1. What is the newest variation on crime?
a. high–tech crime
b. white–collar crime
c. public order crime
d. organized crime
2. Which of these counts as a public order crime?
a. murder
b. prostitution
c. larceny
d. battery
3. Which of the following is NOT a violent crime?
a. robbery
b. assault
c. burglary
d. murder
4. Since its inception in 1930, the has attempted to measure the overall rate of crime in the United States by
organizing “crimes known to the police.”
a. National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)
b. National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)
c. self-reported survey
d. Uniform Crime Report (UCR)
5. The Uniform Crime Report (UCR) reports on three measurements. Which of the following is NOT one of them?
a. the number of persons arrested
b. the number of crimes reported by victims, witnesses, or the police themselves
c. the number of officers and support law enforcement specialists
d. the number of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents that compile the UCR
6. The UCR is prepared by:
a. the United States Census Bureau.
b. the Department of Homeland Security.
c. the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
d. the United States Secret Service.
7. When the UCR presents crime data as a rate, they are reporting:
a. the amount of crime per 100,000 people
b. the amount of change that has occurred since the previous year
c. the total number of crimes
d. the frequency with which a particular crime is committed within a 24 hour period
8. The UCR comprises agency data that represents of the American population.
a. 95% b. 88%
c. 76% d. 65%
9. Which of the following is a Part II offense?
a. driving under the influence b. burglary
c. arson d. motor vehicle theft
10. Which of the following is a Part I offense?
a. driving under the influence b. embezzlement
c. drug abuse violations d. larceny/theft
11. is a phrase used to describe the actual amount of crime that takes place.
a. “Hidden figure of crime” b. “Dark prediction of crime”
c. “Dark figure of crime” d. “Hidden prediction of crime”
12. In what form of data collection are persons asked directly, through personal interviews or questionnaires or over the
telephone, about specific criminal activity to which they may have been a party?
a. National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)
b. National Victimization Survey (NCVS)
c. self-reported surveys
d. Uniform Crime Report (UCR)
13. The “dark figure of crime” appears to be:
a. much higher than suggested by the data of the UCR.
b. much lower than suggested by the data of the UCR.
c. slightly lower than suggested by the data of the UCR.
d. consistent by the UCR.
14. In the twentieth century, crime declined most between:
a. 1930 and 1940. b. 1990 and 2000.
c. 1950 and 1960 d. 1970 and 1980.
15. While traditionally overlooked in criminological research, are the fastest growing minority
group in the U.S. prison population.
a. African Americans b. Asians
c. Hispanics d. American Indians
16. The number of women in prisons and jails is over time.
a. remaining stable b. decreasing steadily
c. increasing substantially d. slowly increasing
17. The study of crime is referred to as:
a. criminal justice. b. criminology.
c. psychology. d. sociology.
18. Researchers who study the causes of crime are:
a. victimologists. b. criminologists.
c. psychologists. d. sociologists.
19. What are criminological theories primarily concerned with?
a. assisting the criminal justice professional
b. constructing grounds to explain the behavior of criminal justice professionals
c. determining the reasons behind criminal behavior
d. providing support to criminal psychologists
20. A theory is:
a. a relationship between two variables in which they vary together.
b. an educated guess by a criminologist about the relationship between two variables.
c. a statement in which a variable is denoted as the cause of change in another variable.
d. an explanation for a phenomenon based on observation, experimentation, and reasoning.
21. A proposition that can be tested by researchers to determine if it is valid is a:
a. hypothesis. b. scientific method.
c. theory. d. correlation.
22. A theory of crime in which offenders weigh the possible benefits of criminal activity against the costs of being
apprehended is:
a. rational choice theory. b. social disorganization theory.
c. social process theory. d. trait theory.
23. According to Jack Katz, the emotional or sensual rush a criminal experiences upon the successful completion of a
crime is referred to as:
a. crime adrenaline. b. criminal benefit.
c. rush sensation. d. seduction of crime.
24. Rational choice theorists believe the best way to deter crime is to:
a. increase the severity of the punishment for offending.
b. provide counseling and treatment for those individuals at risk for offending.
c. establish programs to strengthen communities.
d. divert juvenile offenders from the criminal justice system.
25. One influential branch of psychology—________________________—focuses on human behavior in the
context of how human beings relate to and influence one another.
a. neurophysiology
b. trait theory
c. psychopharmacology
d. social psychology
26. Which theory suggests that certain biological or psychological traits in individuals could incline them toward criminal
behavior given a certain set of circumstances?
a. choice theory b. social process theory
c. social structure theory d. trait theory
27. Shaw and McKay studied high-crime neighborhoods and discovered that these “zones” were characterized by
or a breakdown in schools, families, and community groups.
a. chaos b. conflict
c. disorganization d. disruption
28. According to , criminal offending is the result of interactions with parents, friends and peer groups.
a. choice theory b. social disorganization theory
c. social process theory d. trait theory
29. Criminologists focusing on sociology have argued that are the most important
variable in predicting criminal behavior.
a. neighborhood conditions
b. mental illnesses
c. genetic traits
d. opportunities
30. One of the basic assumptions of is that people are able to justify improper or even
criminal behavior by convincing themselves that it is actually acceptable behavior.
a. rational choice theory
b. control theory
c. social psychology
d. trait theory
31. This theory believes that criminals must be taught both the practical and emotional skills necessary to participate in
illegal activity.
a. labeling theory b. learning theory
c. social process theory d. trait theory
32. Psychological theories operate under the assumption that:
a. individuals have traits that make them more or less predisposed to criminal activity.
b. all individuals have mental disorders, but not everyone becomes a criminal.
c. criminals commit crime because of the thrill or “rush” attached to it.
d. criminals weigh the costs and benefits of a crime.
33. Learning theory was popularized by:
a. Cesare Lombroso. b. Clifford Shaw.
c. Edwin Sutherland. d. Henry McKay.
34. Jack Katz (Seduction of Crime) stated that:
a. criminals make decisions by rationally weighing the costs against the benefits of the crime.
b. people commit crimes because they have certain biological traits.
c. people commit crimes when they have the opportunity and there is no suitable guardian.
d. the inherent danger of criminal activity increases the “rush” a criminal experiences on successfully
committing a crime.
35. According to , social bonds promote conformity to social norms.
a. learning theory
b. conflict theory
c. psychological theory
d. control theory
36. Which theory states that the harsh penalties for “lowerclass” crimes, such as burglary, can be seen as a means of
protecting the privileges of the “haves” from the aspirations of the “havenots”?
a. social psychology
b. social control theory
c. conflict theory
d. learning theory
37. Social conflict theory focuses on as a key component in explaining crime.
a. choice b. the community
c. learning d. power
38. What is the school of criminology that is often associated with a critique of our capitalist economic system?
a. labeling b. social conflict
c. social disorganization d. social process
39. “If I leave my house early then I will never miss the bus.” This is an example of a(n):
a. theory.
b. hypothesis.
c. observation.
d. verification.
40. “As long as I leave home at 7:00am, I don’t have to worry about missing the bus.” This is an example of a(n):
a. theory.
b. hypothesis.
c. observation.
d. verification.
41. Sutherland’s holds that individuals are exposed to the values of family and
peers such as school friends or co-workers.
a. psychological theory
b. trait theory
c. conflict theory
d. differential association theory
42. More than of all prison and jail inmates in the United States have mental health problems.
a. one third
b. half
c. two thirds
d. three quarters
43. _______________________ subscribe to the continuity theory of crime, which essentially says that once
negative behavior patterns have been established, they cannot be changed.
a. Learning theorists
b. Life course theorists
c. Self-control theorists
d. Control theorists
44. states that lying, stealing, bullying, and other conduct problems that occur in
childhood are the strongest predictors of future criminal behavior.
a. Learning theory
b. Life course criminology
c. Psychological theory
d. Control theory
45. Which one is NOT one of the characteristics of someone with low self control?
a. rationality
b. impulsivity
c. thrill seeking
d. violence
46. According to , crime occurs when three factors are present: a likely offender, a suitable
target, and the absence of a capable guardian.
a. choice theory b. social disorganization
c. social process theory d. routine activities theory
Case 2-1
Tina’s mother bought Tina a new pair of jeans when she received all A’s on her report card. Jane was jealous that
Tina got new jeans because she wanted the same pair of jeans. But, Jane’s parents were not able to afford them.
One day, Jane skipped school and broke into Tina’s house when she knew no one would be home. Jane took the
jeans from Tina’s bedroom and left the house.
47. What category of crime did Jane commit?
a. violent crime
b. property crime
c. public order crime
d. white-collar crime
48. What crime did Jane commit?
a. assault
b. burglary
c. fraud
d. robbery
49. Jane’s mother says that she is not surprised that Jane committed this crime. Jane’s uncle is a criminal who has
committed many crimes, ranging from larceny to assault. He is now in prison for the crime of robbery. However,
prior to his incarceration he spent the entire summer with Jane while Jane’s mother was at work. What theory
would explain Jane’s crime if she was taught the skills to participate in crime by her uncle?
a. strain theory
b. social disorganization theory
c. learning theory
d. control theory
50. Jane and her family moved to a new apartment in a high-crime neighborhood. The community has higher high
school drop-out rates, vast unemployment, and many single-parent families. Jane starts committing even more
crime. What theory would best explain Jane’s criminal behavior?
a. strain theory
b. social disorganization theory
c. learning theory
d. control theory
Case 2-2
Mayor Smith is the newly elected mayor of Anytown, USA. He is concerned with the increasing crimes rates in his
city. He schedules a meeting with Chief Gomez, who has been the chief of the police department since 1990. He
plans to discuss crime trends and ways to collect data to be able to measure the overall crime rate in Anytown,
USA.
51. Mayor Smith asks Chief Gomez if there is an annual report compiled to give an indication about how much criminal
activity there is in Anytown, USA. He also wants to compare Anytown’s crime rates to other cities of the same
population in the United States. Chief Gomez explains that the U.S. Department of Justice releases such a report.
What is the name of this report that Chief Gomez is talking about?
a. NCVS
b. self-reported surveys of criminals
c. UCR
d. NIBRS
52. Mayor Smith asks what specific information is measured by this report. Chief Gomez explains that the report
measures all of the following except:
a. the number of persons arrested.
b. the number of crimes reported by victims, witnesses, or the police themselves.
c. the number of law enforcement officers.
d. the number of persons convicted of crimes.
53. Chief Gomez explains that the report is divided into two major categories: Part I and Part II offenses. Mayor Smith
asks the difference between the two reports. Chief Gomez explains that Part I offenses are more serious offenses.
Chief Gomez gives the mayor examples of Part I offenses. Which of the following would not be considered a Part I
offense?
a. aggravated assault
b. drug abuse violations
c. motor vehicle theft
d. robbery
54. Chief Gomez asks Mayor Smith if he has any further questions. Mayor Smith asks the chief how they know the
true number of crimes if there are people who do not report crimes to the police and the police never become
aware of the crime. Chief Gomez explains that this is known as the:
a. hidden figure of crime.
b. dark prediction of crime.
c. dark figure of crime.
d. hidden prediction of crime.
55. Mayor Smith asks Chief Gomez how crime rates have changed since he became the chief of police in 1990. Which
of the following statements is most likely to be true of crime trends in Anytown, USA if they are the same as
national crime trends?
a. Total crime rates dropped in Anytown, USA from 1990 to 2000.
b. Total crime rates increased in Anytown, USA from 1990 to 2000.
c. The homicide rate dropped but the burglary rate increased from 1990 to 2000.
d. The burglary rate dropped but the auto theft rate increased from 1990 to 2000.
56. Robbery is the unlawful entry of a structure with the intention of committing a serious crime such as theft.
a. True
b. False