CHAPTER 1
What is Criminology? Understanding Crime and Criminals
Chapter 1 Multiple Choice
1.
A formal written enactment of a legislative body is known as a
a.
Crime.
b.
Theory.
c.
Deviant act.
d.
Statute.
Answer: D
Objective: Differentiate between crime, deviance, and delinquency.
Page number: 3
Level: Basic
2.
People appear to be particularly fascinated by _________ crime.
a.
Violent
b.
Property
c.
Victimless
d.
Common law
Answer: A
Objective: Differentiate between crime, deviance, and delinquency.
Page number: 2
Level: Basic
3.
The view of crime as human conduct that violates the criminal law is drawn from a
__________ perspective.
a.
Sociological
b.
Psychological
c.
Legalistic
d.
Philosophical
Answer: C
Objective: Differentiate between crime, deviance, and delinquency.
Page number: 2
Level: Intermediate
4.
The process of ___________ makes some forms of behavior illegal.
a.
Legalization
b.
Illegalization
c.
Statutization
d.
Criminalization
Answer: D
Objective: Differentiate between crime, deviance, and delinquency.
Page number: 3
Level: Basic
5.
____________ is human activity that violates social norms.
a.
Crime
b.
Deviant behavior
c.
Cruelty
d.
Adaptive behavior
Answer: B
Objective: Differentiate between crime, deviance, and delinquency.
Page number: 3
Level: Basic
6.
Which of the following statements about deviance and crime is true?
a.
All deviant behavior is criminal.
b.
All criminal behavior is deviant.
c.
Deviant behavior and criminal behavior overlap.
d.
Deviant behavior and criminal behavior are identical.
Answer: C
Objective: Differentiate between crime, deviance, and delinquency.
Page number: 3
Level: Intermediate
7.
The pluralistic perspective suggests that behaviors are typically criminalized through
a.
General agreement of members of society.
b.
The existence of shared norms and values.
c.
A political process.
d.
None of the above.
Answer: C
Objective: Explain how the consensus perspective differs from the pluralistic perspective.
Page number: 4
Level: Basic
8.
The __________ perspective is most applicable to homogeneous societies.
a.
Legalistic
b.
Consensus
c.
Pluralistic
d.
Political
Answer: B
Objective: Explain how the consensus perspective differs from the pluralistic perspective.
Page number: 4
Level: Basic
9.
Which of the following individuals probably would not be considered a criminalist?
a.
Forensics examiner
b.
Polygraph operator
c.
Fingerprint examiner
d.
Correctional officer
Answer: D
Objective: Describe criminology and the role of criminologists.
Page number: 5
Level: Basic
10.
A police officer or probation officer is best described as a
a.
Criminologist.
b.
Criminalist.
c.
Criminal justice professional.
d.
None of the above
Answer: C
Objective: Describe criminology and the role of criminologists.
Page number: 5
Level: Basic
11.
An academic or research criminologist generally holds a ____________ degree.
a.
Doctoral
b.
Law
c.
Medical
d.
None of the above
Answer: A
Objective: Describe criminology and the role of criminologists.
Page number: 5
Level: Basic
12.
Criminologists work for
a.
Universities and other academic institutions.
b.
Federal research agencies.
c.
Private research organizations.
d.
All of the above
Answer: D
Objective: Describe criminology and the role of criminologists.
Page number: 5
Level: Intermediate
13.
The number of personnel employed by private security agencies today is approximately
________ that of public law enforcement agencies.
a.
Half
b.
Equal to
c.
Twice
d.
Four times
Answer: C
Objective: Describe criminology and the role of criminologists.
Page number: 5
Level: Basic
Which of the following is not one of the three elements included in Edwin Sutherland’s
definition of criminology?
a.
The process of breaking laws
b.
The process of making laws
c.
How we react to the breaking of laws
d.
The operation of the criminal justice system
Answer: D
Objective: Summarize the theoretical perspectives of criminology.
Page number: 6
Level: Intermediate
14.
15.
Criminology is
a.
A field of study.
b.
A collection of theories.
c.
A profession.
d.
All of the above
Answer: D
Objective: Summarize the theoretical perspectives of criminology.
Page number: 6
Level: Basic
16.
Criminal justice emphasizes
a.
The application of the criminal law.
b.
The study of the components of the criminal justice system.
c.
Both a and b
d.
Neither a nor b
Answer: C
Objective: Summarize the theoretical perspectives of criminology.
Page number: 6
Level: Basic
17.
A(n) _________ theory of crime is one that attempts to explain all or most forms of
criminal conduct through a single overarching approach.
a.
Complete
b.
Unicausal
c.
Integrated
d.
General
Answer: D
Objective: Summarize the theoretical perspectives of criminology.
Page number: 6
Level: Basic
18.
A(n) _________ is made up of clearly stated propositions suggesting relationships
between events and occurrences being studied.
a.
Theory
b.
Hypothesis
c.
Component
d.
Sample
Answer: A
Objective: Summarize the theoretical perspectives of criminology.
Page number: 6
Level: Basic
19.
_________ theories have potentially wider explanatory power than other types.
a.
Complete
b.
Unicausal
c.
Integrated
d.
General
Answer: C
Objective: Summarize the theoretical perspectives of criminology.
Page number: 7
Level: Basic
20.
The concept of ________ refers to the view that social events are interpreted differently
according to the viewer.
a.
Social primacy
b.
Social relativity
c.
Causality
d.
Politicization
Answer: B
Objective: Summarize the theoretical perspectives of criminology.
Page number: 8
Level: Basic
21.
Contemporary criminologists operate primarily from a _________ perspective.
a.
Psychological
b.
Biological
c.
Sociological
d.
Medical
Answer: C
Objective: Explain how criminology works with other disciplines and how it impacts the making
of laws and social policy.
Page number: 8
Level: Basic
22.
The Bureau of Justice Statistics is responsible for the
a.
Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
b.
National Crime Victimization Survey.
c.
National Incident Based Reporting Program.
d.
All of the above
Answer: B
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 9
Level: Basic
23.
The __________ is considered by many researchers to be a more accurate measure of the
actual incidence of crime in the United States.
a.
UCR
b.
NIBRS
c.
NCVS
d.
They are all equally accurate
Answer: C
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 9
Level: Basic
24.
According to the NCVS, _________ is the least likely crime to be reported to the police.
a.
Arson
b.
Larceny
c.
Motor vehicle theft
d.
Burglary
Answer: B
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 10
Level: Basic
25.
According to the NCVS, _________ crimes are most likely to be reported to the police.
a.
Violent
b.
Property
c.
Household
d.
None of the above
Answer: A
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 10
Level: Basic
26.
One of the two most common reasons for not reporting violent crime is that the victim
a.
Fears future victimization by the same offender.
b.
Believes the police will be ineffective in solving the crime.
c.
Is embarrassed over the type of victimization.
d.
Considers the crime to be a private matter.
Answer: D
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 10
Level: Basic
27.
Which of the following crimes was not one of the original seven UCR Part I offenses?
a.
Arson
b.
Robbery
c.
Burglary
d.
Aggravated assault
Answer: A
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 11
Level: Basic
28.
Which of the following is not considered a property crime by the UCR?
a.
Burglary
b.
Robbery
c.
Arson
d.
Theft
Answer: B
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 11
Level: Basic
29.
The proportion of reported or discovered crime within a given offense category which is
solved by the police is known as the __________ rate.
a.
Arrest
b.
Index
c.
Clearance
d.
Indictment
Answer: C
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 11
Level: Basic
30.
Which of the following is not a reason why rape victims fail to report their victimization?
a.
Fear of the perpetrator
b.
Shame
c.
Fear of participation in the criminal justice system
d.
Fear that the crime is not important enough to report
Answer: D
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 11
Level: Basic
31.
The category of crimes in NIBRS which corresponds most closely to the UCR Part I
offenses is
a.
Part I crimes
b.
NIBRS key crimes
c.
Group A offenses
d.
None of the above
Answer: C
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 12
Level: Basic
32.
The first major shift in crime rates in the United States since the beginning of the
collection of official crime statistics was probably due to the
a.
Start of the Great Depression.
b.
Outbreak of World War I.
c.
Outbreak of World War II.
d.
Assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Answer: C
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 12
Level: Basic
33.
Which of the following was not a possible cause of the decrease in reported crime that
occurred between 1991 and 2007?
a.
New strict laws, an expanded justice system, and an increase in police funding
b.
Changes in crime-fighting technologies
c.
Economic expansion
d.
Social upheaval
Answer: D
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 13
Level: Basic
34.
Which of the following is not a finding of the National Youth Survey?
a.
Females are involved in a smaller proportion of crime than previously thought.
b.
Violent offenders begin lives of crime earlier than originally believed.
c.
Race differentials in crime are smaller than traditional data sources indicated.
d.
There is a consistent progression from less serious to more serious acts of
delinquency over time.
Answer: A
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 14
Level: Basic
35.
According to the various professional groups, violence in television, music, video games,
and movies
a.
May lead to increased levels of violent behavior among children.
b.
May lead to decreased levels of violent behavior among children.
c.
May have no effect on levels of violent behavior among children.
d.
May lead to emotional sensitization toward violence in real life.
Answer: A
Objective: Explain how criminology works with other disciplines and how it impacts the making
of laws and social policy.
Page number: 15
Level: Intermediate
36.
According the National Crime Victimization Survey, which of the following crimes is
least likely to be reported to the police?
a.
Motor vehicle theft
b.
Burglary
c.
Arson
d.
Larceny
Answer: D
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 10
Level: Basic
37.
Which of the following crimes is not a Part I offense of the Uniform Crime Report?
a.
Robbery
b.
Kidnapping
c.
Arson
d.
Motor vehicle theft
Answer: B
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 10
Level: Basic
38.
Which of the following statements is true?
a.
Crime increased in the United States from 1933 to 1941, mostly because of the
war.
b.
Crime increased in the United States from 1991 to 2010, mostly because of
unemployment.
c.
Crime increased in the United States from 1960 to 1980, partly because baby
boomers were getting older.
d.
All of the above statements are true.
Answer: C
Objective: Summarize statistics and trends in U. S. crime rates.
Page number: 12
Level: Intermediate
Chapter 1 True/False
1.
People are fascinated by crime because it is inexplicable.
a. True
b. False
Answer: A
Objective: Differentiate between crime, deviance, and delinquency.
Page number: 2
Level: Basic
2.
A behavior can be a crime even if there is no law defining that behavior.
a. True
b. False
Answer: B
Objective: Differentiate between crime, deviance, and delinquency.
Page number: 2
Level: Basic
3.
The legalistic perspective recognizes that laws are social products.
a. True
b. False
Answer: A
Objective: Differentiate between crime, deviance, and delinquency.
Page number: 3
Level: Basic
4.
All forms of deviant behavior are violations of the criminal law.
a. True
b. False
Answer: B
Objective: Differentiate between crime, deviance, and delinquency.
Page number: 3
Level: Basic
5.
Some types of common and accepted behavior may be illegal.
a. True
b. False
Answer: A
Objective: Differentiate between crime, deviance, and delinquency.
Page number: 3
Level: Basic
6.
It is possible for a behavior to be illegal in one jurisdiction but legal in another.
a. True
b. False
Answer: A
Objective: Differentiate between crime, deviance, and delinquency.
Page number: 3
Level: Basic
7.
The consensus perspective applies primarily to homogeneous societies.
a. True
b. False
Answer: A
Objective: Explain how the consensus perspective differs from the pluralist perspective.
Page number: 4
Level: Basic
8.
In the U. S., we have achieved a shared consensus regarding what should be criminal.
a. True
b. False
Answer: B
Objective: Explain how the consensus perspective differs from the pluralist perspective.
Page number: 4
Level: Basic
9.
A criminalist studies crime, criminals, and criminal behavior.
a. True
b. False
Answer: B
Objective: Describe criminology and the role of criminologists.
Page number: 5
Level: Basic
10.
Most criminologists who hold doctoral degrees teach criminology or related subjects in
colleges and universities.
a. True
b. False
Answer: A
Objective: Describe criminology and the role of criminologists.
Page number: 5
Level: Basic
11.
The term criminology is believed to have been coined by Edwin Sutherland.
a. True
b. False
Answer: B
Objective: Describe criminology and the role of criminologists.
Page number: 6
Level: Basic
12.
A definition developed from linguistic analysis of the term criminology focuses on
criminology as a discipline.
a. True
b. False
Answer: B
Objective: Describe criminology and the role of criminologists.
Page number: 6
Level: Basic
13.
Criminology focuses on the causes of crime and does not consider possible solutions to
the crime problem.
a. True
b. False
Answer: B
Objective: Describe criminology and the role of criminologists.
Page number: 6
Level: Basic
14.
Criminology is primarily a collection of theories, rather than a profession.
a. True
b. False
Answer: B
Objective: Describe criminology and the role of criminologists.
Page number: 6
Level: Basic
15.
Theoretical criminology attempts to explain criminal behavior.
a. True
b. False
Answer: A
Objective: Summarize the theoretical perspectives of criminology.
Page number: 6
Level: Basic
16.
A general theory of crime focuses on explaining one specific type of criminal behavior.
a. True
b. False
Answer: B
Objective: Summarize the theoretical perspectives of criminology.
Page number: 6
Level: Basic
17.
Crime is a social construction.
a. True
b. False
Answer: A
Objective: Summarize the theoretical perspectives of criminology.
Page number: 7
Level: Basic
18.
Crime does not affect everyone equally.
a. True
b. False
Answer: A
Objective: Summarize the theoretical perspectives of criminology.
Page number: 7
Level: Basic
19.
Criminology is an interdisciplinary profession.
a. True
b. False
Answer: A
Objective: Summarize the theoretical perspectives of criminology.
Page number: 8
Level: Basic
20.
Most contemporary criminologists operate from a biological perspective.
a. True
b. False
Answer: B
Objective: Summarize the theoretical perspectives of criminology.
Page number: 8
Level: Basic
21.
The collection of crime statistics is a relatively new phenomenon.
a. True
b. False
Answer: B
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 9
Level: Basic
22.
Uniform Crime Report data is published in the Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics.
a. True
b. False
Answer: A
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 9
Level: Basic
23.
The UCR and the NCVS have standardized their definitions of crimes so that they are the
same.
a. True
b. False
Answer: B
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 9
Level: Basic
24.
The NCVS obtains data by interviewing victims of crime.
a. True
b. False
Answer: A
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 9
Level: Basic
25.
According to the NCVS, less than 50 percent of all crimes are reported to the police.
a. True
b. False
Answer: A
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 10
Level: Basic
26.
According to the NCVS, the crime most likely to be reported to the police is motor
vehicle theft.
a. True
b. False
Answer: A
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 10
Level: Basic
27.
The actual occurrence of all crimes that are reported to NCVS interviewers is verified
before they are included in the data.
a. True
b. False
Answer: B
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 10
Level: Basic
28.
The UCR reports data on a total of twelve Part I offenses.
a. True
b. False
Answer: B
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured..
Page number: 10
Level: Basic
29.
Kidnapping was added to the list of Part I offenses reported by the UCR in 1979.
a. True
b. False
Answer: B
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 11
Level: Basic
30.
A crime is cleared when an arrest has been made.
a. True
b. False
Answer: A
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 11
Level: Basic
31.
It is not necessary for an offender to be convicted of a crime for the crime to be counted
as cleared by the FBI.
a. True
b. False
Answer: A
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 11
Level: Basic
32.
UCR data are based on reported crime.
a. True
b. False
Answer: A
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 11
Level: Basic
33.
The UCR program has been criticized for seriously overestimated the true incidence of
crime in the U.S.
a. True
b. False
Answer: B
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 11
Level: Basic
34.
NIBRS is incident driven.
a. True
b. False
Answer: B
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 12
Level: Basic
35.
For NIBRS Group B offenses, only arrest data are reported.
a. True
b. False
Answer: A
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 12
Level: Basic
36.
Crime rates increased as a result of World War II.
a. True
b. False
Answer: B
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 12
Level: Basic
37.
The crime shift that began in the 1960s may be linked to the postwar baby boom.
a. True
b. False
Answer: A
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 12
Level: Basic
38.
The crime index increased significantly between 1991 and 2007.
a. True
b. False
Answer: B
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 13
Level: Basic
39.
Legalized abortion may have contributed to recently observed reductions in crime.
a. True
b. False
Answer: B
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 13
Level: Basic
40.
According to recent self-report studies, females appear to be involved in a much higher
proportion of crime than previously thought.
a. True
b. False
Answer: A
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 14
Level: Basic
41.
According to recent self-report studies, race differences in crime are smaller than the
UCR would suggest.
a. True
b. False
Answer: A
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 15
Level: Basic
42.
Self-report studies typically focus on adult criminality.
a. True
b. False
Answer: B
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 15
Level: Basic
43.
According to various professional groups, prolonged viewing of media violence can lead
to emotional desensitization towards violence in real life.
a. True
b. False
Answer: A
Objective: Explain how criminology works with other disciplines and how it impacts the making
of laws and social policy.
Page number: 15
Level: Basic
44.
The concern over the relationship between media violence and violent juvenile crime is
an example of how criminological research may impact social policy.
a. True
b. False
Answer: A
Objective: Explain how criminology works with other disciplines and how it impacts the making
of laws and social policy.
Page number: 16
Level: Basic
45.
Crime has been increasing steadily since the mid-1990s.
a. True
b. False
Answer: B
Objective: Summarize statistics and trends in U. S. crime rates.
Page number: 13
Level: Basic
46.
The National Crime Victimization Survey asks individuals if they have committed a
crime in the past six months.
a. True
b. False
Answer: B
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 9
Level: Basic
47.
Arson is an Index Crime on the Uniform Crime Report.
a. True
b. False
Answer: A
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 11
Level: Basic
Chapter 1 Fill in the Blank
1.
_________ is human conduct that violates the criminal law.
Answer: Crime
Objective: Differentiate between crime, deviance, and delinquency.
Page number: 2
Level: Basic
2.
The __________ approach to crime assumes that powerful individuals can impose their
definitions of crime on lawbreakers.
Answer: Legalistic
Objective: Differentiate between crime, deviance, and delinquency.
Page number: 3
Level: Basic
3.
The __________ perspective suggests that behaviors should be criminalized when
members of society generally agree that such laws are necessary.
Answer: Consensus
Objective: Explain how the consensus perspective differs from the pluralist perspective.
Page number: 4
Level: Basic
4.
The pluralistic perspective of crime recognizes the importance of __________ in modern
societies.
Answer: Diversity
Objective: Explain how the consensus perspective differs from the pluralist perspective.
Page number: 4
Level: Basic
5.
A(n) __________ is a specialist in the collection and examination of the physical
evidence of crime.
Answer: Criminalist
Objective: Describe criminology and the role of criminologists.
Page number: 5
Level: Basic
6.
Twice as many law enforcement personnel work in ______________ than in public law
enforcement.
Answer: Private security
Objective: Describe criminology and the role of criminologists.
Page number: 5
Level: Basic
7.
The word criminology is believed to have been coined by _________________.
Answer: Paul Topinard
Objective: Describe criminology and the role of criminologists.
Page number: 6
Level: Basic
8.
Criminology gives prominence to questions about the
______________________________.
Answer: Causes of criminality
Objective: Describe criminology and the role of criminologists.
Page number: 6
Level: Basic
9.
____________________ is the subfield of criminology most often found in colleges and
universities.
Answer: Theoretical criminology
Objective: Summarize the theoretical perspectives of criminology.
Page number: 6
Level: Basic
10.
__________ theories provide potentially wider explanatory power.
Answer: Integrated
Objective: Summarize the theoretical perspectives of criminology.
Page number: 7
Level: Basic
11.
Crime is fundamentally a social __________.
Answer: Construction
Objective: Summarize the theoretical perspectives of criminology.
Page number: 7
Level: Basic
12.
Social _________ refers to the view that social events are interpreted differently by
different people.
Answer: Relativity
Objective: Summarize the theoretical perspectives of criminology.
Page number: 8
Level: Basic
13.
Many contemporary criminologists operate from a(n) _______ perspective.
Answer: Sociological
Objective: Summarize the theoretical perspectives of criminology.
Page number: 8
Level: Basic
14.
The National Crime Victimization Survey is conducted by the ________.
Answer: Bureau of Justice Statistics/BJS
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 9
Level: Basic
15.
The Uniform Crime Reporting Program is run by the __________.
Answer: Federal Bureau of Investigation/FBI
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 9
Level: Basic
16.
The Part I offenses formed the FBI’s _______.
Answer: Crime Index
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 10
Level: Basic
17.
________ was added to the list of Part I crimes in 1979.
Answer: Arson
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 11
Level: Basic
18.
A crime is considered to be _________ when an arrest has been made.
Answer: Cleared
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 11
Level: Basic
19.
The ________________ is the proportion of reported or discovered crimes within a given
offense category that are solved.
Answer: Clearance rate
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 11
Level: Basic
20.
The most important feature of NIBRS is that it is __________.
Answer: Incident-driven
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 12
Level: Basic
21.
The crime shift that occurred during the 1960s involved a dramatic __________ in most
major crimes.
Answer: Increase
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 12
Level: Basic
22.
Beginning in 1991, crime began to ________.
Answer: Decrease/decline
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 13
Level: Basic
23.
The _________ of crime refers to the large number of unreported crimes not found in the
official statistics.
Answer: Dark figure
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page number: 14
Level: Basic
24.
The use of rigorous social scientific techniques to develop knowledge in the field of
criminology is known as __________________________________.
Answer: Evidence-based criminology
Objective: Explain how criminology works with other disciplines and how it impacts the making
of laws and social policy.
Page number: 15
Level: Basic
Chapter 1 Matching
Match each criminological perspective listed in Column 1 to its description in Column 2.
1. General theory
2. Integrated theory
3. Criminal justice
4. Social relativity
5. Criminologist
6. Theoretical criminology
7. Unicausal
8. Criminology
9. Criminalist
1
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
D
G
B
A
E
I
C
a. The notion that social events are interpreted
differently according to the cultural experiences
and personal interests of the initiator, observer, or
recipient of that behavior.
b. The scientific study of crime, criminal law, the
criminal justice system, police, courts, and
correctional systems.
c. Of or having one cause. Theories posing one
source for all that they attempt to explain.
d. A theory that attempts to explain most forms of
criminal conduct through a single, overarching
approach.
e. A person trained in the field of criminology who
studies crime, criminals, and criminal behavior.
f. A specialist in the collection and examination of
the physical evidence of crime.
g. An explanatory perspective that merges concepts
drawn from different sources.
h. The scientific study of crime and criminal
behavior, including their manifestations, causes,
legal aspects, and control.
i. The type of criminology that is usually studied in
colleges and universities, describes crime and its
occurrence, and offers explanations for criminal
behavior.
8.
9.
H
F
Chapter 1 Essay
1.
Explain the consensus perspective and the pluralist perspective as they relate to defining
criminal behavior.
Answer (should include points such as):
Under the consensus perspective, members of society agree what behavior is criminal.
It is applicable to a homogeneous society.
The consensus perspective works better in a society with shared values and norms.
Under the pluralist perspective, diversity is recognized.
Criminal behavior is defined through a political process.
Objective: Explain how the consensus perspective differs from the pluralist perspective.
Page number: 4
Level: Basic
2.
There are three recognized sources of crime statistics in the United States. List and
discuss those three sources. Where does the information come from? Which source of
statistics provides the most accurate picture of the extent of crime in the United States?
Answer (should include points such as):
The National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) is conducted by the Bureau of Justice
Statistics.
Households are surveyed asking if anyone had been victimized.
Gets at the crimes not reported to the police.
It has been criticized for possible overreporting.
The Uniform Crime Report (UCR) is compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI).
Police departments submit their information to the FBI.
The UCR highlights index crimes.
The UCR has been criticized for underreporting and overreporting.
The National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) is seen as an expansion of the
UCR.
The NIBRS collects more data regarding each incident than does the UCR.
NCVS provides the most accurate picture of the extent of crime in the United States.
Objective: Summarize the various ways crime is reported and measured.
Page numbers: 9 – 12
Level: Intermediate
3.
Changes, or shifts, in crime have been charted since official crime statistics were first
collected in the 1930s in the United States. Outline the significant shifts in crime by
indicating the time frame, the direction of the change, and the possible explanations for
the changes. You should have four shifts.
Answer (should include points such as):
The first shift begins in the early 1940s.
Crime decreased at this time.
Possible explanations included the beginning of WWII and young males serving in the
war.
Young males would be responsible for most of the crime but were away for the war.
The second shift begins in the early 1960s.
The males that had fought in WWII were home and birth rates increased.
By the early 1960s, these baby boomers were in the crime prone age bracket.
The third shift started in the early 1990s.
Strict laws and an aging population may be used to explain the decline in crime at this
time.
Unemployment also declined with the implied correlation to crime.
The fourth shift is occurring now.
There is an increase in the teenage population occurring.
Economic uncertainty.
Prison overcrowding, resulting in inmates being released early, may be used to explain a
recent increase in certain crimes.
Objective: Summarize statistics and trends in U. S. crime rates
Page numbers: 12 - 13
Level: Intermediate
Chapter 1 Critical Thinking
1.
When determining what should be considered criminal behavior, the pluralist perspective
recognizes the importance of diversity. Because of society’s diversity, some behavior
may spark debate. How is that debate resolved? Is it right that one group’s wishes are
more important than another group’s? Is that reality?
Answer: Should include these potential items.
Conflict theory
Which group’s idea of right and wrong is more important?
The wealthy and the politically powerful
What about the opinions of the lower class?
Objective: Explain how the consensus perspective differs from the pluralist perspective.
Page number: 4
Level: Difficult
2.
Theoretical criminology offers explanations for criminal behavior. However, there is no
grand theory that answers all questions when it comes to behaviors. With the popularity
of evidence-based criminology, can you see the development of more comprehensive
theories that provide more complete answers to behaviors?
Answer: Should include these potential items.
Evidence-based criminology has more to offer in explaining the realities of today’s
world.
Many of the previous theories were not based on scientific evidence.
If evidence-based criminology provides better methodology, the theories should provide
better answers to behavior.
Objective: Explain how criminology works with other disciplines and how it impacts the making
of laws and social policy.
Page number: 15
Level: Difficult