Criminal Justice Criminal Justice 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which landmark Supreme Court case established that suspects must be informed of their rights before custodial interrogation?
- Miranda v. Arizona (Correct answer)
- Mapp v. Ohio
- Gideon v. Wainwright
- Terry v. Ohio
Correct answer: Miranda v. Arizona
Miranda v. Arizona (1966) requires police to advise suspects of their rights to silence and counsel before custodial interrogation.
Question 2: What standard of proof is required to convict a defendant in a criminal trial?
- Preponderance of the evidence
- Clear and convincing evidence
- Beyond a reasonable doubt (Correct answer)
- Probable cause
Correct answer: Beyond a reasonable doubt
Criminal convictions require proof beyond a reasonable doubt, the highest standard in American law.
Question 3: Which component of the criminal justice system is responsible for determining guilt or innocence?
- Law enforcement
- The courts (Correct answer)
- Corrections
- Probation departments
Correct answer: The courts
The courts adjudicate cases and determine guilt or innocence through trials and plea proceedings.
Question 4: A police officer stops and frisks a person based on reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. Which case authorized this practice?
- Katz v. United States
- Terry v. Ohio (Correct answer)
- Weeks v. United States
- Escobedo v. Illinois
Correct answer: Terry v. Ohio
Terry v. Ohio (1968) permitted brief stops and pat-downs based on reasonable suspicion rather than probable cause.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of a grand jury?
- To determine guilt at trial
- To decide whether enough evidence exists to indict (Correct answer)
- To set bail amounts
- To sentence convicted offenders
Correct answer: To decide whether enough evidence exists to indict
A grand jury reviews the prosecution's evidence and decides whether to issue an indictment.
Question 6: Which sentencing goal focuses on preventing future crime by making an example of the offender to society?
- Retribution
- Rehabilitation
- General deterrence (Correct answer)
- Restoration
Correct answer: General deterrence
General deterrence aims to discourage the public from offending by punishing individual offenders visibly.
Question 7: What term describes crimes such as embezzlement and fraud committed by professionals in the course of their occupation?
- Organized crime
- White-collar crime (Correct answer)
- Street crime
- Victimless crime
Correct answer: White-collar crime
White-collar crime, coined by Edwin Sutherland, refers to nonviolent offenses committed by persons of respectability during their occupation.
Criminal Justice Criminal Justice 2
Which landmark Supreme Court case established that suspects must be informed of their rights before custodial interrogation?