DSST Criminal Justice Practice Exam

These questions are part of the practice quiz. Start practicing

• Which agency decides which drugs are illegal?
• What term describes a defendant who cannot afford an attorney and receives counsel provided by the court?
• Which term describes the process of accepting the culture and social life of prison society?
• Who is considered the father of modern policing for prompting the creation of the London Metropolitan Police Force?
• Which Amendment sets out the requirements for criminal trials, including right to an attorney even if they could not afford one and right to a speedy trial?
• In which 1972 court case did the Supreme Court ban capital punishment as it was currently performed and require states to ensure that legislation met the Court's specific requirements?
• Which Latin term means 'to have the body' and allows the accused to appear in court?
• How many challenges for cause are available to attorneys?
• Which of the following terms refers to a writ used to request the Supreme Court to review a lower court's decision?
• Which body must approve the President's choice for Supreme Court justices?
• Part II crimes include all crimes not Part I including what type of crime?
• Which Amendment protects citizen against unreasonable search and seizure?
• Which right is included in the Miranda rights package?
• What is typically used to police private property and investigate insurance fraud and runaways?
• Which kind of law governs policies about public health, protecting the environment, and workplace safety?
• What does UCR stand for?
• What percentage of federal cases are plea bargained?
• What is the term for a joint effort between police and the community to identify crime problems and develop solutions from within the community?
• What were the first written laws developed in Babylon, known for their 'eye for an eye' punishments?
• What was the official name of Pennsylvania's statewide police organization established in 1905?
• Which Latin term means 'to have the body'?
• What is the collection of laws resulting from court interpretations of statutory law or from court decisions where rules are vague or in error?
• Miranda warnings are typically issued during which circumstance?
• What is an action of executive clemency which exonerates the prisoner of blame for the offense and relieves him or her of guilt? Not the same as 'not guilty' - just means prisoner doesn't have to complete sentence.
• Which Latin term means 'to speak the truth'?
• The phrase 'highly decentralized' regarding the U.S. trial courts best describes which characteristic?
• What is the purpose of the hierarchy rule in the UCR?
• Which landmark case prohibits execution for intellectually disabled individuals?
• What is another name for the Part I crimes?
• What is the UCR counting rule when an incident involves multiple offenses?
• The right to have an attorney if he cannot afford one is guaranteed by which amendment?
• What term describes inmates who have learned something about the law and help other inmates file lawsuits?
• Which defense involves a mistaken belief about what the law requires?
• Which term describes assigning inmates to groups based on sex, criminal record, legal reasons, and other similar characteristics to tailor correctional plans?
• What is the name of the exception that allows evidence to be admitted if it would have been discovered anyway?
• In court, a party who represents themselves is described as what?
• Term coined by Donald Clemmer to describe the process of accepting the culture and social life of prison society; This often transforms the inmate into a career criminal.
• Which statement about peremptory challenges is true?
• Approximately what percentage of law enforcement jobs are held by women?
• When are Miranda Rights read?
• What is the branch of public law that deals with the powers and duties of government agencies? - Implements public policies such as public health, environmental protection and workplace safety
• In crime statistics, the crimes of murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault are often referred to as what?
• What is the term for releasing a suspect before trial on the condition that money or property is provided to ensure their appearance at trial?
• What is the name of the national study where the US DOJ annually surveys random households about crime victimization, including both reported and unreported crimes?
• What is the biggest problem women face while incarcerated?
• Which Amendment says that Due Process is a Constitutional right?
• Who can pardon prisoners convicted of state crimes? (Note: Some states have Boards that can issue pardons.)
• Sometimes criminals don't have to go to jail. They can be free but must follow rules; violation leads to imprisonment. What is this called?
• Which concept holds that criminals deserve severe punishment to repay them for their wrongdoing?
• What is the term for punishment that discourages future crimes by the punished individual and by others who observe the sanction?
• What is the general name for an intentional act prohibited by law?
• A presentence investigation report is usually prepared by which professionals?
• What rules address acts that are non-criminal in nature? (For example, someone gets hurt on our trampoline and sues us) The person suing seeks restitution ($).
• What is the average age of men entering prison today?
• To detect victimless crimes when there are no formal complaints, police rely on what type of investigative work?
• The Federal Air Marshals are part of which federal agency?
• Which term refers to the major offenses tracked in crime statistics by the FBI, often called index crimes?
• The Auburn System became the basis for most US prisons in which centuries?
• Capital punishment is reserved for which types of crimes?
• Approximately how many constables did the London Metropolitan Police Force have at its inception?
• Which 1966 court case required suspects to be informed of their rights to satisfy the 5th Amendment's protection against self-incrimination?
• Which theory of punishment emphasizes that wrongdoers deserve punishment proportional to their offense as a matter of justice?
• What Latin term refers to the State as Parent, meaning the state has a duty to care for neglected or delinquent children?
• Stare decisis is best described as which concept?
• Stare decisis is the guiding principle of case law because it relies on what?
• What is the structure of U.S. trial courts?
• What is the federal DNA database called?
• In the 1905 Pennsylvania model, to whom did the statewide police superintendent report?
• In which 1966 Supreme Court case did the Court rule that due process is required when transferring a juvenile to the adult system?
• Which term describes the body of law derived from court decisions and interpretations?
• What Latin term translates to 'bad because it is forbidden' and refers to acts illegal by statute rather than morality?
• The term 'certiorari' is part of which legal action?
• Private Sector Policing is typically used for which tasks?
• What city did a patrol experiment from 1972-1973 reveal that crime was not affected by changes in patrol?
• What is the term for a court-ordered payment to a victim to repair the financial, emotional, or physical damage caused by an offender?
• Which 1963 case determined that suspects were entitled to a lawyer (6th Amendment) even if they could not afford one?
• In 1845, which US city established the first municipal police force?
• Which Latin term means 'body of the crime'?
• Which theory posits that criminal behavior develops when individuals adopt the norms of groups that engage in crime, making the behavior seem normal?
• What is the effect of stare decisis in judicial decision-making?
• Which federal lower court official has powers limited to trying lesser misdemeanors, setting bail, and assisting higher federal courts in various legal matters?
• What Latin term describes the act of an officer acting in place of a parent to protect a juvenile?
• Which region in the US has the highest incarceration rate?
• If police vehicles enter a patrol area only in response to a citizen's crime report, this patrol type is known as
• Which branch of law is primarily concerned with defining offenses and punishing offenders?
• The rule of four refers to what?
• Which agency is primarily responsible for investigating interstate crimes and serial killings?
• Which statement correctly links the rule of four to certiorari?
• What is law handed down by legislatures called?
• Which rule prohibits the use of evidence seized in violation of the Fourth Amendment?
• Who can pardon prisoners convicted of Federal crimes?
• The President gets to appoint justices to which court?
• The Kansas City patrol experiment tested several patrol styles. Which of the following were included?
• Who typically decides whether an inmate is released early for good behavior?
• What is the name of the theory developed by Wilson and Kelling whose ideas led to community policing efforts, believing a broken window signals deterioration and needs early intervention?
• What is the term for briefly incarcerating an offender prior to probation intended to deter future crime?
• Which branch of law focuses on the enforcement of public policies by government agencies?
• Who is often forgotten in processing of criminal defendants?
• Which system handed convicts over to contractors who used them in bridge and road construction, agriculture, mining, etc.; Contractors were responsible for discipline, feeding, and housing of the prisoners; In reality, it resembled slavery?
• Which state has the second-most offenders on death row?
• What is the first known written agreement for due process?
• Which Amendment promises due process of law, protects against self-incrimination, and ensures that you can't be tried twice for the same crime (double jeopardy)?
• What punishment means death/execution for the guilty person? It is the most severe punishment in the US criminal justice system meant for heinous crimes, treason, murder and rape
• Which of the following is a Part II crime type?
• What social consequence results from Durkheim's notion of anomie, where people do not know what to expect from others?
• If there is a legal basis for disqualifying a juror, the attorney can _______. If the judge agrees, that person can't serve.
• Victimless crimes are often described as crimes of morality because participants are typically consenting adults. Which option best classifies these acts?
• Executive clemency that relieves a prisoner of guilt without declaring innocence is called what?
• Which Latin term is used to describe a self-represented party in court?
• Which phrase describes a self-represented litigant in legal proceedings?
• Which amendment guarantees the right to counsel at trial?
• The Juvenile Court Act of 1899 established the first juvenile court in which state?
• What principle allows courts to review and strike down laws that conflict with the Constitution?
• Which Latin phrase means 'stand by decided cases' and guides future court decisions?
• What is the name of the summary of reported crimes and total arrests, with drawbacks?
• An employer may be held legally responsible for an employee's criminal acts under which liability doctrine?
• What is the term for the writ issued when at least four Supreme Court justices want to review a case?
• Which term describes the right to self-representation in court?
• According to Durkheim, what term describes a state in which the rules of social behavior are unclear or not present?
• Which Amendment forbids cruel and unusual punishment and excessive bail or fines? Way to remember: It is cruel and unusual to force someone into a figure-8 shape.
• Which punishment aims to prevent future crimes by physically removing offenders from society for a period?
• The rights to counsel and a speedy trial protect which constitutional principle?
• If a lawyer doesn't want a prospective juror for a reason, the lawyer may generally use a ________ without giving a reason.
• In what year was the London Metropolitan Police Force established?
• Founded in 1905, which state created the first professional statewide police force whose superintendent reported directly to the Governor?
• Voir dire is used to determine what?
• What term describes attempts to shorten the sentences of those already imprisoned, such as parole or prerelease to halfway houses?
• The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is part of which department?
• Which 1976 court case established capital punishment in a manner not violating the Eighth Amendment's cruel and unusual punishment prohibition?
• Which state has the most offenders on death row?
• Which principle of punishment holds that crimes deserve punishment proportional to their seriousness, regardless of potential future effects?
• The items Entrapment, Insanity, Mistake of Fact, Mistake of Law, Duress, Consent of Victim, or justification are all examples of what?
• What Latin term means 'no contest' and is a plea that is guilty in criminal court but not guilty in civil court?
• Which prison system is also known as the Congregate System?
• Which statement about plea bargaining is true?
• Which amendment protects against self-incrimination?
• Which agency is primarily responsible for combating drug trafficking and determining drug illegality?
• Which term describes releasing an offender from jail to serve the rest of the sentence under supervision in the community?
• Which agency has jurisdiction for serial killers and interstate crimes?
• What percentage of state cases are plea bargained?
• Which Latin term means 'to speak the truth' and relates to juror qualifications?
• What is the name for someone charged with a crime who is financially unable to pay for an attorney, in which case the Court provides one?
• In early colonial America, who was appointed by the governor with duties including managing jails, pursuing offenders, and serving as coroner?
• Sometimes referred to as the theory of incapacitation, which solution isolates criminals from society through imprisonment when rehabilitation seems unlikely?
• High case loads and limited resources force prosecutors to dispense with much of their caseload through a ___________. In most cases, defendant agrees to plead guilty for lesser charge and reduced sentence.
• What type of law governs the operations and rulemaking of government agencies?
• Which defense arises when a defendant's conduct is based on an incorrect belief about a fact?
• Status offenses can only be committed by whom?
• What term describes strategies to avoid full-time imprisonment due to overcrowding, including probation and house arrest?
• The final court of appeals is known as the Court of ________ because it is the final stage possible in the appeals process. Note: In addition to the US Supreme Court, states can have their own final court of appeals (with their own names).
• Which 1969 case said that states not providing adequate legal assistance had to allow jailhouse lawyers to research appeals from within prison?
• Inmates can sometimes get out of prison early if they have been good in prison and must check in periodically. What is this called?
• Which court case ruled that the 4th amendment did not apply to prison cells?
• Which type of offender is most likely to be placed in protective custody?
• The reading of rights after arrest is commonly called what?
• Family and friends who suffer emotionally but not physically are known as what?
• Which agency conducts the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)?
• Which area of law governs the actions of government agencies implementing public policy?
• What is the name for the status offense when a child is in open rebellion?
• Which court decision disallows the death penalty for mentally retarded persons?
• Which was the first official state police force in the United States?
• In the U.S., the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty by the Prosecutor. What is the name for this justice system?
• In policing, the ability of officers to determine how strictly to apply the law in ambiguous situations is called what?
• Which age group has the highest percent of prison populations?
• Which 1803 case established power of courts to review acts of Congress and declare invalid those it found to be in conflict with the U.S. Constitution?
• Which two Amendments to the Constitution deal with Due Process?
• Which phrase means to stand by the decision of earlier cases and apply it to future cases?
• Which policing approach emphasizes partnerships with the community to solve crime and reduce fear?
• Who petitioned the British Parliament to form the London Metropolitan Police Force?
• Which type of offenses are committed by juveniles that would not be crimes if done by adults?
• What is the term for programs and counseling designed to reform offenders before release?
• Prostitution, gambling, drug use, and drug sales are described as ________ crimes because participants are often consenting adults.
• Homicide, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, larceny, arson, grand theft auto are what kind of crimes?
• Which statement about peremptory challenges is true?
• Which concept ensures lower court rulings are guided by higher court precedents?
• What Latin term means 'guilty mind' and denotes criminal intent?
• What is the name for the status offense when a child skips school?
• What are rules that define crime, set punishments, and mandates the procedures for carrying out the criminal justice process?