1. In what state was the first penitentiary opened?
a. Washington, DC b. Illinois
c. New York d. Pennsylvania
2. Which is an early form of correctional facility that emphasized separating inmates from society and from one
another so that they would have an environment in which to reflect on their wrongdoing, and ponder their
reformation?
a. jail b. penitentiary
c. prison d. supermax facility
3. Eventually, the penitentiary at Walnut Street succumbed to the same problems that continue to plague institutions of
confinement. What were these problems?
a. excessive costs and overcrowding
b. excessive costs and intruding politics
c. intruding politics and overcrowding
d. overcrowding and violence
4. If Pennsylvania’s prisons were designed to transform wrongdoers into honest citizens, those in New York focused
on:
a. idleness. b. obedience.
c. silence. d. privacy.
5. At , good behavior was rewarded by early release, and misbehavior was punished with extended time under a
three-grade system of classification.
a. Auburn Prison b. the Eastern Penitentiary
c. Elmira d. the Western Penitentiary
6. An essay by provided critics of the medical model with statistical evidence that rehabilitation efforts did
nothing to lower recidivism rates.
a. Progressives b. Quakers
c. Robert Martinson d. warden organizations
7. The held that institutions should offer a variety of programs and therapies to cure inmates of their “ills,”
whatever their root causes.
a. congregate system b. medical model
c. separate confinement system d. supermax system
8. Which prison design is composed of a “wagonwheel”like structure that was created with the dual goals of
separation and control?
a. campus style b. courtyard style
c. radial design d. telephone-pole design
9. The Quakers’ ideals were:
a. humanity and restitution.
b. restitution and incarceration.
c. humanity and rehabilitation.
d. retribution and deterrence.
10. Which level of prisons is considered a correctional institution designed and organized to control and discipline
dangerous felons, as well as prevent escape, with intense supervision, cement walls, and electronic, barbed wire
fences?
a. maximum-security prisons b. medium-security prisons
c. minimum-security prisons d. supermax prisons
11. Who is responsible for the organization and operation of state corrections systems?
a. governors
b. sheriffs
c. law enforcement
d. state prison authorities
12. The main difference between police agencies and correctional facilities is that correctional facilities sometimes lack:
a. a chain of command. b. bureaucracy.
c. continuity of purpose. d. a military structure.
13. The management structures of both police agencies and correctional facilities are similar in that both have:
a. a chain of command. b. continuity of purpose.
c. a decentralized leadership structure. d. a military structure.
14. The is ultimately responsible for the operation of the prison.
a. sheriff b. attorney general
c. warden d. chief correctional officer
15. Custodial employees in prisons, those who deal directly with inmates, .
a. make up more than three quarters of a prison’s staff
b. make up more than half of a prison’s staff
c. make up approximately 40% of a prison’s staff
d. make up 100% of a prison’s staff, because all employees are categorized as custodial
16. What type of prison design is typical for minimum-security prisons?
a. campus style b. courtyard style
c. radial design d. telephone-pole design
17. Inmates who compile extensive misconduct records are usually housed, along with violent and repeat offenders, in a
____.
a. jail b. maximum–security prison
c. medium-security prison d. minimum-security prison
18. The prison is defined as a correctional facility reserved for those inmates who have extensive records of
misconduct in maximum–security prisons; it is characterized by extremely strict control and supervision over the
inmates, including extensive use of solitary confinement.
a. maximum-security b. medium–security
c. minimum-security d. supermax
19. Which level of prisons is relatively rare and extremely controversial due to its overly harsh methods of punishing
and controlling the most dangerous prisoners?
a. maximum-security prisons b. medium-security prisons
c. minimum–security prisons d. supermax prisons
20. What is the main purpose of the supermax prison?
a. to allow inmates to have access to the best trained correctional officers
b. to house high-profile inmates in a comfortable setting
c. to provide rehabilitation to the inmate
d. to strictly control the inmates’ movements
21. Why does a supermax prison work toward strict control of an inmates’ movement within the facility?
a. to allow for individual repentance with a religious leader
b. to care for the inmate at an individual level
c. to limit situations that could lead to breakdowns in discipline
d. to provide individual treatment opportunities
22. Which level of prisons is defined as a “correctional institution designed to allow inmates, most of whom pose low
security risks, a great deal of freedom of movement and contact with the outside world”?
a. maximum-security prisons b. medium-security prisons
c. minimum-security prisons d. supermax prisons
23. Which level of prisons is defined as “a correctional institution that houses less dangerous inmates and therefore
uses less restrictive measures to avoid violence and escapes”?
a. maximum-security prisons b. medium-security prisons
c. minimum-security prisons d. supermax prisons
24. Which of the following is NOT one of the reasons cited for the growth in incarcerated populations?
a. federal prison growth
b. increased probability of incarceration
c. inmates serving more time for each crime
d. private prisons
25. Incarceration rates have increased dramatically, particularly due to:
a. terrorism.
b. harsher penalties for sex offenders.
c. the war on drugs.
d. the increasing number of juveniles tried and incarcerated as adults.
26. High rates of incarceration likely lead to:
a. higher rates of criminal offending.
b. greater democratic participation.
c. increased delinquent behavior among the children of the incarcerated.
d. a decline in the unemployment rate.
27. Having a parent in prison puts a child at greater risk of:
a. suffering financial hardship. b. reduced supervision.
c. reduced discipline. d. all of these.
28. The main argument against private prisons is:
a. there is too much red tape involved in their management.
b. the operators cut corners.
c. conditions are primitive and unsanitary.
d. they are too expensive.
29. The incentive to privatize is primarily to:
a. best rehabilitate inmates.
b. decrease the cost of incarceration.
c. increase public safety.
d. increase the salaries of correctional officers.
30. Which of the following is a correctional facility, usually operated by county government, used to hold persons
awaiting trial or those who have been found guilty of misdemeanors?
a. jail b. maximum–security prison
c. medium-security prison d. minimum-security prison
31. Which of the following is NOT one of the roles performed by jails?
a. hold individuals convicted of felonies
b. receive individuals pending arraignment and holding them while awaiting trial
c. temporarily detain juveniles pending transfer to juvenile authorities
d. hold the mentally ill pending transfer to health facilities
32. The typical jail term is approximately .
a. 10 to 30 days b. 30 to 90 days
c. 180 days d. 1 year
33. Almost two-thirds of jails in this country house fewer than:
a. 100 inmates. b. 25 inmates.
c. 50 inmates. d. 200 inmates.
34. Most jails are administered by:
a. municipal police. b. county sheriffs.
c. state government. d. federal government.
35. Like their counterparts in state prisons, jail inmates are overwhelmingly _____________.
a. teenagers
b. older minority adults
c. young male adults
d. young white adults
36. The primary motivation for reducing prison populations is .
a. financial
b. overcrowding
c. changing sentencing policies
d. changing public opinion
Case 11-1
Mr. Johnson was hired by the head of the department of corrections to run the new prison that was being
constructed. It is designed to hold up to 3000 inmates. Mr. Johnson was given the authority to develop a prison
system that he feels will be most effective in dealing with the inmate population. His annual budget will be $90
million.
37. Since Mr. Johnson will be responsible for the organization and performance of the correctional facility, what will be
his title?
a. deputy
b. mayor
c. sheriff
d. warden
38. Mr. Johnson is a firm believer that the classification process is the most important part of the correctional system.
This will ensure that each inmate is appropriately assigned to the correctional facility that will be the best fit for him
or her. Which of the following is NOT one of the common criteria used for classification purposes?
a. the seriousness of the crime committed
b. the risk of future criminal or violent conduct
c. the size and physical strength of the inmate
d. the need for treatment and rehabilitation programs
39. Mr. Johnson receives a phone call from the head of the department of corrections who informs him that the prison
will be reserved for the inmates who have extensive records of misconduct in maximum-security prisons. In
essence, this prison will be reserved for the “worst of the worst” inmates in the state’s correctional system. What
type of correctional facility will Mr. Johnson be in charge of?
a. administrative prison
b. maximum-security prison
c. medium-security prison
d. supermax prison
40. Because this prison is being built to be the “prison of the future,” which type of design will the prison follow?
a. courtyard
b. podular
c. radial
d. telephone–pole
41. Mr. Johnson is on a task force to help the governor figure out a way to cut corrections costs in the state. One
agreed upon goal is that the state begins a process of decarceration where it will reduce its inmate population.
Which of the following is NOT a common strategy used to reduce the prison population?
a. decrease the probability that nonviolent offenders will be sentenced to prison
b. increase the rate of release of nonviolent offenders from prison
c. increase the rate of release of violent offenders from prison
d. decrease the rate of imprisonment for probation violators
Case 11-2
The state of Florida, like many other states is facing extreme financial problems. The legislature was called into an
emergency session to pass a budget. One of the major areas of discussion is the state prison system. After hours of
debate and discussion, the lawmakers are not reaching a consensus on how to cut the corrections budget.
42. One lawmaker believes that the best way to reduce correctional costs is to privatize the prison system. He makes
several arguments as to how privatization of prisons will reduce the overall budget. Which of the following is NOT
one of the reasons the lawmaker would give to prove his point?
a. competitive bidding
b. fewer programs to inmates
c. labor costs
d. less red tape
43. Many lawmakers express their concerns of privatizing the prisons in the state. Which of the following are some of
the criticisms that these legislatures make?
a. there is no economic benefit to private prisons
b. private prisons are less secure to government-run prisons
c. private prisons are constitutionally problematic
d. all of these
44. The lawmakers in favor of privatization make the argument that the federal government is utilizing private prisons
and that the number of federal inmates in private prisons more than doubled between 2000 and 2010. The current
emphasis on imprisoning violators of law seems likely to ensure that this trend will continue.
a. bankruptcy
b. rug
c. immigration
d. terrorism
45. Some of the lawmakers are more concerned with the costs of jails than they are of prisons. They make the
argument that almost 13 million people are admitted to jails over the course of a year nationwide. Other lawmakers
claim that jails are different than prisons and should not be their concern at this time. How are jails different than
prisons?
a. Jails are operated by county and city governments.
b. Jails only house inmates that have been convicted of a crime.
c. Jails house inmates who have sentences than longer than 1 year.
d. Jails offer a wide variety of rehabilitation and educational programs.
46. The Walnut Street Jail failed because inmates succumbed to illness, insanity, and suicide.
a. True
b. False
47. The “new penology” was put into practice at New York’s Elmira Reformatory in 1876.
a. True
b. False
48. Progressive theories had a huge impact on prisons as many prison administrators supported the Progressives and
their followers.
a. True
b. False
49. The correctional system in the American colonies differed very little from that of England.
a. True
b. False
50. Prisons have a continuity of purpose that is lacking in police departments.
a. True
b. False
51. The main difference between police and prison organizations is that police departments have a chain of command
that is sometimes lacking in prison organizations.
a. True
b. False
52. The warden is ultimately responsible for the operation of a prison.
a. True
b. False
53. The United States has a dual prison system that parallels its dual court system.
a. True
b. False
54. Maximum-security prisons tend to be small, holding under 500 inmates.
a. True
b. False