Criminology A Sociological Understanding 6th Edition Barkan - Test Bank

Criminology A Sociological Understanding 6th Edition Barkan – Test Bank

 

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Sample Questions Are Posted Below

 

Chapter 2

Multiple Choice:

1. In the 1830s, major East Coast US cities:
   1. were plagued by mob violence.
   2. were plagued by juvenile delinquency.
   3. saw a major drop in violent crime.
   4. saw a slight drop in crime committed by women.

Answer: a

Objective: Understand examples of how crime has always been a serious problem.

Page Number: 19

Level: Basic

 

 

2. Democratic theory suggests that:
   1. democratic countries have higher crime rates than dictatorships.
   2. whenever possible, police should hold public meetings on policy decisions.
   3. courts should base their sentencing on public opinion.
   4. policy decisions by public officials should reflect public opinion.

Answer: d

Objective: Understand the influence of public opinion.

Page Number: 19

Level: Basic

 

 

3. Which of the following is one of the reasons many people may have an unrealistic view of crime?
   1. Lack of access to crime data
   2. Media overdramatization
   3. Poor FBI crime data
   4. Inaccurate textbooks

Answer: b

Objective: Understand the influence media has on the public perception on crime.

Page Number: 21

Level: Basic

 

 

4. When the media suddenly overemphasizes even a small number of crimes, it may create the impression of a _____.
   1. deviance cluster
   2. crime valley
   3. crime wave
   4. deviance surge

Answer: c

Objective: Understand the influence media has on the public perception of crime.

Page Number: 21

Level: Basic

 

5. Media overreporting of crime tends to focus on:

Answer: b

Objective: Understand the influence media has on the public perception of crime.

Page Number: 21

Level: Intermediate

 

6. Which of the following are overrepresented in television and news reports regarding crime?
   1. Whites and Latinos
   2. Women and youths
   3. African-Americans and the elderly
   4. African-Americans and Latinos

Answer: d

Objective: Understand the influence media has on the public perception of crime.

Page Number: 22

Level: Intermediate

 

7. Approximately what percentage of youths is arrested annually for violent crime?
   1. 1
   2. 5
   3. 18
   4. 31

Answer: a

Objective: Understand a more realistic account of crime demographics.

Page Number: 23

Level: Intermediate

 

8. ____ are those who might be considered innocent, or having been “in the wrong place at the wrong time”.
   1. Tentative targets
   2. Virtuous victims
   3. Fatal targets
   4. Tactical victims

Answer: b

Objective: Understand the terminology used in the study of crime.

Page Number: 23

Level: Intermediate

 

9. In regards to media coverage, which of the following has been identified as contributing to providing the public with a misleading picture of the crime problem?
   1. Reporters failing to provide the social and/or historical context for the information presented in the crime story
   2. Reporters adequately presenting both sides of the story
   3. Reporters accounting for changes in the population
   4. Reporters tending to utilize expert opinion for background presented in the crime story

Answer: a

Objective: Understand why media presents a misleading picture of crime.

Page Number: 24

Level: Intermediate

 

10. Which of the following is an effect of media coverage?
    1. A decreased pubic fear of crime
    2. A greater public concern for addressing the root causes of crime such as poverty
    3. A decrease in democratic influence on public policy
    4. Greater public ignorance of actual crime trends

Answer: d

Objective: Understand the influence media has on the public perception of crime.

Page Number: 24-25

Level: Intermediate

 

11. While its use was actually declining in the 1980s, news stories about _____ gave the public the impression that it had become an epidemic.
    1. marijuana use
    2. crack cocaine use
    3. gun-related crime
    4. juvenile DUI

Answer: b

Objective: Understand the influence media has on the public perception of crime.

Page Number: 25

Level: Intermediate

 

 

 

 

 

12. In general, which of the following gets the least amount of media coverage?
    1. Homicide
    2. Sexual assault
    3. White-collar crime
    4. Armed robbery

Answer: c

Objective: Understand the influence media has on the public perception of crime.

Page Number: 26

Level: Basic

 

13. Which of the following is a structural factor that contributes to fear of crime?
    1. Higher income levels
    2. Low levels of social integration
    3. Homogenous neighborhoods
    4. High number of television news programs

Answer: b

Objective: Understand the effects of the public’s fear of crime.

Page Number: 27

Level: Intermediate

 

14. Which of the following structural factors contributes to an increased fear of crime in big cities?
    1. A high percentage of White citizens
    2. A high proportion of elderly
    3. A high percentage of teenagers
    4. A high proportion of people of color

Answer: d

Objective: Understand the effects of the public’s fear of crime.

Page Number: 27

Level: Intermediate

 

15. Which of the following helps explain a higher fear of crime among African-Americans and Latinos?
    1. African-Americans and Latinos are more likely to live in large cities.
    2. Whites are more likely to install security systems.
    3. African-Americans and Latinos are more likely to live in rural areas.
    4. Whites are less likely to go out at night.

Answer: a

Objective: Critically apply factors in the fear of crime.

Page Number: 29

Level: Intermediate

 

16. Which of the following groups has the greatest fear of “walking alone at night”?
    1. White men
    2. Latina women
    3. African-American men
    4. Asian women

Answer: b

Objective: Critically apply factors in the fear of crime.

Page Number: 29

Level: Intermediate

 

17. Which of the following is a consequence of fear of crime?
    1. Greater spending on public schools
    2. Decreased sentences for drug crimes
    3. The building of more prisons
    4. An increase in military spending

Answer: c

Objective: Understand the effects of the public’s fear of crime.

Page Number: 30

Level: Intermediate

 

18. In general, ______ tend to hold more punitive views than others.
    1. minorities
    2. women
    3. juveniles
    4. religious fundamentalists

Answer: d

Objective: Distinguish different perspectives on the punitiveness of crimes.

Page Number: 32

Level: Intermediate

 

19. Based on the following characteristics, who would most likely support the use of the death penalty?
    1. Younger, African-American female
    2. Older, conservative White male
    3. Younger, Latina female
    4. Older, Latino male

Answer: b

Objective: Critically apply different perspectives on the punitiveness of crimes.

Page Number: 33

Level: Intermediate

 

20. Which of the following groups has a more negative view of police?
    1. Whites
    2. Native Americans
    3. Women
    4. African-Americans and Latinos

Answer: d

Objective: Understand different views about the police.

Page Number: 33

Level: Intermediate

 

21. Of the following, which is an area with general agreement among all groups?
    1. Crime seriousness
    2. Perceptions of criminal injustice
    3. Views about crime spending
    4. Punitiveness

Answer: a

Objective: Understand the different perspectives on crime factors.

Page Number: 31

Level: Difficult

 

22. When given an option, Americans tend to prefer:
    1. incarceration as the primary sentencing option.
    2. the use of boot camps for juvenile offenders.
    3. criminal justice spending on prevention and treatment.
    4. an increase in the application of the death penalty.

Answer: c

Objective: Understand different perspectives on criminal justice.

Page Number: 34

Level: Intermediate

 

23. One theme stands out among public beliefs about crime and criminal justice. Which of the following statements reflects that theme?
    1. Americans have almost universal agreement about the criminal justice system.
    2. Americans are divided along the lines of race and ethnicity, social class, gender and age.
    3. Americans are most divided in opinion depending upon the state in which they live.
    4. Americans do not allow news articles to shape their opinions.

Answer: b

Objective: Understand different influences on the public belief about crime and criminal justice.

Page Number: 35

Level: Basic

 

24. Which of the following groups has often been the subject of distorted treatment in media coverage?
    1. White males
    2. Wealthy women
    3. Homeless
    4. Racial and ethnic minorities

Answer: d

Objective: Understand the influence media has on the public perception of crime.

Page Number: 24

Level: Intermediate

 

25. While they are least likely to be victims of crime, _____ have a high fear of crime.
    1. juveniles
    2. women
    3. elderly
    4. African-Americans

Answer: c

Objective: Understand the effects of the public’s fear of crime.

Page Number: 28

Level: Intermediate

 

True/False:

1. The media tends to overdramatize crime.

Answer: True

Objective: Understand the influence media has on the public perception of crime.

Page Number: 21

Level: Basic

 

2. Most arrests eventually end with the accused going to a jury trial.

Answer: False

Objective: Understand punitiveness.

Page Number: 32

Level: Intermediate

 

3. The saying, “if it bleeds it leads” suggests the media overreports violent crime.

Answer: True

Objective: Understand the influence media has on the public perception of crime.

Page Number: 22

Level: Intermediate

 

4. Juveniles commit more crime than adults.

Answer: False

Objective: Evaluate common beliefs or myths about crime and public perception.

Page Number: 23

Level: Intermediate

 

5. Crime victims come from all walks of life.

Answer: True

Objective: Evaluate common beliefs or myths about crime and public perception.

Page Number: 23

Level: Intermediate

 

6. Most violent crime is committed by friends or intimates.

Answer: True

Objective: Evaluate common beliefs or myths about crime and public perception.

Page Number: 24

Level: Intermediate

 

7. The public often thinks crime is rising when it is actually falling.

Answer: True

Objective: Understand the influence media has on the public perception of crime.

Page Number: 24

Level: Intermediate

 

8. The media often obscure the underlying causes of crime.

Answer: True

Objective: Understand the influence media has on the public perception of crime.

Page Number: 25

Level: Intermediate

 

9. The media overreports on white-collar crime.

Answer: False

Objective: Understand the influence media has on the public perception of crime.

Page Number: 26

Level: Basic

 

10. The media reinforces negative stereotypes about Whites’ criminal tendencies.

Answer: False

Objective: Understand the influence media has on the public perception of crime.

Page Number: 26

Level: Basic

 

11. Fear of crime is generally lower in dilapidated neighborhoods.

Answer: False

Objective: Understand the structural factors in the fear of crime.

Page Number: 27

Level: Intermediate

 

12. People in rural areas are more afraid to walk alone at night than urban dwellers.

Answer: False

Objective: Understand the effects of public fear of crime.

Page Number: 28

Level: Basic

 

13. Fear of crime strengthens social ties within a community.

Answer: False

Objective: Understand the effects of the public’s fear of crime.

Page Number: 30

Level: Intermediate

 

14. Most demographic subgroups generally agree on crime seriousness.

Answer: True

Objective: Understand the different perspectives on crime.

Page Number: 32

Level: Intermediate

 

15. Whites are more likely to have a negative experience with police.

Answer: False

Objective: Understand the different demographic experiences with law enforcements.

Page Number: 33

Level: Intermediate

 

 

 

 

Fill-in-the-Blank:

1. Criminal _____ may contribute to tension between minorities and the police.

Answer: injustice

Objective: Understand the different demographics’ views on police.

Page Number: 34

Level: Intermediate

 

2. Democratic theory suggests decisions by public officials should reflect public _____.

Answer: opinion

Objective: Understand the influence of public perception.

Page Number: 19

Level: Basic

 

3. The media overdramatizes crime through crime _____.

Answer: waves

Objective: Understand the influence media has on the public perception of crime.

Page Number: 21

Level: Intermediate

 

4. 5 to 2.5 million _____ are reported missing each year.

Answer: children

Objective: Evaluate common beliefs and myths about crime.

Page Number: 22

Level: Intermediate

 

5. News media gives more attention to who they deem innocent or _____ victims.

Answer: virtuous

Objective: Understand the influence media has on the public perception of crime.

Page Number: 23

Level: Intermediate

 

6. Overreporting violent offenses raises the public’s _____ of crime.

Answer: concern/fear

Objective: Understand the influence media has on the public perception of crime.

Page Number: 21

Level: Basic

 

7. Watching ___ may increase fear of crime.

Answer: TV

Objective: Understand the influence media has on the public perception of crime.

Page Number: 22

Level: Basic

 

8. Individual _____ include demographic variables such as age, gender and race.

Answer: characteristics

Objective: Understand the factors that may influence different perspectives in crime.

Page Number: 27

Level: Basic

 

9. _____ factors include such elements as the level of social integration.

Answer: structural

Objective: Understand the factors that may influence different perspectives in crime.

Page Number: 27

Level: Intermediate

 

10. How “tough on crime” the public is can be a measure of _____.

Answer: punitiveness

Objective: Understand the influence of public opinion.

Page Number: 32

Level: Intermediate

 

Matching:

1. crime myths	a. when media suddenly devotes much attention to a small number of crimes creating a false impression that crime is rampant
2. crime waves	b. influences society’s cultural beliefs regarding value on human life and personal property, and affects penalties stipulated by legislators on crime
3. democratic theory	c. shows popular consensus perspectives on crime and society and indicates views in public punitiveness that may influence making policies
4. fear of crime	d. policy decisions by public officials should reflect and consider public opinion
5. news media	e. a growing body of research addressing the nature and sources of public attitudes about crime
6. overdramatization	f. false beliefs concerning crime and criminal justice
7. racial prejudice	g. community characteristics such as social integration, quality of living conditions, and various demographic variables in neighborhoods
8. sentencing preferences	h. exaggeration and misrepresentation of crime that influences public perspectives
9. seriousness of crime	i. influences public opinion on punitiveness and crime on the basis of color
10. structural factors	j. resource that often portrays crimes in disproportionate ways that arouses public concern

1. p23
2. p21
3. p19
4. p27
5. 18
6. 21
7. 20
8. 32
9. 31
10. p27

 

Essay:

Objective: Distinguish between the various terms relation to public perspectives.

Level: Intermediate

1. What do scholars mean when they suggest that the news media do, in fact, overdramatize crime?

Answer: Scholars contend that the media often overdramatize crime by creating the impression of crime waves and focusing too much attention or over reporting on uncommon crimes such as serial killings.

Objective: Explain how the news media overdramatize crime.

Page number: 21-22

Level: Intermediate

 

2. Explain what structural factors are and what role they play in creating criminogenic environments.

Answer: Structural factors focuses on community characteristics such as the level of social integration (e.g., how well people know their neighbors), the quality of the living conditions of a neighborhood (e.g., are there many abandoned buildings), and the proportion of people of color in.  These areas, generally, have a high fear of crime.

Objective: Explain the structural factors and individual characteristics that relate to fear of crime.

Page number: 27-30

Level: Difficult

 

3. Explain why people of different races, ages and social class may have different opinions about the police.

Answer: African-Americans and Latinos are more likely than whites to have negative experiences with the police (e.g., being stopped or insulted by police). Second, they are also more likely to live in high-crime neighborhoods where police–citizen relations are contentious.  Younger and poorer people also hold more negative views of police.

Objective:  Explain why racial and ethnic differences exist in views about the police.

Page number: 33-34

Level: Intermediate

 

Critical thinking:

1. Should the media release the names of rape victims?

 

Answer: Answers will vary

Page number: 25

Level: Basic

 

2. Should the Supreme Court let public opinion affect its decisions on such legal issues as the constitutionality of the death penalty?

Answer: Answers will vary

Page number: 33

Level: Basic