CPCT Criminal Justice Policy 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which political philosophy most strongly emphasizes rehabilitation over punishment in criminal justice?
- Libertarian-left (Correct answer)
- Authoritarian-right
- Libertarian-right
- Authoritarian-left
Correct answer: Libertarian-left
Libertarian-left positions prioritize restoring offenders to society rather than retribution or deterrence.
Question 2: What is the primary argument against mandatory minimum sentencing from a libertarian perspective?
- It removes judicial discretion and leads to disproportionate sentences (Correct answer)
- It is too expensive to enforce nationally
- It does not apply to violent crimes
- It requires unanimous jury verdicts
Correct answer: It removes judicial discretion and leads to disproportionate sentences
Libertarians argue mandatory minimums strip judges of discretion, resulting in sentences that may not fit individual circumstances.
Question 3: The 'broken windows' theory of policing holds that:
- Cracking down on minor disorders prevents more serious crime (Correct answer)
- Prisons should focus on mental health treatment
- Communities should self-police without state intervention
- Drug offenses should be decriminalized
Correct answer: Cracking down on minor disorders prevents more serious crime
The broken windows theory posits that visible signs of disorder signal tolerance for crime, encouraging escalation.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes 'restorative justice'?
- A process focused on repairing harm through cooperation among offender, victim, and community (Correct answer)
- Harsher sentencing to deter future crimes
- Privatizing prison management to reduce costs
- Expanding police surveillance in high-crime areas
Correct answer: A process focused on repairing harm through cooperation among offender, victim, and community
Restorative justice centers on healing relationships and repairing harm rather than simply punishing the offender.
Question 5: From an authoritarian-right perspective, what is the primary purpose of incarceration?
- Punishment and deterrence to maintain social order (Correct answer)
- Rehabilitation and reintegration into society
- Reducing government spending on corrections
- Decriminalizing non-violent offenses
Correct answer: Punishment and deterrence to maintain social order
Authoritarian-right views emphasize law and order, seeing punishment and deterrence as essential to social stability.
Question 6: What does 'recidivism' measure in criminal justice policy?
- The rate at which released offenders reoffend or return to prison (Correct answer)
- The number of new crimes committed by first-time offenders
- The cost of housing inmates per year
- The ratio of convictions to arrests
Correct answer: The rate at which released offenders reoffend or return to prison
Recidivism tracks how often individuals return to criminal behavior after release, a key metric for evaluating rehabilitation programs.
Question 7: Bail reform advocates generally argue that cash bail systems:
- Disproportionately punish low-income defendants who cannot afford pretrial release (Correct answer)
- Are too lenient on violent offenders
- Should be expanded to include more minor offenses
- Reduce judicial corruption in the courts
Correct answer: Disproportionately punish low-income defendants who cannot afford pretrial release
Critics of cash bail argue that wealth, not flight risk, determines pretrial freedom, creating an unequal two-tier system.
CPCT Criminal Justice Policy 1
Which political philosophy most strongly emphasizes rehabilitation over punishment in criminal justice?