Name: ___________________________ Class: _________________ Date: __________
Chapter 14
1. The licensing of police officers in Texas is regulated by the Texas Commission on
Law Enforcement. How are the nine members of this commission selected?
a. They are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate.
b. They are elected in statewide, staggered elections.
c. They are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the House.
d. They are appointed by the mayors of the nine largest cities.
2. The most controversial issue facing police in Texas and across the United States,
and the subject of many protests throughout 2020, involves
a. unlawful searches and seizures.
b. entrapment.
c. the use of force.
d. the use of plea bargains.
3. The Sandra Bland Act requires which of the following?
a. Officers must obtain written consent to search a vehicle.
b. Jail deaths must be investigated by an independent agency.
c. Individuals may not be jailed at any point if the maximum punishment for
the suspected offense is a fine.
d. Mandatory investigation of all officer-involved shootings by a specialized
organization.
4. A serious criminal offense that subjects a person to state prison punishment is
a(n)
, a. felony.
b. indictment.
c. petty crime.
d. misdemeanor.
5. When an individual is convicted of a felony in Texas, when (if ever) is the
individual permitted to recover the right to vote in state and federal elections?
a. The individual will be allowed to vote once they have fully completed their
sentence.
b. Depending on whether the individual was convicted of a first-, second-, or
third-degree felony, they will be allowed to vote 20, 10, or 5 years after
completing their sentence, respectively.
c. The individual will be able to vote halfway through their sentence.
d. Unless the conviction is overturned or the governor commutes the
sentence, convicted felons are not permitted to vote again.
6. Conviction of which of these offenses can result in a punishment of the death
penalty or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole?
a. murdering an on-duty police officer
b. kidnapping a nonrelative minor
c. third-degree assault and battery
d. stealing property worth $250,000 or more
7. If you are convicted of a misdemeanor in Texas,
a. you can be sentenced to up to five years in jail, and do lose your right to
vote and possess a weapon as long as you are serving your sentence.
b. you can be sentenced to up to 90 days in jail, but do not lose you right to
vote or to possess a weapon.
, c. you can be sentenced to up to a year in jail, but do not lose your right to
vote or to possess a weapon.
d. you can be sentenced to up to two years in jail, and do lose your right to
vote and possess a weapon as long as you are serving your sentence.
8. If sentenced by a judge to probation, you would most likely have to do which of
the following?
a. report to the local jail during the weekends, report to your probation officer
on a regular basis, abstain from drug and alcohol use, and pay any fines or
restitution
b. have a steady job and have no contact with the police during the period of
your probation
c. plead guilty to lesser violations of the law than you were originally charged
with so that you can be released early
d. have a steady job, report to your probation officer on a regular basis,
abstain from drug and alcohol use, and pay any fines or restitution
9. If someone is granted probation, or community supervision, by a judge, what are
the consequences of either compliance or violating the probation requirements?
a. A person in compliance will likely have his or her record expunged, while a
person in violation will likely be given a harsher sentence as additional
punishment for the violations.
b. A person in compliance will likely receive an early release of up to one-third
of the term, while a person in violation may be sent to jail or prison for the
remainder of his or her sentence.
c. A person in compliance will likely receive monetary compensation for his or
her time, while a person in violation may be sent to jail or prison for the
remainder of his or her sentence.
d. A person in compliance will likely receive an early release of up to two-
thirds of the term, while a person in violation may be sent to jail or prison for
the remainder of his or her sentence, with an additional amount of time
added to his or her initial sentencing.
,10.Which individual or group determines whether a person convicted of a crime in
Texas will be granted parole?
a. the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles
b. the governor
c. the judge who presides over the court where the individual was originally
convicted
d. The requirements for an individual to be released on parole are included in
their judgment and sentencing orders.
11.What does the “three strikes” provision of Texas criminal law require?
a. Police officers must knock three times before entering a home under
warrant.
b. Any police officer with three instances of documented misconduct is placed
on a suspension.
c. A person convicted of three felonies (or in some cases two felonies) is
sentenced to life imprisonment.
d. A person convicted of three misdemeanors is sentenced to life
imprisonment.
12.Which of the following is an early step of a criminal proceeding in which a person
who is suspected of committing a crime stands before a judge and learns their
rights, such as the charges against them and their right to an attorney?
a. arraignment
b. grand jury hearing
c. plea bargain
d. restorative justice
,13.Money that is provided by the defendant to help ensure that they show up for any
required court appearances is called
a. a court fee.
b. bail.
c. bounty.
d. defendant compensation.
14.If a person can neither provide bail on their own nor pay a bondsman, then the
accused can, in some circumstances, be released
a. on 25 percent of bail amount.
b. on personal recognizance.
c. on collateral.
d. by a cosigner.
15.Which of these statements most accurately characterizes the criticism many have
of the grand jury system?
a. Grand juries only consider “true bills.”
b. Grand juries usually rule “no bill.”
c. Grand juries consist of more men than women.
d. Grand juries usually hear only what the prosecutor chooses to let them
hear.
16.To protect the rights of an accused individual, who determines whether the
prosecution has enough evidence to indict and bring the accused individual to
trial?
a. grand jury
b. public defender
, c. county constable
d. bench judge
17.The Texas prison system is facing an increased number of individuals who are
“repeat offenders.” These are individuals who are convicted of a crime, serve
time, are released, commit another crime, and are incarcerated again. This
problem is known as
a. recidivism.
b. cumulative punishment.
c. special administrative sanction.
d. probation.
18.In Texas, felony juries are composed of __________ people and misdemeanor
juries are composed of __________ people.
a. 9; 6
b. 12; 5
c. 12; 6
d. 6; 3
19.In which of the following trials is a unanimous jury decision mandatory to convict
the defendant of an offense?
a. criminal
b. bench
c. civil
d. appeals
,20.In Texas, the legal standard of proof “beyond a reasonable doubt” is used in
which type(s) of cases?
a. felony
b. misdemeanor
c. civil
d. both felony and misdemeanor cases
21.Who can prosecute felony cases in Texas?
a. county judges
b. district attorneys or offices of the criminal district attorney
c. the Office of the Attorney General
d. county attorneys
22.Which of these is the duty of the county attorney?
a. representing the state in felony criminal cases
b. negotiating all plea bargains within the county
c. representing the state in misdemeanor criminal cases
d. providing legal advice to mayors and city council members within the
county
23.All things being equal, which of the following describes a scenario where a
defendant is most likely to accept a plea bargain?
a. The defendant knows they are guilty and understands that the plea bargain
would result in their being found guilty of a lesser crime and serving a
shorter prison sentence.
, b. The defendant believes that accepting the plea bargain will help them look
less guilty in the eyes of the judge presiding over their trial and the jury that
will vote whether the plea bargain can be accepted.
c. The defendant is aware that the crime they are accused of is the third
misdemeanor they would be found guilty of and is hoping to avoid added
penalties under Texas’s “three strikes” provision for multiple misdemeanor
convictions.
d. The individual is wealthy enough to afford their own attorney but signs the
plea bargain to indicate that they would rather be represented by a public
defender.
24.Suppose you are a prosecutor eager to prove to voters you can maintain high
conviction rates. Which of the following would give you the surest odds that you
would convict those you accuse of crimes?
a. a bench trial
b. a jury trial
c. a plea bargain between the defendant and the state
d. a no bill verdict from a grand jury
25.Individuals who cannot afford an attorney have a constitutional right to have one
appointed to them. Which Supreme Court case was instrumental in guaranteeing
this right?
a. Ruiz v. Estelle
b. Gideon v. Wainwright
c. Miranda v. Arizona
d. Betts v. Brady
26.What is the difference between an assigned counsel and a public defender?
, a. An assigned counsel represents people who cannot afford an attorney who
are charged with misdemeanors, while a public defender represents people
who cannot afford an attorney who are charged with felonies.
b. An assigned counsel is a private attorney who is appointed by a judge to
represent people who cannot afford an attorney, and a public defender is
paid a salary by the government to represent indigent defendants.
c. A public defender is only used in cases that involve an adult defendant,
while an assigned counsel is used if the defendant is a juvenile.
d. An assigned counsel works cases that are being prosecuted by a county
attorney while a public defender works cases that are being prosecuted by
a district attorney.
27.The Supreme Court case Ruiz v. Estelle (1972) determined that the constitutional
rights of Texas inmates had been violated because they were
a. often housed in overcrowded prisons that lacked adequate health care,
security, and supervision.
b. prevented from having access to information about the outside world (i.e.,
through television, newspapers, a library, etc.).
c. subject to greater penalties for committing crimes inside prison than
someone who would commit the same crimes outside of a prison.
d. being forced to work for outside companies without being paid the state’s
minimum wage.
28.Today, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates the prison system.
Who runs this agency?
a. a nine-member board that is appointed by the sheriffs of the largest
counties (by population)
b. a nine-member board that is elected in statewide at-large elections
c. a nine-member board that is appointed by the governor
d. a nine-member board that is appointed by members of the Texas Supreme
Court and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
, 29.If you are convicted of a crime and sentenced to serve time at a Texas state jail,
then your sentence can be no longer than
a. 180 days.
b. 2 years.
c. 5 years.
d. 10 years.
30.Texas law enforcement departments take the approach of “cite and release” for
which of the following types of crime?
a. possession of small amounts of marijuana
b. nonviolent offenses like burglary or vandalism
c. theft of property valued at less than $1,500
d. possession of small amounts of cocaine, methamphetamines, or fentanyl
31.Which statement about the Texas prison population is most accurate?
a. The Texas prison population has grown significantly in the last five years.
b. Texas has among the lowest per-capita rates of imprisonment.
c. The number of people incarcerated in Texas state prisons is higher than
any other state.
d. About two-thirds of all people incarcerated in Texas are incarcerated
because of drug offenses.
32.The Texas criminal justice system has increased its reliance on drug and alcohol
treatment programs rather than incarceration. What do some scholars argue has
been the impact on the Texas prison system?
Chapter 14
1. The licensing of police officers in Texas is regulated by the Texas Commission on
Law Enforcement. How are the nine members of this commission selected?
a. They are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate.
b. They are elected in statewide, staggered elections.
c. They are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the House.
d. They are appointed by the mayors of the nine largest cities.
2. The most controversial issue facing police in Texas and across the United States,
and the subject of many protests throughout 2020, involves
a. unlawful searches and seizures.
b. entrapment.
c. the use of force.
d. the use of plea bargains.
3. The Sandra Bland Act requires which of the following?
a. Officers must obtain written consent to search a vehicle.
b. Jail deaths must be investigated by an independent agency.
c. Individuals may not be jailed at any point if the maximum punishment for
the suspected offense is a fine.
d. Mandatory investigation of all officer-involved shootings by a specialized
organization.
4. A serious criminal offense that subjects a person to state prison punishment is
a(n)
, a. felony.
b. indictment.
c. petty crime.
d. misdemeanor.
5. When an individual is convicted of a felony in Texas, when (if ever) is the
individual permitted to recover the right to vote in state and federal elections?
a. The individual will be allowed to vote once they have fully completed their
sentence.
b. Depending on whether the individual was convicted of a first-, second-, or
third-degree felony, they will be allowed to vote 20, 10, or 5 years after
completing their sentence, respectively.
c. The individual will be able to vote halfway through their sentence.
d. Unless the conviction is overturned or the governor commutes the
sentence, convicted felons are not permitted to vote again.
6. Conviction of which of these offenses can result in a punishment of the death
penalty or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole?
a. murdering an on-duty police officer
b. kidnapping a nonrelative minor
c. third-degree assault and battery
d. stealing property worth $250,000 or more
7. If you are convicted of a misdemeanor in Texas,
a. you can be sentenced to up to five years in jail, and do lose your right to
vote and possess a weapon as long as you are serving your sentence.
b. you can be sentenced to up to 90 days in jail, but do not lose you right to
vote or to possess a weapon.
, c. you can be sentenced to up to a year in jail, but do not lose your right to
vote or to possess a weapon.
d. you can be sentenced to up to two years in jail, and do lose your right to
vote and possess a weapon as long as you are serving your sentence.
8. If sentenced by a judge to probation, you would most likely have to do which of
the following?
a. report to the local jail during the weekends, report to your probation officer
on a regular basis, abstain from drug and alcohol use, and pay any fines or
restitution
b. have a steady job and have no contact with the police during the period of
your probation
c. plead guilty to lesser violations of the law than you were originally charged
with so that you can be released early
d. have a steady job, report to your probation officer on a regular basis,
abstain from drug and alcohol use, and pay any fines or restitution
9. If someone is granted probation, or community supervision, by a judge, what are
the consequences of either compliance or violating the probation requirements?
a. A person in compliance will likely have his or her record expunged, while a
person in violation will likely be given a harsher sentence as additional
punishment for the violations.
b. A person in compliance will likely receive an early release of up to one-third
of the term, while a person in violation may be sent to jail or prison for the
remainder of his or her sentence.
c. A person in compliance will likely receive monetary compensation for his or
her time, while a person in violation may be sent to jail or prison for the
remainder of his or her sentence.
d. A person in compliance will likely receive an early release of up to two-
thirds of the term, while a person in violation may be sent to jail or prison for
the remainder of his or her sentence, with an additional amount of time
added to his or her initial sentencing.
,10.Which individual or group determines whether a person convicted of a crime in
Texas will be granted parole?
a. the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles
b. the governor
c. the judge who presides over the court where the individual was originally
convicted
d. The requirements for an individual to be released on parole are included in
their judgment and sentencing orders.
11.What does the “three strikes” provision of Texas criminal law require?
a. Police officers must knock three times before entering a home under
warrant.
b. Any police officer with three instances of documented misconduct is placed
on a suspension.
c. A person convicted of three felonies (or in some cases two felonies) is
sentenced to life imprisonment.
d. A person convicted of three misdemeanors is sentenced to life
imprisonment.
12.Which of the following is an early step of a criminal proceeding in which a person
who is suspected of committing a crime stands before a judge and learns their
rights, such as the charges against them and their right to an attorney?
a. arraignment
b. grand jury hearing
c. plea bargain
d. restorative justice
,13.Money that is provided by the defendant to help ensure that they show up for any
required court appearances is called
a. a court fee.
b. bail.
c. bounty.
d. defendant compensation.
14.If a person can neither provide bail on their own nor pay a bondsman, then the
accused can, in some circumstances, be released
a. on 25 percent of bail amount.
b. on personal recognizance.
c. on collateral.
d. by a cosigner.
15.Which of these statements most accurately characterizes the criticism many have
of the grand jury system?
a. Grand juries only consider “true bills.”
b. Grand juries usually rule “no bill.”
c. Grand juries consist of more men than women.
d. Grand juries usually hear only what the prosecutor chooses to let them
hear.
16.To protect the rights of an accused individual, who determines whether the
prosecution has enough evidence to indict and bring the accused individual to
trial?
a. grand jury
b. public defender
, c. county constable
d. bench judge
17.The Texas prison system is facing an increased number of individuals who are
“repeat offenders.” These are individuals who are convicted of a crime, serve
time, are released, commit another crime, and are incarcerated again. This
problem is known as
a. recidivism.
b. cumulative punishment.
c. special administrative sanction.
d. probation.
18.In Texas, felony juries are composed of __________ people and misdemeanor
juries are composed of __________ people.
a. 9; 6
b. 12; 5
c. 12; 6
d. 6; 3
19.In which of the following trials is a unanimous jury decision mandatory to convict
the defendant of an offense?
a. criminal
b. bench
c. civil
d. appeals
,20.In Texas, the legal standard of proof “beyond a reasonable doubt” is used in
which type(s) of cases?
a. felony
b. misdemeanor
c. civil
d. both felony and misdemeanor cases
21.Who can prosecute felony cases in Texas?
a. county judges
b. district attorneys or offices of the criminal district attorney
c. the Office of the Attorney General
d. county attorneys
22.Which of these is the duty of the county attorney?
a. representing the state in felony criminal cases
b. negotiating all plea bargains within the county
c. representing the state in misdemeanor criminal cases
d. providing legal advice to mayors and city council members within the
county
23.All things being equal, which of the following describes a scenario where a
defendant is most likely to accept a plea bargain?
a. The defendant knows they are guilty and understands that the plea bargain
would result in their being found guilty of a lesser crime and serving a
shorter prison sentence.
, b. The defendant believes that accepting the plea bargain will help them look
less guilty in the eyes of the judge presiding over their trial and the jury that
will vote whether the plea bargain can be accepted.
c. The defendant is aware that the crime they are accused of is the third
misdemeanor they would be found guilty of and is hoping to avoid added
penalties under Texas’s “three strikes” provision for multiple misdemeanor
convictions.
d. The individual is wealthy enough to afford their own attorney but signs the
plea bargain to indicate that they would rather be represented by a public
defender.
24.Suppose you are a prosecutor eager to prove to voters you can maintain high
conviction rates. Which of the following would give you the surest odds that you
would convict those you accuse of crimes?
a. a bench trial
b. a jury trial
c. a plea bargain between the defendant and the state
d. a no bill verdict from a grand jury
25.Individuals who cannot afford an attorney have a constitutional right to have one
appointed to them. Which Supreme Court case was instrumental in guaranteeing
this right?
a. Ruiz v. Estelle
b. Gideon v. Wainwright
c. Miranda v. Arizona
d. Betts v. Brady
26.What is the difference between an assigned counsel and a public defender?
, a. An assigned counsel represents people who cannot afford an attorney who
are charged with misdemeanors, while a public defender represents people
who cannot afford an attorney who are charged with felonies.
b. An assigned counsel is a private attorney who is appointed by a judge to
represent people who cannot afford an attorney, and a public defender is
paid a salary by the government to represent indigent defendants.
c. A public defender is only used in cases that involve an adult defendant,
while an assigned counsel is used if the defendant is a juvenile.
d. An assigned counsel works cases that are being prosecuted by a county
attorney while a public defender works cases that are being prosecuted by
a district attorney.
27.The Supreme Court case Ruiz v. Estelle (1972) determined that the constitutional
rights of Texas inmates had been violated because they were
a. often housed in overcrowded prisons that lacked adequate health care,
security, and supervision.
b. prevented from having access to information about the outside world (i.e.,
through television, newspapers, a library, etc.).
c. subject to greater penalties for committing crimes inside prison than
someone who would commit the same crimes outside of a prison.
d. being forced to work for outside companies without being paid the state’s
minimum wage.
28.Today, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates the prison system.
Who runs this agency?
a. a nine-member board that is appointed by the sheriffs of the largest
counties (by population)
b. a nine-member board that is elected in statewide at-large elections
c. a nine-member board that is appointed by the governor
d. a nine-member board that is appointed by members of the Texas Supreme
Court and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
, 29.If you are convicted of a crime and sentenced to serve time at a Texas state jail,
then your sentence can be no longer than
a. 180 days.
b. 2 years.
c. 5 years.
d. 10 years.
30.Texas law enforcement departments take the approach of “cite and release” for
which of the following types of crime?
a. possession of small amounts of marijuana
b. nonviolent offenses like burglary or vandalism
c. theft of property valued at less than $1,500
d. possession of small amounts of cocaine, methamphetamines, or fentanyl
31.Which statement about the Texas prison population is most accurate?
a. The Texas prison population has grown significantly in the last five years.
b. Texas has among the lowest per-capita rates of imprisonment.
c. The number of people incarcerated in Texas state prisons is higher than
any other state.
d. About two-thirds of all people incarcerated in Texas are incarcerated
because of drug offenses.
32.The Texas criminal justice system has increased its reliance on drug and alcohol
treatment programs rather than incarceration. What do some scholars argue has
been the impact on the Texas prison system?
