DSST Criminal Justice 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which landmark Supreme Court case established that juveniles have the right to counsel and the privilege against self-incrimination in delinquency proceedings?
- Kent v. United States
- In re Gault (Correct answer)
- McKeiver v. Pennsylvania
- Roper v. Simmons
Correct answer: In re Gault
In re Gault (1967) extended key due process rights to juvenile court proceedings, fundamentally changing the juvenile justice system.
Question 2: The Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) are compiled and published by which agency?
- Bureau of Justice Statistics
- Department of Homeland Security
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (Correct answer)
- National Institute of Justice
Correct answer: Federal Bureau of Investigation
The FBI compiles UCR data submitted voluntarily by thousands of local and state law enforcement agencies.
Question 3: Which type of plea allows a defendant to accept punishment without admitting guilt?
- Guilty plea
- Alford plea
- Nolo contendere plea
- Both B and C (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Both B and C
Both Alford pleas (maintaining innocence while accepting punishment) and nolo contendere pleas (no contest) avoid a formal admission of guilt.
Question 4: Which theory suggests that crime results from a breakdown in an individual's bond to conventional society?
- Strain theory
- Social control theory (Correct answer)
- Differential association theory
- Labeling theory
Correct answer: Social control theory
Travis Hirschi's social control (social bond) theory argues that weakened attachments to society free individuals to engage in deviant behavior.
Question 5: What is 'voir dire' in the context of a criminal trial?
- The reading of the charges against the defendant
- The process of questioning prospective jurors (Correct answer)
- The formal sentencing phase of the trial
- The prosecution's opening statement
Correct answer: The process of questioning prospective jurors
Voir dire is the preliminary examination of prospective jurors to determine their suitability and impartiality for jury service.
Question 6: Which correctional approach is characterized by offenders working with community service and paying restitution rather than serving time?
- Shock incarceration
- Intermediate sanctions (Correct answer)
- Straight probation
- Restorative sentencing
Correct answer: Intermediate sanctions
Intermediate sanctions are punishments that fall between prison and standard probation, such as community service, fines, and restitution.
Question 7: The 'dark figure of crime' refers to:
- Crimes committed by public officials
- Crimes that are never reported or recorded (Correct answer)
- Violent crimes committed at night
- White-collar crimes hidden in corporate records
Correct answer: Crimes that are never reported or recorded
The dark figure refers to the gap between crimes that actually occur and those that are officially reported and recorded in crime statistics.
DSST Criminal Justice 4
Which landmark Supreme Court case established that juveniles have the right to counsel and the privilege against self-incrimination in delinquency proceedings?