Test Bank and Answer Key
TRUE/FALSE
1. Nationally, there are 2.2 sworn officers per 1,000 people in the United States.
2. The police-population ratio is meaningless as a measure of police effectiveness.
3. The Kansas City Preventive Patrol experiment proved that the level of police patrol correlates to a
deterrent effect.
4. Crackdowns are a modern innovative policing strategy that are focused and draw on partnerships
with noncriminal justice agencies.
5. Faster response time would not produce more arrests because police are called to few crimes in
progress.
6. Problem-oriented policing is a get tough approach to policing characterized by a short burst of
intensive law enforcement involving many arrests of “problem” people.
7. The majority of arrests are made by detectives who solve the crime based on leads from the
victim or a witness.
8. There is reason to believe that the exclusionary rule has professionalized police.
9. Despite the Miranda warning a substantial proportion of suspects waive their rights and confess to
police.
10. Felony suspects are typically young, well educated, and savvy at manipulating bureaucracies.
11. Providing suspects with a Miranda warning results in a net effect of a significant loss of
convictions.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The idea of putting more police on the street is very popular with
a.
conservatives
d.
all of the above
b.
Caucasians
e.
none of the above
c.
African Americans
2. One of the myths about policing is that
a.
patrol is the backbone of policing
b.
single-officer patrols are most efficient
c.
hiring more police means more patrol officers will be on the street
d.
police create a phantom effect
3. Regarding the standard measure of the level of police protection
a.
it is computed by dividing the annual number of crimes by the number of sworn officers
b.
the figure is meaningless because it does not tell us how departments utilize their officers
c.
the police/population ratio is consistent nationwide due to a federal mandate
d.
research indicates that the larger number of sworn officers per 1,000 population, the safer
the city
4. A review of 27 studies on the relationship between the number of police officers and the crime
rate found
a.
in 20% of studies more police correlated with lower crime rates
b.
in 45% of studies more police correlated with higher crime rates
c.
in 55% of studies more police correlated with higher crime rates
d.
in 95% of studies more police correlated with lower crime rates
5. A major concern about COMPSTAT’s effectiveness in NYC is that
a.
its findings cannot be replicated
b.
it ignores the importance of community relations
c.
the police did not fully understand how to use the computer system
d.
there is no way to show that the crime drop was due to COMPSTAT and not to other
factors
6. The strategy of “pulling levers” refers to
a.
using all potential violations by the target
b.
removing all barriers to police activity
c.
working with community leaders to reduce crime
d.
increasing the police/population ratio in social disorganized areas
7. The goal of predictive policing is to
a.
focus police efforts geographically and on social problems
b.
prevent crimes by foreseeing when and where they will happen
c.
reduce crime by targeting specific repeat offenders
d.
increase the police/population ratio in socially disorganized areas
8. Effectively, predictive policing differs little from
a.
smart policing techniques that involve careful planning
b.
the effects of residual deterrence
c.
using common sense to prevent crime
d.
crackdowns and stop-and-frisk policies
9. The Cincinnati Initiative to Reduce Violence was more effective in the long term than the Boston
Gun Project because it
a.
focused on a lower-crime area
b.
created an organizational structure designed to ensure its continuity
c.
maintained long-term relationships between police officers and gang members
d.
relied on careful planning and a focus on specific people, locations and crimes
10. The Kansas City experiment found that
a.
the level of patrol has no effect on crime
b.
more police can reduce crime, but it is costly
c.
single-officer patrols are more efficient than two-officer patrols
d.
crime rates are correlated with police/population ratios
11. Residual deterrence refers to
a.
the invisibility of police patrols since they are spread so thin
b.
the absence of a deterrent effect from policing where one would be expected
c.
the myth that two-officer patrol are safer than single-officer patrols
d.
the tendency to think there are more police patrolling because we remember seeing them
12. In the Kansas City experiment, _____(1)_____ beats received no routine patrol while
_____(2)_____ beats received two or three times the normal level of patrol.
a.
(1) control (2) proactive
c.
(1) reactive (2) control
b.
(1) proactive (2) reactive
d.
(1) reactive (2) proactive
13. Deterrence requires which of the following factors?
a.
legitimate opportunities and serious penalties
b.
perceived threat and rational decision-making
c.
quick positive feedback and slow negative feedback
d.
all of the above
e.
none of the above
14. The extensive use of CCTV as a crime fighting tool is used where?
a.
United States
c.
Canada
b.
England
d.
France
15. In assessing the deterrent effect of CCTV, it was most effective for
a.
property crimes overall
b.
violent crimes overall
c.
property crimes in specific locations
d.
violent crimes with significant others
16. A short burst of intensive law enforcement, involving many arrests, directed toward a particular
area or a particular crime is known as what?
a.
problem-oriented policing
c.
SMART policing
b.
Crackdown
d.
Deterrent
17. Problems of crackdowns noted in the chapter include which of the following?
a.
they have been found to actually decrease deterrence
b.
they do not achieve the goals of community policing
c.
they are unfocused and encourage police misconduct
d.
they are expensive and do not result in more arrests
18. Some issues associated with the antidrug crackdown known as Operation Pressure Point were
a.
crime displacement into neighboring communities and police misconduct
b.
adaptation of drug dealers to the police strategies and the cost effectiveness of arrests
c.
the replacement of arrested offenders with another motivated offender
d.
all of the above
19. Faster response time will NOT produce more arrests because
a.
police are called to few crimes in progress and in many cases the victim can identify the
suspect because they are acquaintances
b.
faster response time is correlated with an increase in police vehicle crashes which actually
slows response time
c.
nationwide averages indicate that police already arrive on scene within seven minutes of
being dispatched to a call
d.
it is detectives and their collection of blood, hairs and fibers that solve crimes not the
speed with which patrol officers arrive on scene
20. Faster police response potentially makes a difference in ____ percent of crime calls:
a.
ten
b.
three
c.
twenty-five
d.
.01
21. Policing strategies that involve careful planning, are data driven, and focus on particular crimes,
locations, and suspects are known as
a.
COPS
c.
Smart policing
b.
COMPSTAT
d.
Zero
22. The program that mobilized officials from housing fire and public works to target drug hot spots
in Oakland, CA is what type of policing program?
a.
scanning, analysis, response, assessment
c.
zero tolerance
b.
Crackdown
d.
problem oriented
23. The major significance of the smart policing initiatives is
a.
their routine use of crackdowns and faster response time
b.
their evidence that police activity can diminish crime
c.
their focus on zero-tolerance strategies and holding precinct commanders accountable for
crime trends in their area by providing immediate crime data through regular meetings
d.
their use of hiring, innovative and technology grants in order to increase the number of
college-educated and well-paid police officers
24. Stop-and-frisk policies have the following impact on the social ledger:
a.
they erode trust in the police
c.
they contribute to community growth
b.
they increase poverty and homelessness
d.
they improve police-community relations
25. A Hot Spots experiment in Jersey City, NJ resulted in
a.
reduced crime in the targeted areas, but increased crime in the surrounding neighborhoods
b.
an increase in violent gun crimes among young men
c.
no significant changes
d.
decreased crime in both the targeted areas and surrounding neighborhoods
e.
none of the above
26. Solving crimes depends more on _____(1)_____ than on _____(2)_____.
a.
(1) faster response time (2) the number of sworn officers in a department
b.
(1) the policing strategy (2) existing relationships between the victim and offender
c.
(1) characteristics of the crime (2) the number of detectives
d.
(1) the clearance rate (2) blood samples and hair specimens
27. The key to solving crimes and making arrests is?
a.
response time
c.
information on a specific suspect
b.
media coverage
d.
detectives
28. Select from the following the most accurate statement.
a.
the typical case gets an average of about 40 hours of detective work
b.
detectives solved 86 percent of cases where a suspect was immediately identified and
cleared an additional 12 percent through fingerprints, blood samples and hair specimens
c.
between 80 and 90 percent of all arrests are made by detectives instead of patrol officers
d.
between 60 and 80 percent of all arrests are made by patrol officers instead of detectives
29. The usefulness of fingerprints in solving crimes is indicated by what factual evidence?
a.
New York City police obtain usable prints in only about 10 percent of all burglaries
b.
suspects in Long Beach, CA are identified through fingerprints in 75% of cases
c.
the FBI database contains fingerprints of only 200 million individuals
d.
fingerprints have only increased the clearance rate from 12% to 15%
30. According to Harris, the problem with the fingerprint identification system in the U.S. is that
a.
it is illegal to collect fingerprints in several states
b.
the FBI database holds the fingerprints of only a small percentage of the population
c.
there is no official standard for the number of corresponding points to match prints
d.
the Miranda law prevents timely collection of evidence
31. According to conservatives, procedural rules
a.
are necessary to fight crime
b.
have handcuffed the police
c.
are a cost-effective way to selectively incapacitate chronic offenders
d.
encourage police corruption
32. According to Walker, a major drawback to drone use is
a.
that the expense does not justify their use
b.
their potential to increase crimes of theft and larceny
c.
the carbon footprint left by the drones
d.
the inefficiency of the lost contact between the police and the public
33. The exclusionary rule was established in which Supreme Court case?
a.
United States v. Leon
b.
Miranda v. Arizona
c.
Mapp v. Ohio
d.
New York v. Quarles
34. The purpose of the exclusionary rule is to
a.
protect suspects against self-incrimination
b.
deter police misconduct and protect individuals from it
c.
strengthen the relationship between police and prosecutors
d.
make improperly seized evidence inadmissible in federal court
35. The exclusionary rule mainly impacts what type of cases?
a.
commercial robbery
c.
robbery
b.
drug possession
d.
sexual assault
36. One of the reasons the exclusionary rule has such limited impact is that
a.
most defendants agree to a plea bargain before relying on this loophole
b.
most judges are on the side of the police not the defendant
c.
a good lead about a suspect solves more crimes than physical evidence
d.
it does not apply until a suspect is questioned rather than at the time of an arrest
37. The impact of the exclusionary rule
a.
is pervasive considering the fact that 80% of school children recognize it
b.
ranges from 48-90% of cases
c.
is stronger in violent cases but is more limited in cases of property crime
d.
is limited because few motions to suppress physical evidence are made and even fewer are
successful
38. When it comes to invoking the exclusionary rule, judges
a.
vary in their willingness to use it
c.
in 49 of 50 states are unwilling to use it
b.
are almost all willing to use it
d.
choose to disregard it
39. The positive impact of the exclusionary rule
a.
was offset by weakened relationships between police and prosecutors
b.
has improved the professionalism of police work
c.
is that it increased the number of convictions made through improperly seized evidence
d.
there is no positive impact of the exclusionary rule
40. Most defense lawyers do not file motions to suppress the evidence because
a.
they do not believe their motions will be accepted
b.
they have little time to devote to any one case
c.
they do not accept the validity of the exclusionary rule
d.
none of the above
41. The Miranda warning
a.
is used in roughly 80% of cases, but is only used successfully in 10%
b.
provides a remedy for the rule set fourth in the 4th Amendment to the Constitution
c.
includes a right to remain silent and the right to a retained or appointed attorney
d.
includes a right to an attorney of the suspect’s choice
42. The Miranda warning must be given
a.
whenever a suspect is in custody
c.
at the moment of arrest
b.
once probable cause is determined
d.
before questioning
43. Critics of Miranda argue that we should NOT look at the number of _____(1)_____ but at the
number of _____(2)_____ due to Miranda or violations of it.
a.
(1) confessions police do not get (2) convictions overturned
b.
(1) convictions overturned (2) confessions police do not get
c.
(1) confessions police get (2) confessions police do not get
d.
(1) convictions overturned (2) convictions
44. The net effect is that Miranda results in a “loss” of convictions how frequently?
a.
less than 5% of the time
b.
between 10% and 15% of the time
c.
between 20% and 25% of the time
d.
half of the time
45. Research on Miranda in operation shows that many suspects __________ their Miranda rights.
a.
clearly understand
b.
acted on
c.
demanded protection for
d.
waived
46. According to Walker, suspects may waive their Miranda rights because they
a.
are skilled at manipulating the criminal justice system
b.
feel they have been wrongfully arrested
c.
feel guilty or hope to get a better deal in a plea bargain
d.
are intoxicated
47. One reason that suspects often cooperate with the police is that the typical robber
a.
believes that cooperation will avert arrest
b.
is searching for approval
c.
is impulsive and disorganized
d.
is crafty and manipulative
SHORT ANSWER
1. Defend the argument that simply hiring more police will not reduce crime using findings from the
Kansas City and Newark studies.
2. Explain how carefully planned and focused policing strategies can be successful in reducing
crime and disorder. Provide an example.
3. Summarize the reasons why more police might not enhance the deterrent effect.
4. Appraise the argument that the exclusionary rule handcuffs police.
5. Defend the argument that the Miranda warning has not reduced confessions.