Issues in the Courts MCQs

Issues in the Courts MCQs

Our team has conducted extensive research to compile a set of Issues in the Courts MCQs. We encourage you to test your Issues in the Courts knowledge by answering these 30+ multiple-choice questions provided below.
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1: One of the solutions for court overcrowding is plea bargaining, where a defendant pleads ______ in return for reduced charges or punishment.

A.   Guilty

B.   Not guilty

C.   Nolo contendere

D.   None of these

2: When a prosecutor withholds important exculpatory evidence (favorable evidence) from the defense, it is called ______.

A.   A harmless error

B.   A Brady violation

C.   Inadmissible evidence

D.   A Miranda violation

3: If the defense can show that the offender was induced to commit crime by law enforcement, it may be an excuse or reason why the crime was committed. This is termed ______.

A.   Mistake of fact

B.   Self-defense

C.   Duress

D.   Entrapment

4: In 1975, the state of Alaska eliminated plea bargaining, and a study was conducted.

A.   True

B.   False

5: Opponents to plea bargaining state that because offenders are not punished for their crimes, negotiated pleas increase the potential deterrent effect of the law.

A.   True

B.   False

6: According to the text, the courts are insulated from politics and cannot suffer repercussions resulting from their actions; therefore, they are able to step in and make policies without political backlash.

A.   True

B.   False

7: Generally, the public does not support the idea of three-strikes laws.

A.   True

B.   False

8: All of the following are considered reasons for court overcrowding EXCEPT______.

A.   Lack of funding

B.   Too many defense attorneys

C.   Not enough judges to preside over caseload

D.   Lack of physical courtroom space

9: Pro bono work involves ______.

A.   Volunteer judges

B.   Appointed judges

C.   Volunteer lawyers

D.   Appointed lawyers

10: If preliminary hearings were combined with ______, court proceedings would become faster and more efficient.

A.   Arraignments

B.   The initial appearance

C.   Magistrate

D.   Jury selection

11: When cases are not heard quickly by the justice system, confidence in the system declines among the general public.

A.   True

B.   False

12: Before reform and before the juvenile justice system was established, offenders who were between the ages of ______ and 14 could be criminally liable if the prosecutor could prove that the juvenile was mentally and morally mature.

A.   5

B.   7

C.   10

D.   12

13: If a(n) ______ is used in the plea bargaining process, it frees up time on the part of the lead prosecutor to focus on serious cases.

A.   Judge

B.   Assistant defense attorney

C.   Court clerk

D.   Assistant prosecutor

14: In cases involving individuals found guilty but mentally insane, offenders are held responsible for their crimes, but it is recognized that there was some mental illness that played a role in the behavior.

A.   True

B.   False

15: The passing of the ______ practically eliminated good time credits for inmates.

A.   Comprehensive Crime Control Act

B.   Federal Insanity Defense Reform Act

C.   Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act

D.   Three-Strikes Act

16: Is court Backlogs the sometimes-long delay between arrest and a trial for some defendants?

A.   True

B.   False

17: _____ is a situation in which there are too many cases for the courts to hear.

A.   An officer with many years of enforcement experience

B.   None of these

C.   Court Overcrowding

D.   An officer with a relatively low rank

18: _____ is defined as specialty courts that hear cases involving violence between individuals who are involved in an intimate relationship and who physically, emotionally, sexually, or verbally abuse their partners

A.   Aggravated assault

B.   Domestic Violence Courts

C.   None of these

D.   Minor drug offenses

19: _____ is known as alternative courts for drug offenders that allow the offender to participate in treatment programs in lieu of a criminal conviction and sentencing.

A.   Drug Courts

B.   All of these

C.   The prosecutor makes a larger salary than other members of the work group.

D.   The prosecutor has the power to decide who will stand trial and enjoy extensive discretion.

20: Is indeterminate Sentencing a system of sentencing that gives a range of time; the actual sentence depends on the seriousness of the crime?

A.   False

B.   True

21: _____ is any behavior by an attorney or a judge that is in conflict with the established rules of professional conduct

A.   African Americans

B.   Hispanics

C.   Judicial Misconduct

D.   All of these

22: _____ is defined as courts established in the late 1800s that treated young offenders differently from adults, focusing on treatment and rehabilitation as opposed to punishment.

A.   None of these

B.   Juvenile Courts

C.   Control

D.   Status Offenses

23: _____ is known as specialty courts that help those offenders suffering from mental illnesses and divert mentally ill offenders from the jail/prison and place them in treatment programs instead.

A.   All of these

B.   Certified judge

C.   Justice of the peace

D.   Mental Health Courts

24: Is merit Selection also called the Missouri Plan, this is a method of seating judges whereby a nominating panel provides the state’s governor with a list of candidates, and the governor then selects one of those candidates and appoints him or her to the position?

A.   True

B.   False

A.   All of these

B.   Mistake of Fact

C.   Terry stop

D.   Field stop

26: _____ is defined as a criminal defense, according to which an illegal act is committed to prevent an even greater harm

A.   Necessity

B.   None of these

C.   HALO Camera

D.   CCTV

27: _____ is known as elections in which the candidate’s political party affiliation is not identified

A.   Any of these

B.   All of these

C.   Wrist

D.   Nonpartisan Elections

28: Is partisan Elections elections in which the candidate’s political party affiliation is not identified?

A.   True

B.   False

A.   Unemployed

B.   None of these

C.   Uneducated

D.   Self-Defense

30: _____ is defined as a theory of sentencing according to which judges are provided with specific sentences that must be imposed, based on the seriousness of the offense and characteristics of the offender.

A.   A substantial amount of debate and discussion regarding the policy

B.   None of these

C.   Sentencing Guidelines

D.   A congressional sponsor and co-sponsor

31: _____ is known as also called problem-solving or alternative courts, these courts attempt to reduce the probability of recidivism by diverting the defendant from trial and placing him or her in a treatment progam.

A.   NIBRS

B.   Specialty Courts

C.   NCVS

D.   None of these

32: Is teen Courts sometimes referred to as youth courts, these courts allow young peo-ple to determine the facts of a case and suggest an appropriate punishment while an adult judge in the courtroom oversees the proceedings?

A.   False

B.   True

33: _____ is a sentencing system that forces offenders to serve the majority of the sentence imposed by a judge after conviction.

A.   Truth in Sentencing

B.   Life course theory

C.   All of these

D.   General strain theory