Criminal Justice Trivia 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) guaranteed what right to indigent felony defendants?
- A speedy trial
- Court-appointed counsel (Correct answer)
- Bail in all cases
- A jury of twelve
Correct answer: Court-appointed counsel
Gideon v. Wainwright held that states must provide attorneys to felony defendants who cannot afford one.
Question 2: What is 'recidivism' in criminal justice?
- Sentencing juveniles as adults
- A convicted person's relapse into criminal behavior (Correct answer)
- Overturning a conviction on appeal
- Serving multiple sentences at once
Correct answer: A convicted person's relapse into criminal behavior
Recidivism refers to reoffending after release, a key measure of correctional program effectiveness.
Question 3: Which 1971 New York prison uprising became a landmark event in the prisoners' rights movement?
- Attica riot (Correct answer)
- New Mexico State Penitentiary riot
- Lucasville riot
- Camp Hill riot
Correct answer: Attica riot
The 1971 Attica uprising ended with 43 deaths and drew national attention to prison conditions.
Question 4: What does a 'nolo contendere' plea mean?
- Not guilty by reason of insanity
- The defendant does not contest the charges (Correct answer)
- The defendant demands a jury trial
- Charges are dismissed with prejudice
Correct answer: The defendant does not contest the charges
A nolo contendere (no contest) plea accepts conviction without admitting guilt, limiting its use in later civil suits.
Question 5: Fingerprint identification relies primarily on comparing what features?
- Skin tone patterns
- Ridge characteristics called minutiae (Correct answer)
- Pore size measurements
- Hand geometry
Correct answer: Ridge characteristics called minutiae
Examiners match minutiae such as ridge endings and bifurcations, which are considered unique to each individual.
Question 6: Which component of the criminal justice system is often called its 'gatekeeper' because officers decide whom to arrest?
- Courts
- Corrections
- Police (Correct answer)
- Probation
Correct answer: Police
Police act as gatekeepers because their discretionary arrest decisions determine who enters the justice system.
Question 7: The Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits what?
- Self-incrimination
- Cruel and unusual punishment (Correct answer)
- Double jeopardy
- Warrantless wiretaps
Correct answer: Cruel and unusual punishment
The Eighth Amendment bars excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishment.
Criminal Justice Trivia 5
Gideon v.
Wainwright (1963) guaranteed what right to indigent felony defendants?