ch. 6: the criminal justice system in texas

As of March 2018, there were ______ individuals incarcerated in Texas jails. a) 645 b) 64,537 c) 645,370 d) 6457

B

______ refers to a temporary (30 day) stay of execution the governor of Texas may grant. a) Commuted sentence b) Reprieve c) Pardon d) Redaction

B

Which of the following sentences is the most common in Texas prisons? a) 20-25 years b) 40 or more years c) 10-20 years d) 5-10 years

C

Which state leads the nation in the number of death row inmates waiting to be executed? a) Louisiana b) Texas c) California d) Florida

C

Which of the following is a provision of the federal Fair Sentencing Act (FSA)? a) elimination of a mandatory minimum sentence for simple possession of crack cocaine b) funding the creation of new prisons to alleviate overcrowding c) repeal of the requirement of mens rea in criminal cases d) abolition of pro bono requirements

elimination of a mandatory minimum sentence for simple possession of crack cocaine

True or false: In all cases in Texas, in order to be convicted of a crime, the accused must have intent or prior knowledge of doing something wrong.

false

True or false: The Governor has unlimited pardoning power in Texas.

false

In 2015, how did Texas compare to other states when it comes to exonerations? a) Texas had the most exonerations. b) Texas had the least exonerations. c) Texas had an average number of exonerations. d) Texas did not issue any exonerations.

texas had the most exonerations

Select all that apply What was the creation of the "state jail felony" in 1993 designed to accomplish? a) to end corruption in the juvenile justice system b) to relieve overcrowding in state penitentiaries c) to separate nonviolent and violent offenders d) to enforce mandatory minimum sentences

to relieve overcrowding in state penitentiaries to separate nonviolent and violent offenders

Juan claims that he was injured through the use of a new migraine drug and brings suit against the drug manufacturer. What type of civil law case is this? a) contract law b) property law c) tort law d) criminal law

tort law

True or false: "Juvenile justice" in Texas applies not only to those minors charged with wrongdoing, but also those who are wards of the state.

true

True or false: Between 2010 and 2015, the Texas Board of Pardons & Parole reviewed 187 cases; where they recommended commutation of 2 cases and the Governor approved zero.

true

Due to a lack of financial resources, it is likely that tens of thousands of Texans represent themselves pro se, which means a) on initial review. b) as a friend of the court. c) without an attorney. d) for the public good.

without an attorney

The Texas Legislative Budget Board estimates that community health mental services cost about ______ per day, as compared to the $137 per day that incarceration costs. a) $12 b) $72 c) $132 d) $52

$12

Legal aid services for the poor often use ______ percent of the federal poverty threshold as their guidelines for free legal services. (The federal policy threshold for a single person under the age of 65 was $12,752 in 2017.) a) 75 b) 125 c) 90 d) 100

125

When was the "get tough on crime" era in the U.S. that gave rise to harsher sentencing practices? a) 1960s-1970s b) 1980s-1990s c) 1950s d) 1920s

1980s-1990s

What percentage of those entering prison each year are sent back because of parole violations? a) 12 percent b) 18 percent c) 25 percent d) 7 percent

25 percent

From 2005 to 2015, ______ percent of inmates who died in city and county jails in Texas committed suicide. a) 5 b) 35 c) 27 d) 2

27

According to one source, how many federal regulatory offenses are there, in addition to 4,000 federal criminal laws and 1,700 state crimes in Texas? a) 50,000 b) 150,000 c) 200,000 d) 300,000

300,000

In Texas, there is one law enforcement officer for every ______ people. a) 100 b) 400 c) 1,200 d) 900

400

How many people did the state of Texas execute in 2017? a) 15 b) 0 c) 7 d) 1

7

Women make up approximately half of the Texas population. They account for ______ percent of the state's prison population. a) 42.5 b) 12.5 c) 32.5 d) 8.5

8.5

As of March 2020, _____ persons have been executed in Texas since 1982. a) 569 b) 112 c) 425 d) 256

A

Between 1923 and 1964, ______ persons were executed in Texas by electric chair. a) 361 b) 151 c) 253 d) 569

A

In Texas, the largest number of inmates on death row have been convicted of capital murder in ______ County. a) Harris b) Bexar c) El Paso d) Denton

A

Texas is one of ______ states that define those 17 years of age and older as eligible for adult criminal punishment. a) 5 b) 10 c) 50 d) 25

A

The Board of Pardons and Parole will not even consider parole of an inmate who is imprisoned for a violent crime, until he or she has served ______ of the sentence. a) one half b) two-thirds c) three-fourths d) one-fourth

A

The possible punishment for murder is a) 5 to 99 years. b) 2 to 20 years. c) death. d) life without parole.

A

Which of the following is the highest punishment for a Class C Misdemeanor? a) up to a $500 fine b) 1 year in jail c) 180 days in jail d) 60 days in jail

A

Which of the following states has executed as many persons as Texas has? a) No state has executed as many persons as Texas. b) California c) Oklahoma d) Oklahoma

A

______ refers to the reduction in punishment for an individual convicted of a crime. a) Commuted sentence b) Redaction c) Reprieve d) Pardon

A

In Texas, an inmate serving a non-violent felony sentence can be eligible for parole after serving _____ of his/her sentence. a) 3/4 b) 1/4 or 15 years, which ever is less c) 1/3 d) 1/2

B

In Texas, persons who are wrongfully convicted of a felony and pardoned based on innocence, are eligible for $______ per year served. a) 50,000 b) 80,000 c) 10,000 d) 7,200

B

The Federal government, Washington DC and _____ states offer compensation benefits for those wrongfully convicted of felonies. a) 20 b) 35 c) 5 d) 50

B

The Texas ______ grades criminal offenses based on severity. a) Civil Law Code b) Penal Code c) Code of Criminal Procedure d) Constitution

B

Which burden of proof is used in civil matters? a) "beyond a reasonable doubt" b) "preponderance of evidence" c) "the average person" d) "clear and present danger"

B

Which of the following is elected to a 4 year term to be the county law enforcement official? a) Chief of Police b) Sheriff c) Constable d) District Attorney

B

Which of the following statements is not true regarding TDCJ? a) People of color make up over 66% of those in Texas prisons. b) 50,000 inmates received high school equivalency before being paroled. c) Texas prisons housed over 150,000 inmates in 2017. d) In 2018, the budget was $3.3 Billion

B

Which of the statements about Timothy Cole is false? a) Cole died in prison from an asthma attack before being cleared of the crime. b) Cole had a previous rape charge on his record. c) He was a student at Texas Tech when he was wrongfully charged with rape of another student. d) Jerry Wayne Johnson to committing the rape while Cole was serving time.

B

As of 2019, if a person murders of a child 10 years of age but less than 15 years of age, they can receive _____ as the highest punishment. a) death b) 99 years c) life

C

If a person murders a child under the age of _____, they are eligible for the death penalty. a) 17 b) 15 c) 10 d) 12

C

In 1993, Texas created this felony category to relieve overcrowding in Texas prisons and to keep nonviolent offenders separate from violent offenders with the hopes to rehabilitating the nonviolent offenders. a) Fourth Degree Felony b) Fifth Degree Felony c) State Jail Felony d) Third Degree Felony

C

Inmates on death row serve an average of _____ years in Texas before being executed. a) 5 b) 15 c) 10 d) 20

C

It costs $______ per day to house Texas adult prison inmates. a) 245 b) 441 c) 61 d) 150

C

Which of the following makes up more than 80% of crimes in Texas? a) Murders b) Violent Felonies c) Property Crimes d) Drugs

C

Children under what age cannot be prosecuted for a crime in Texas? a) 17 b) 12 c) 13 d) 10

D

It costs $______ per day to house juveniles in TJJD state residential facilities. a) 14 b) 39 c) 61 d) 441

D

Manslaughter is classified as a a) Capital Felony b) First Degree Felony c) Third Degree Felony d) Second Degree Felony

D

Opponents of excessive bail and pretrial confinement believe it conflicts with what core justice principle? a) Habeas corpus b) No warrantless search and seizure c) No cruel and unusual punishment d) Innocent until proven guilty

D

The majority of crimes can be found in the Texas ______ Code. a) Courts and Crimes b) Jurisprudence c) Criminal d) Penal

D

There are currently _____ women on Texas Death Row. a) 36 b) 26 c) 0 d) 6

D

Which of the following is a major problem with civil asset forfeiture? a) Assets are put in trust until full adjudication occurs. b) Defendants are not afforded representation. c) Assets are taken without due process. d) Defendants are not read their rights.

assets are taken without due process

Despite the state's reputation as tough on crime, which of the following justice reform efforts recently emerged? a) opening newer low-security prisons b) decreased use of so-called "drug courts" c) changes to the juvenile justice system d) decriminalization of marijuana

changes to the juvenile justice system

Which of the following is a type of juvenile offense in Texas that if committed by an adult would be either punishable by a fine or not considered a violation at all? a) conduct indicating a need for supervision (CINS) b) delinquent conduct c) violation of a court order d) DUI

conduct indicating a need for supervision (CINS)

Select all that apply Which of the following is a general category of civil law cases in Texas? a) contract b) assault c) tort d) misdemeanor e) property f) family

contract tort property family

According to state statute, each ______ in Texas is required to provide a "safe and suitable" jail. a) county b) municipality c) city d) corrections district

county

In Texas, ______ law applies when the government seeks punishment on behalf of society or a victim.

criminal

Which of the following is a type of juvenile offense in Texas that if committed by an adult would result in imprisonment? a) sexting b) conduct indicating a need for supervision (CINS) c) running away d) delinquent conduct

delinquent conduct

The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure states that the primary duty of a(n) ______ ______ is not to convict, but to see that justice is done.

district attorney

True or false: In 2016, Texas incarcerated 563 persons per 100K, making Tx #1 in the nation in incarceration rates.

false

True or false: The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, to which all death penalty cases in Texas are referred, reverses a death sentence roughly half of the time.

false

In terms of the number of death sentences handed out and the number of prisoners executed, Texas ranks ______ among the states. a) eleventh b) third c) eighth d) first

first

Which of the following counties had the most custodial deaths in Texas in 2005-2015? a) Dallas b) Bexar c) Tarrant d) Harris

harris

Many privately held prisoners in Texas have historically been housed through contracts with which department of the federal government? a) the Department of the Treasury b) the Department of Defense c) the Drug Enforcement Agency d) Immigrations and Customs Enforcement

immigrations and customs enforcement

American television crime dramas present the investigation and prosecution of criminals ______ as compared to the realities. a) in an unrealistic way b) in a reasonable time frame, but with exaggerated science c) fairly accurately

in an unrealistic way

Which of the following refers to the power of the state to act in the place of the parent to protect the interests of a child? a) in loco parentis b) parens patriae c) the police powers doctrine d) stare decisis

in loco parentis

Those who support reform of excessive bail and pretrial confinement argue that it conflicts with what judicial principle? a) right to representation b) innocent until proven guilty c) the right to a fair and speedy trial d) trial by jury

innocent until proven guilty

Which of the following is an accurate description of the Texas Forensic Science Commission? a) It was created in 1988 and is composed of five members appointed by the governor, three of whom are scientists. b) It was created in 2005 and is composed of nine members appointed by the governor, seven of whom are scientists. c) It was created in 1964 and is composed of 25 members of law enforcement selected by the attorney general, all of whom have forensic backgrounds. d) It was created in 2011 and is composed of five members appointed by the attorney general, three of whom are scientists.

it was created in 2005 and is composed of nine members appointed by the governor, seven of whom are scientists

For most individuals, their first and often only point of contact with the criminal justice system is through ______. a) law enforcement b) the juvenile justice system c) a court case d) property-related disputes

law enforcement

The trend for police departments to increasingly use military vehicles, weapons, gear, and tactics is referred to as police ______. a) exoneration b) forfeiture c) overcriminalization d) militarization

militarization

The Timothy Cole Act addresses the issue of ______. a) an accused person's right to speedy access to DNA testing b) monetary compensation for wrongfully incarcerated people c) assuring that financially disadvantaged clients have access to scientific experts

monetary compensation for wrongfully incarcerated people

The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, which is often the final recourse for those sentenced to death, ______ makes sentencing changes. a) only very rarely b) often c) never

only very rarely

What chronic problem faced by the state prison system was addressed in the case of Ruiz v. Estelle? a) overcrowding b) mandatory sentencing c) fair trials d) food sourcing

overcrowding

Select all that apply Which of the following are duties of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice? a) revision of criminal statues b) oversight of parolees and those on probation c) adjudication of criminal hearings d) operation of state prisons and jails e) detention and supervision of inmates

oversight of parolees and those on probation operation of state prisons and jails detention and supervision of inmates

Which of the following refers to the inherent power of the state to protect persons legally incapable of protecting themselves before the law? a) the police powers doctrine b) in loco parentis c) parens patriae d) civil law

parens patriae

According to the TDCJ, ______ is defined as "the release of an offender...to serve the remainder of his or her sentence under supervision in the community." a) parole b) stay of sentence c) pardon d) state jail felony

parole

The Texas ______ is a statutory law that establishes a system of prohibitions, penalties, and correctional measures to deal with conduct that causes harm or threatens harm to individuals or public interests. a) Code of Civil Liberties b) Code of Criminal Procedure c) Bill of Rights d) Penal Code

penal code

Under Texas law, judges are required to perform a(n) ______ assessment to determine a defendant's financial situation.

poverty

Select all that apply Which of the following are purposes served by the Texas criminal justice system? a) promotion of public safety b) punishment of criminal activity c) compensation of victims d) deterrence of potential criminal activity e) rehabilitation of offenders f) adjudication of property disputes g) review of child custody cases h) judgment over financial wrongs that businesses commit against citizens

promotion of public safety punishment of criminal activity compensation of victims deterrence of potential criminal activity rehabilitation of offenders

Select all that apply A 2016 Harvard Law School study that examined Texas counties with a high output of death penalty sentences for people of color laid the blame on ______. a) racial bias b) overzealous prosecutors c) overworked juries d) unclear statutory language e) inadequate defense

racial bias overzealous prosecutors inadequate defense

Select all that apply According to data, which of the following factors have contributed to the growth in Texas's prison population? a) recidivism b) increases in state population c) rising crime rates d) availability of beds at new private prisons e) use of specialized courts

recidivism increases in state population rising crime rates

Which of the following was the largest category of privately operated correctional units contracted with the state of Texas in the 2015-2016 time frame? a) residential substance abuse facilities b) state jails c) general correctional facilities d) halfway houses

residential substance abuse facilities

A Texas citizen is no longer considered a juvenile once which of the following birthdays is reached? a) twenty-first b) seventeenth c) sixteenth d) eighteenth

seventeenth

The chief law enforcement agency in the state is the ______. a) Texas Department of Public Safety b) Texas Department of Justice c) Texas Bureau of Investigation d) Texas Criminal Investigation Agency

texas department of public safety

Which of the following accurately describes Texas's prison population? a) Texas has the largest prison population of any state. b) Texas has a larger prison population than the Federal Bureau of Prisons. c) Texas's prison population has declined since the year 2000. d) Texas has one of the smallest prison populations due to successful reform measures.

texas has the largest prison population of any state

Which of the following statements about arrests for drug crimes in Texas is accurate? a) The drug enforcement rate in Texas is higher than the national average. b) Very few people involved with drugs are incarcerated after arrest in Texas. c) Both the incarceration and arrest rate for drug-related offenses in Texas are on par with the national average. d) Arrests for drug-related offenses are not a priority for Texas police departments.

the drug enforcement rate in texas is higher than the national average

What do experts propose to explain why suicide rates are much higher in city and county jails than in state prisons? a) the initial shock of confinement b) lack of experienced personnel c) overcrowding d) callous disregard by jailers

the initial shock of confinement

Which statement about the mentally ill in the Texas criminal justice system is correct? a) Almost all mentally ill inmates received mental health care from the state before their incarceration. b) Mentally ill people rarely come into contact with law enforcement. c) The mentally ill have higher rates of recidivism. d) Mentally ill people have the lowest rates of recidivism.

the mentally ill have higher rates of recidivism

What 2013 Texas legislation requires that all evidence pertaining to a criminal case (whether or not it is perceived as relevant to guilt or punishment) is disclosed to the defense? a) the Philando Castile Act b) the Michael Morton Act c) the Tulia Act d) the Alton Sterling Act

the michael morton act

Which of the following people or organizations officially governs the Texas Department of Criminal Justice? a) an executive director hired by the Texas Board of Criminal Justice b) the nine-member Texas Board of Criminal Justice c) the Texas lieutenant governor d) the Texas governor

the nine-member texas board of criminal justice

True or false: Private prisons are usually located in more rural areas of Texas.

true

True or false: Since 1973, 13 inmates on Texas Death Row have been exonerated.

true

Compared to the rest of the nation, Texas's rate of incarceration is ______. a) well below average b) well above average c) about average d) the lowest in the nation

well above average