Criminology : Criminology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Criminology

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Crime And Criminology

Crime is divided into two general categories.  __________ offenses are wrong by their very nature and __________ offenses are crimes that are prohibited by law but are not necessarily wrong in themselves. 

Possible Answers:

Bene in se. . . mala prohibita

Mala in se. . . mala prohibita

Bene prohibita. . . bene in se 

Bene in se. . . bene prohibita

Mala prohibita. . . mala in se 

Correct answer:

Mala in se. . . mala prohibita

Explanation:

"Mala in se. . . mala prohibita" is the correct answer. Mala in se offenses are wrong by their very nature, while mala prohibita offenses are crimes that are prohibited by law but are not necessarily wrong in themselves. These definitions of crime are not fixed and change over time as society's values change. Changes in the definitions of crime may occur when a court decides that the criminalization of specific actions also violate constitutional law. 

Example Question #1 : Criminology

__________ theory states that an individual has free will and will choose to commit a criminal act only after weighing the ends and the means by way of a cost-benefit analysis that identifies the crime as beneficial.

Possible Answers:

Rational choice

Social structure

Life choice

Labeling

Sociological 

Correct answer:

Rational choice

Explanation:

"Rational choice" is the correct answer. Under the tenants of rational choice theory, individuals have free will and will perform actions after performing calculations that weigh the costs and benefits of the ends and means of an act. This theory proposes that individuals commit criminal acts because the individual identified the crime as a rational means to an end after performing a cost-benefit analysis given the circumstances.

Example Question #2 : Criminology

Which of the following is not a component of the state court system in the United States?

Possible Answers:

District courts

Intermediate courts of general jurisdiction 

Appellate court of last resort 

Trial courts of limited jurisdiction 

Trial courts of general jurisdiction

Correct answer:

District courts

Explanation:

The United States uses a dual court system. The dual court system is broken into two parts: the state court system and the federal court system. The state court system is composed of trial courts of limited jurisdiction, trial courts of general jurisdiction, intermediate courts of appeals, and the appellate court of last resort.  The federal system is composed of district courts, circuit courts of appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States. Appeals can lead cases from both from federal circuit courts of appeals and state appellate courts of last resort to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Example Question #3 : Criminology

Which of the following is not an action where prosecutors exercise discretion?

Possible Answers:

Dropping cases

Reducing charges 

Filing charges or petitions for adjudication 

Seeking indictments 

Imposing sentences 

Correct answer:

Imposing sentences 

Explanation:

Discretion in the criminal justice system refers to an agent's ability to have the authority to make decisions without reference to specific rules but rather by using their own judgement. This permits individualization in the administration of justice. Prosecutors cannot use discretion in "imposing sentences" this is left to the discretion of judges or magistrates. 

Example Question #4 : Criminology

Which of the following is not a primary duty of police officers?

Possible Answers:

None of these

Providing social services 

Preventing crime

Apprehending violators and combating crime

Keeping the peace

Correct answer:

None of these

Explanation:

The correct choice is "none of these." Police officers have four primary duties: keeping the peace, apprehending violators and combating crime, preventing crime, and providing social services. "Keeping the peace" involves the protection of rights of individuals in dangerous situations such as fights or domestic disputes. "Apprehending violators and combating crime" is most commonly associated with police work; however, it makes up the smallest portion of time in an officers career. "Preventing crime" or reducing the crime rate involves the education or the public about criminal threats and reducing the number of situations where criminal activity can occur.  Last, "providing social services" is a very important and often overlooked aspect of police work and it includes the following: returning stolen property, directing traffic, providing medical aid, as well as other social services. 

Example Question #5 : Criminology

Which of the following is not a component of community policing?

Possible Answers:

Changing the focus of police patrol activities to nonemergency services 

Community based crime prevention

Decentralizing police policy decision-making to include residents

Maximizing the number of police interventions and observations in the community 

Making the police more accountable to the public

Correct answer:

Maximizing the number of police interventions and observations in the community 

Explanation:

"Maximizing the number of police interventions and observations in the community" is the correct answer. This choice outlines the primary precept of  aggressive policing patrols. On the other hand, community policing attempts to involve neighborhood residents into policing procedures to make their own communities safer. it is based on the idea that citizens are concerned about crime in their local area and emphasizes cooperation between police and citizens in the identification of neighborhood needs and means necessary to meet them. 

Example Question #6 : Criminology

A person sees two young men in front of their neighbor's house and assumes they are "horsing around" until they break a window and begin to burglarize the home. After seeing this the person calls the police. This would be an example of which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Coping delay

Conflict delay

Traffic delay

None of these

Ambiguity delay

Correct answer:

Ambiguity delay

Explanation:

This scenario is considered to be an "ambiguity delay." It is considered to be an ambiguity error because the person was delayed in their ability to acknowledge a criminal act. They thought that the two young men were "horsing around" later they saw them break into the house; thus, they were delayed by the ambiguous nature of the behavior of the young men. 

Example Question #7 : Criminology

Based on the 1966 Supreme Court case Miranda v. Arizona, which of the following rights is not required to be read to a suspect prior to questioning? 

Possible Answers:

They have the right to remain silent

If they cannot afford an attorney, the state will not provide one

If they cannot afford an attorney, the state will provide one

They have the right to have an attorney present during interrogation or to have an opportunity to consult with an attorney

If they decide to make a statement, it can and will be used against them in court 

Correct answer:

If they cannot afford an attorney, the state will not provide one

Explanation:

In the 1966 Supreme Court case Miranda v. Arizona, the Supreme Court made a decision that stated that as soon as an investigation begins to focus on a suspect, the so-called Miranda warnings must be read aloud before questioning can begin. The Miranda warnings are composed of the following four components: they have the right to remain silent;if they decide to make a statement, it can and will be used against them in court; they have the right to have an attorney present during interrogation or to have an opportunity to consult with an attorney; and if they cannot afford an attorney, the state will provide one. The choice that stated "if they cannot afford an attorney, the state will not provide one" is not a part of the Miranda warning. 

Example Question #8 : Criminology

Which of the following is best defined as an act that is committed for ideological purposes that constitutes a threat against the state?

Possible Answers:

Cyber crime 

Organized crime

Victimless crime

Political crime

Property crime

Correct answer:

Political crime

Explanation:

A criminal act that is committed for ideological purposes that constitutes a threat against the state is referred to as "political crime." These criminal acts may utilize victimless, property, cyber, organized, and other crimes; however, if they are committed with an ideological purpose against the state, then they are considered to be a political crime. Political crimes may also be defined as a criminal act by the state. 

Example Question #9 : Criminology

Which of the following is considered to be a public order crime?

Possible Answers:

Embezzlement 

Burglary

Aggressive panhandling

Assault

Shoplifting

Correct answer:

Aggressive panhandling

Explanation:

Public order crimes are defined as crimes that threaten the general well-being and challenge the accepted mores, folkways, and laws of society. The only choice that represents a public order crime is "aggressive panhandling." On the other hand, "embezzlement," "shoplifting," and "burglary" are considered to be property crimes, while "assault" is a violent crime.

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