuses on crime as a product of class conflict and power relations in society?
• A range of years of incarceration aimed to encourage behavior is known as a(n) ___________ sentence.
• Which statement defines cybercrime?
• Which statement best describes mala prohibita?
• Probable cause is best described as which?
• Who confirms Supreme Court Justices?
• What are the core functions of the corrections system?
• Which of the following is an example of a property crime?
• Which of the following is an example of a violent crime?
• Which statement correctly distinguishes probation from parole?
• Which amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures?
• What are preliminary questions asked to prospective jurors to determine biases or connections?
• Actus reus is defined as which of the following?
• Which term represents the study of crime and its causes?
• Which statement best describes the difference between criminal liability and civil liability and their standards of proof?
• Which term is the Latin phrase for 'I will not contest it' used in criminal pleas?
• A Miranda warning is required before custodial interrogation. Which of the following best describes its content?
• What is the body of circumstances that must exist for a criminal act to have occurred?
• In T.L.O. v. New Jersey, the Supreme Court decided that searches of students in schools are allowed if based on what?
• This US Supreme Court Case ended the death penalty in 1972.
• Name and describe the four major sentencing goals.
• Which theory explains inmate aggression as arising when freedoms and services considered normal are reduced or eliminated?
• Which landmark case granted juveniles rights such as notice of charges and the right to counsel?
• Strict liability in criminal law means which of the following?
• Who was the first director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation?
• Which statement best describes felonies compared to misdemeanors?
• What is the difference between actual possession and constructive possession?
• Which offense involves taking property from a person using violence or fear?
• Which theory argues that society creates crime by labeling certain behaviors as deviant?
• Which statement describes the model that focuses on deterrence and the suppression of crime via swift punishment?
• What is the term for placing a convicted offender under community supervision instead of incarceration?
• What is the role of forensic science in investigations, and which two techniques are commonly used?
• Which term denotes acts that are illegal because of statutes rather than inherent moral wrongfulness?
• Under the Best Evidence Rule, when the original document is lost, what is required to prove its content?
• Which description best captures stop-and-frisk practice?
• Restorative justice emphasizes which core elements?
• What distinguishes tangible physical evidence from testimonial evidence?
• Which statement correctly distinguishes bail from release on recognizance (ROR)?
• Which of the following is an example of a strict liability offense?
• Ethics in policing can create dilemmas. Which option describes an ethical dilemma?
• Who determines the weight of admissible evidence in court?
• Which theory states that all individuals have the potential for criminal behavior but are restrained by their relationships with family, friends, and the community?
• Which model of corrections identifies and treats the psychological and biological roots of an inmate's criminal behavior?
• Who records everything that occurs during a trial?
• In a criminal trial, what must the prosecution prove to secure a conviction?
• What does UCR stand for in crime statistics?
• Which factors influence the use of police discretion?
• Which of the following is a core function of the corrections system?
• Which theory argues that criminal laws are designed by those in power to maintain their position at the expense of the powerless?
• Double jeopardy protects a person from being tried twice for the same offense after acquittal or conviction. True or false?
• What is the difference between mandatory minimum sentences and sentencing guidelines?
• Name an additional exception to the exclusionary rule beyond good faith and inevitable discovery.
• What is the Sixth Amendment right to counsel, and when must it be provided?
• Which case established the right to counsel for defendants who cannot afford one?
• Which theory argues that crime results from the breakdown of social institutions and community cohesion?
• A combination of incarceration followed by probation is known as which sentencing approach?
• Which term is used for juvenile actions or conduct in violation of the law?
• Hearsay is defined as an out-of-court statement offered for truth. Which of the following is a common exception to the hearsay rule?
• Which are examples of digital evidence used in investigations?
• Which theory posits that crime results from frustration when individuals cannot achieve financial and personal goals through legitimate means?
• Which statement best distinguishes violent crimes from property crimes?
• Juvenile courts generally emphasize which goal?
• Which element uniquely defines carjacking among the following?
• Which decision established the requirement to inform suspects of rights before custodial interrogation?
• What does incapacitation mean in sentencing?
• When an act, such as smoking cigarettes, is legal for adults but illegal for juveniles, it is called a _________________.
• Which concept explains that deviant behavior emerges when subcultures hold values that conflict with those of the dominant culture?
• How are probation violations different from parole violations, and how are they addressed?
• Which term describes a punishment philosophy focused on repayment to society for a wrong?
• People must be able to question suspects, but that need to question must be balanced with the __________ Amendment provision that no person shall be compelled in any criminal case to be witness against himself.
• Which term describes acts that are inherently wrong regardless of their legality?
• Which amendment protects against self incrimination?
• Which Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures?
• What role does the media play in the criminal justice process?
• Depriving offenders from the ability to commit new offenses and improve public safety by incarceration is known as __________.
• Who keeps order in the courtroom and announces the judge's entry to the courtroom?
• Which case held that peremptory challenges based on race violate the U.S. Constitution?
• Which option best reflects the classic deterrence concept as a punitive aim?
• Explain mass incarceration and a major policy reform proposed to address it.
• What criminal justice model argues that the content of criminal law is determined by the groups that hold economic, political, and social power in a community?
• Which model emphasizes deterrence and the protection of society from crime and violent criminals?
• When offenders are sentenced to a fixed amount of time, this is known as a(n) ____________ sentence.
• Burglary is defined as:
• Which statement best describes rehabilitation in the sentencing goals?
• The taking of an unoccupied motor vehicle is called:
• Which theory did Sigmund Freud propose to explain that thoughts and actions are driven by unconscious motives?
• What is the Latin term for a plea in which a defendant does not contest the charges brought by the government?
• What does the Best Evidence Rule require in evidentiary proceedings?
• What is the group of citizens from which the jury is selected?
• Which criminal justice model places primary emphasis on the right of society to be protected from crime and violent criminals?
• Which policing model emphasizes centralized organization and regulation to limit police discretion and rely on professional standards?
• Who were considered the first real detectives?
• Which theory posits that deviant behavior is more likely where social institutions fail to exert control over the population?
• The primary right provided by the 5th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is __________.
• Which case is associated with allowing school searches based on reasonable suspicion?
• Which amendment is associated with the due process clause that protects individuals against state action in criminal prosecutions?
• Which Amendment prohibits excessive bail?
• Define reasonable suspicion and explain its use in stop-and-frisk or brief detentions.
• Which amendment guarantees the right to counsel and a speedy trial?
• What does reasonable doubt mean in criminal trials, and how does it affect verdicts?
• The due process clause of the __________ Amendment specifies that states may not deny life, liberty, or property without due process of law.
• Who are considered the first real police officers?
• Which concept describes treating drug addiction as a disease and prioritizing rehabilitation over punishment?
• Substantive due process addresses which concern?
• Which statement correctly describes probable cause in relation to warrants?
• Which body returns an indictment?
• What elements should be included in a search warrant affidavit?
• Mens rea is defined as which of the following?
• Which United States city was the first to initiate a police force?
• Why are victim rights and participation important in the criminal justice process?
• Carjacking is defined as?
• A plea that does not contest charges but concedes guilt is called?
• Which stage involves a defendant's initial appearance before a judge after arrest to determine further proceedings?
• In juvenile justice, what is parens patriae and how does it influence proceedings?
• In federal cases, the grand jury determines whether there is enough evidence to proceed to trial. Which statement accurately reflects this?
• Gideon v. Wainwright addressed which Amendment to the U.S. Constitution?
• What is the scientific study of crime and the causes of criminal behavior?
• Which statement best summarizes the exclusionary rule and its two common exceptions?
• Who nominates Supreme Court Justices?
• The due process clause that prohibits denying life, liberty, or property without due process is found in which amendment according to this material?
• Gideon v. Wainwright addresses the right to counsel under which amendment?
• Which case affords juveniles due process rights in delinquency proceedings, such as notice and counsel?
• Which term denotes a school of criminology based on the belief in free will to engage in any behavior, including criminal behavior?
• The US Supreme Court decision that reinstated the death penalty in 1976 was:
• Which theories view criminal behavior as the result of conflict between social classes?
• The __________ to the U.S. Constitution provides that 'in all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to have Assistance of Counsel for his defense'.
• Which term describes taking a car from the driver by force or fear?
• Murder is defined as?
• What is an explanation of a happening or circumstance that is based on observation, experimentation, and reasoning?
• What document does the Supreme Court issue when it will review a case?
• Which concept describes the discouragement of crime by the threat of punishment?
• Which term describes reforming offenders to prevent future crime?
• The stop-and-frisk doctrine is associated with which Supreme Court decision?
• What is the primary goal of punishment?
• Which element is commonly required for the admissibility of physical evidence?
• Which legal doctrine requires judges to follow precedents established in prior decisions?
• A person commits the offense of _____________ when they sign someone else's name with the intent to defraud someone.
• In civil cases, what is the standard of proof?
• Which criminological theory attributes inmate aggression to the deprivation of freedom and other basic needs within an institution?
• Robbery is defined as what?
• What is a request from a higher court asking a lower court for the record of a case?
• What is the primary purpose of juvenile justice protections?
• Which theory category emphasizes that crime is shaped by social processes and interactions rather than by individual traits alone?
• Which theory attributes inmate aggression to deprivation of basic needs within a prison setting?
• Which term describes a formal request to review a lower court’s record by a higher court?
• At 0300 hours, can a patrol officer stop and investigate the vehicle and its driver without any further information?
• Carroll v. United States involved what type of search?
• Which statement defines homicide?
• The practice of stopping and frisking based on reasonable suspicion is associated with which case?
• Which school of criminology holds that wrongdoers weigh the potential benefits of crime against the costs of being apprehended?
• A society's punishment to avenge a wrong done to a member of society is known as __________.
• Which doctrine describes the state acting as guardian of children and intervening in family matters for the child's best interests?
• What is the term for the mental state, or intent, necessary to establish criminal liability?
• At what stage of the criminal process does the defendant enter a plea?
• Petty theft (larceny) is defined as:
• During which stage are issues of fact and law examined to reach a conviction or acquittal?
• Which of the following is not an acceptable plea?
• How do probable cause and reasonable suspicion apply to stops and searches?
• Jake Robinson was convicted on a burglary and drug offense. He was given a sentence of six years in prison for both offenses. These sentences run concurrently. How many years will he spend in prison?
• Which school of criminology holds that individuals have free will to engage in any behavior, including crime?
• In common law, what is the name of the principle that grants the state authority to act as guardian for children?
• What is the approach to drug abuse that holds that drug offenders harm society by their actions to the same extent as other criminals and should face the same punitive sanctions?
• All of the following are rights per Miranda except:
• Which term describes releasing an offender from prison to serve the remaining sentence in the community under supervision?
• What is a search incident to arrest, and why is it permitted?
• The legal threshold for obtaining a search warrant is ________________.
• Arson falls under which category of crime?
• What is the requirement for the term 'Aggravated' to be attached to a crime?
• Which doctrine holds that the state has a responsibility to look after the well-being of children and to assume the role of parent if necessary?
• Which statement accurately defines the difference between a bench trial and a jury trial?
• In concurrent sentencing, the total time served is determined by the longest sentence.
• What protections do juveniles have in the justice system?
• The right to a speedy trial is embodied in the __________ Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
• What do Mala in Se and Mala Prohibita mean?
• Restorative justice programs typically include which elements?
• Which policing style, advocated by August Vollmer and O.W. Wilson, emphasizes centralized police organizations, increased use of technology, and guidelines to limit discretion?
• What is deterrence theory and how do general deterrence and specific deterrence differ?
• Which is an example of tangible physical evidence?