CRJ 201 EXAM 2 QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE 2025/2026
Consent decree - Answers A legal agreement between DOJ and police to reform
unconstitutional practices.
How do consent decrees work? - Answers They're court-enforced with oversight, new policies,
and required training.
Goal of a consent decree - Answers Improve accountability, reduce misconduct, rebuild public
trust.
Effectiveness of consent decrees - Answers Mixed results — some success, but slow progress
and expensive.
Cities with consent decrees - Answers Ferguson, Baltimore, Chicago, Seattle, New Orleans.
Dual court system - Answers U.S. has separate state and federal courts.
Main steps in a criminal court process - Answers Arrest → Initial appearance → Bail →
Arraignment → Trial → Sentencing → Appeal.
Levels of the federal court system - Answers District → Appeals → U.S. Supreme Court.
Levels of state courts - Answers Trial → Appeals → State Supreme Court.
Pretrial release - Answers Letting a defendant await trial outside jail (bail, ROR, bond).
Difference between bench and jury trial - Answers Bench = judge decides; Jury = jury decides.
Factors affecting sentencing - Answers Crime severity, prior record, plea deal, judge discretion.
Purpose of appeals - Answers To review legal errors, not guilt or innocence.
Habeas Corpus petition - Answers Request to challenge unlawful imprisonment.
Court of last resort - Answers The highest court (State Supreme or U.S. Supreme Court).
Why do we have specialized courts? - Answers To handle specific issues efficiently and
promote rehabilitation.
Problem-solving courts - Answers Courts focusing on rehab and behavior change instead of
punishment.
Examples of specialized courts - Answers Drug, Mental Health, Veterans, Domestic Violence,
Family.
Effectiveness of specialized courts - Answers Generally reduce recidivism if well-funded.
Wedding cake model - Answers Most cases are minor and resolved by plea deals, not trial.
, Layers in the wedding cake model - Answers Top: high-profile cases; Bottom:
misdemeanors/pleas.
Courtroom workgroup - Answers Judge, prosecutor, defense attorney working together for
efficiency.
Main goal of the courtroom workgroup - Answers Efficiency — move cases fast.
Downside of the courtroom workgroup - Answers Speed over fairness; pressure to plea.
Plea bargain - Answers Agreement where defendant pleads guilty for a lighter sentence.
Who creates a plea bargain? - Answers The prosecutor.
Factors affecting plea bargains - Answers Case strength, workload, defendant's record.
Issues with plea bargaining - Answers Coercion, unfair deals, innocent people pleading guilty.
Difference between grand and petit juries - Answers Grand = indict; Petit = trial verdict.
Jury process - Answers Selection → Trial → Deliberation → Verdict.
Criminal trial - Answers State vs person.
Civil trial - Answers Person vs person.
Bench trial - Answers Judge decides outcome.
Jury trial - Answers Jury decides outcome.
Legal guilt - Answers Proven in court.
Factual guilt - Answers Actually did it.
Types of evidence - Answers Direct, Circumstantial, Testimonial, Physical.
Level of proof for arrest - Answers Probable cause.
Level of proof for conviction - Answers Beyond a reasonable doubt.
Disparity - Answers Difference.
Discrimination - Answers Bias/unfairness.
Goals of sentencing - Answers Retribution, Deterrence, Incapacitation, Rehabilitation,
Restoration.
Focal concerns of sentencing - Answers Culpability, community protection, practical constraints.
Types of sentencing - Answers Indeterminate, determinate, mandatory minimum.
Consent decree - Answers A legal agreement between DOJ and police to reform
unconstitutional practices.
How do consent decrees work? - Answers They're court-enforced with oversight, new policies,
and required training.
Goal of a consent decree - Answers Improve accountability, reduce misconduct, rebuild public
trust.
Effectiveness of consent decrees - Answers Mixed results — some success, but slow progress
and expensive.
Cities with consent decrees - Answers Ferguson, Baltimore, Chicago, Seattle, New Orleans.
Dual court system - Answers U.S. has separate state and federal courts.
Main steps in a criminal court process - Answers Arrest → Initial appearance → Bail →
Arraignment → Trial → Sentencing → Appeal.
Levels of the federal court system - Answers District → Appeals → U.S. Supreme Court.
Levels of state courts - Answers Trial → Appeals → State Supreme Court.
Pretrial release - Answers Letting a defendant await trial outside jail (bail, ROR, bond).
Difference between bench and jury trial - Answers Bench = judge decides; Jury = jury decides.
Factors affecting sentencing - Answers Crime severity, prior record, plea deal, judge discretion.
Purpose of appeals - Answers To review legal errors, not guilt or innocence.
Habeas Corpus petition - Answers Request to challenge unlawful imprisonment.
Court of last resort - Answers The highest court (State Supreme or U.S. Supreme Court).
Why do we have specialized courts? - Answers To handle specific issues efficiently and
promote rehabilitation.
Problem-solving courts - Answers Courts focusing on rehab and behavior change instead of
punishment.
Examples of specialized courts - Answers Drug, Mental Health, Veterans, Domestic Violence,
Family.
Effectiveness of specialized courts - Answers Generally reduce recidivism if well-funded.
Wedding cake model - Answers Most cases are minor and resolved by plea deals, not trial.
, Layers in the wedding cake model - Answers Top: high-profile cases; Bottom:
misdemeanors/pleas.
Courtroom workgroup - Answers Judge, prosecutor, defense attorney working together for
efficiency.
Main goal of the courtroom workgroup - Answers Efficiency — move cases fast.
Downside of the courtroom workgroup - Answers Speed over fairness; pressure to plea.
Plea bargain - Answers Agreement where defendant pleads guilty for a lighter sentence.
Who creates a plea bargain? - Answers The prosecutor.
Factors affecting plea bargains - Answers Case strength, workload, defendant's record.
Issues with plea bargaining - Answers Coercion, unfair deals, innocent people pleading guilty.
Difference between grand and petit juries - Answers Grand = indict; Petit = trial verdict.
Jury process - Answers Selection → Trial → Deliberation → Verdict.
Criminal trial - Answers State vs person.
Civil trial - Answers Person vs person.
Bench trial - Answers Judge decides outcome.
Jury trial - Answers Jury decides outcome.
Legal guilt - Answers Proven in court.
Factual guilt - Answers Actually did it.
Types of evidence - Answers Direct, Circumstantial, Testimonial, Physical.
Level of proof for arrest - Answers Probable cause.
Level of proof for conviction - Answers Beyond a reasonable doubt.
Disparity - Answers Difference.
Discrimination - Answers Bias/unfairness.
Goals of sentencing - Answers Retribution, Deterrence, Incapacitation, Rehabilitation,
Restoration.
Focal concerns of sentencing - Answers Culpability, community protection, practical constraints.
Types of sentencing - Answers Indeterminate, determinate, mandatory minimum.
