Govt. 2306 Chapter 13 Quiz

In a felony case, before a defendant goes on trial, who grants a verdict that there is sufficient evidence to begin prosecution and that a threshold of probable cause has been met?

The Grand Jury

If you were wrongfully convicted and exonerated, the Timothy Cole Act requires that the state pays you __________________ per year you wrongfully spent in prison.

$80,000

If you are convicted of a crime and sentenced to serve time at a state jail, then your sentence can be no longer than

2 years

Felony cases in Texas are often prosecuted by

District Attorneys

True or False: If you are convicted of a capital crime, once you have served at least half of your prison sentence you are eligible for parole.

False

True or False: If you are convicted of a misdemeanor, then you retain your right to vote.

True

True or False: Police Departments are now required to report officer-involved shootings to the state.

True

True or False: The Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates a program called Substance Abuse Felony Punishment Facilities (SAFPF) to assist those within the criminal justice system who need treatment for substance abuse problems.

True

True or False: The governor of Texas is unable to grant clemency to death-row inmates without the recommendation of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.

True

According to the Texas Forensic Science Commission, which of the following is junk science and should not be used as evidence in a criminal trial?

Testimony that connects a bite mark to a specific defendant's teeth

A ____________ is a method commonly used by prosectors to maintain high conviction rates.

plea bargain between the defendant and the state

If you are convicted of a misdemeanor,

you can be sentenced up to a year in jail, but do not lose your right to vote or to possess a weapon.

In Texas, the legal standard of proof "beyond a resonable doubt" is used in which type(s) of cases?

Both felony and misdemeanor cases

Individuals who cannot afford an attorney have a constitutional right to have one appointed to them. Which Supreme Court case was instrumental in guarenteeing this right?

Gideon v. Wainwright

Which statement about the Texas prison population is accurate?

The number of people incarcerated in Texas state prisons is higher than any other state.

Why would a defendant decide to accept a plea bargain?

The plea bargain could include the prosecutors reducing the number and severity of the charges, as well as a reduction in the severity of the sentence that could be imposed.

The licensing of police officers in Texas is regulated by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. How are the nine members of this commission selected?

They are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate.

Today, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates the prison system. Who runs this agency?

a nine-member board that is appointed by the governor

If you are elected to serve as the county attorney, then your office is in charge of

representing the state in misdemeanor criminal cases

As a result of criminal justice reforms in Texas, if prosecutors want to use testimony from jailhouse informants, they must also

share with the defense attorneys the criminal history of the jailhouse informant and anything offered to the informant in return for his or her testimony.