Edition by Brandl
ISBN: 9781071878293
Police in America (3rd)
ISBN 9781071878293 | Chapter 1: An Introduction to the Police in America
Total Questions: 70
Easy
Multiple Choice (16)
Q1. [Multiple Choice]
______ involves the systematic collection and analysis of data.
a) Comprehension
b) Preservation
c) Objectification
d) Research ✓ correct
Q2. [Multiple Choice]
When a person who has a poor perception of the police has an interaction with the police, they are most likely to rate their experience with the police ______.
a) positively
b) negatively ✓ correct
c) honestly
d) neutrally
Q3. [Multiple Choice]
Citizens’ evaluations of interactions with police officers are heavily influenced by ______.
a) previously held beliefs about the police ✓ correct
b) time of day that they interacted
c) length of the interaction
d) the officer’s characteristics
Q4. [Multiple Choice]
Who has the authority to make arrests and to legitimately use force?
a) civilian employees
b) Article III judges
c) probation officers
d) sworn officers ✓ correct
Q5. [Multiple Choice]
The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution are known as ______.
a) the Bill of Rights ✓ correct
b) the Preamble to the Constitution
c) Enumerated Powers
d) the Articles of Confederation
Q6. [Multiple Choice]
Which recent piece of legislation gave the government new powers in collecting information on citizens?
a) National Origins Act
b) Sherman Antitrust Act
c) USA PATRIOT Act ✓ correct
d) War Powers Resolution
Q7. [Multiple Choice]
In many cities, ______ hire and fire police chiefs.
a) judges
b) state representatives
c) mayors ✓ correct
d) governors
Q8. [Multiple Choice]
Discretionary decision-making is ______ in policing.
a) common ✓ correct
b) rare
c) prohibited
d) monitored
Q9. [Multiple Choice]
The police spend a majority of their time in ______.
a) public ✓ correct
b) private residences
c) training exercises
d) administrative buildings
Q10. [Multiple Choice]
The Federal Bureau of Investigation devotes substantial resources to combat ______.
a) white-collar crimes
b) predatory crimes ✓ correct
c) juvenile crimes
d) motor vehicle offenses
Q11. [Multiple Choice]
Which type of crime are the police primarily concerned with stopping?
a) white-collar crime
b) street crime ✓ correct
c) identity theft
d) cybercrime
Q12. [Multiple Choice]
The media tend to focus on ______ police behavior.
a) bad ✓ correct
b) good
c) administrative
d) routine
Q13. [Multiple Choice] ______ are the methods employed by police when pursuing their goals.
a) Alternatives
b) Consequences
c) Ends
d) Means ✓ correct
Q14. [Multiple Choice]
Illegal and/or unethical means are referred to as ______ means.
a) reflexive
b) dirty ✓ correct
c) illicit
d) rudimentary
Q15. [Multiple Choice]
______ are the goals police hope to achieve.
a) Means
b) Ends ✓ correct
c) Alternatives
d) Desired consequences
Q16. [Multiple Choice]
An individual’s internal sense of proper conduct, or what is right, is called ______.
a) ethics
b) morality ✓ correct
c) integrity
d) personality
True/False (13)
Q17. [True/False]
Citizens’ personal, lived experiences with the police are the best basis on which to evaluate the police.
a) True
b) False ✓ correct
Correct answer: False
Q18. [True/False]
Citizens’ views of the police can be easily changed.
a) True
b) False ✓ correct
Correct answer: False
Q19. [True/False]
Civilian employees of police departments take a sworn oath to uphold the laws of the United States, their state, and their community.
a) True
b) False ✓ correct
Correct answer: False
Q20. [True/False]
The use of body cameras by police officers may help provide greater transparency of police actions, especially in deadly use of force situations.
a) True ✓ correct
b) False
Correct answer: True
Q21. [True/False]
The job of police officers is unique because of their authority to use force against citizens in a wide array of situations.
a) True ✓ correct
b) False
Correct answer: True
Q22. [True/False]
The police have one responsibility: to control crime.
a) True
b) False ✓ correct
Correct answer: False
Q23. [True/False]
Predatory crimes, like murder and assault, are considered “street crimes.”
a) True ✓ correct
b) False
Correct answer: True
Q24. [True/False]
Over-policing occurs when citizens perceive that the police are taking too much action in a specific area.
a) True ✓ correct
b) False
Correct answer: True
Q25. [True/False]
Under-policing occurs when citizens perceive that there are too few police in a given area.
a) True ✓ correct
b) False
Correct answer: True
Q26. [True/False]
Police officers have a greater presence in areas where there is more street crime.
a) True ✓ correct
b) False
Correct answer: True
Q27. [True/False]
Television shows tend to exaggerate law enforcement capabilities and the effectiveness of the police.
a) True ✓ correct
b) False
Correct answer: True
Q28. [True/False]
The media tends to focus its attention on good police behavior.
a) True
b) False ✓ correct
Correct answer: False
Q29. [True/False]
It is legal for the police to lie to a person during an interrogation.
a) True ✓ correct
b) False
Correct answer: True
Medium
Multiple Choice (9)
Q30. [Multiple Choice]
The best source of knowledge about the police is ______.
a) personal experience
b) media representations
c) research ✓ correct
d) experience of friends and family
Q31. [Multiple Choice]
When government power is increased, what most often tends to happen to the rights of citizens?
a) They fluctuate based on legislation.
b) They decrease. ✓ correct
c) They are protected as they are.
d) They greatly improve.
Q32. [Multiple Choice]
How can police departments increase transparency?
a) using body worn cameras ✓ correct
b) giving officers the ability to use their cellphones
c) restricting data from being shared to the public
d) increasing police contact with citizens
Q33. [Multiple Choice]
______ provide greater transparency, accountability, and control over the actions of police in situations where deadly force may be used.
a) Body cameras ✓ correct
b) Tasers
c) Radios
d) Mobile data terminals
Q34. [Multiple Choice]
______ is unique to policing and separates it from all other occupations.
a) The code of silence
b) Rigorous training
c) Rotating shiftwork
d) The authority to use force ✓ correct
Q35. [Multiple Choice]
______ is the most controversial discretionary decision made by police officers.
a) Ticketing motorists
b) Serving warrants
c) Pursuing people
d) Using force ✓ correct
Q36. [Multiple Choice]
The use of deadly force against people who are ______ has been highly controversial and is the cause of much criticism of the police.
a) intoxicated
b) resisting arrest
c) unarmed ✓ correct
d) fleeing crime scenes
Q37. [Multiple Choice]
The greatest influence on discretionary decisions made by police officers while performing their duties comes from ______.
a) proximity to headquarters
b) ethical standards ✓ correct
c) monetary compensation
d) prestige
Q38. [Multiple Choice]
Which scenario is an example of an unethical but legal police action?
a) lying to a person in an interrogation ✓ correct
b) taking seized evidence for personal use
c) stopping and frisking someone without reasonable suspicion
d) pulling over a car because the driver is attractive
True/False (12)
Q39. [True/False]
Positive information about the police is more memorable than negative information.
a) True
b) False ✓ correct
Correct answer: False
Q40. [True/False]
In a “free” society, citizens are bound by laws.
a) True ✓ correct
b) False
Correct answer: True
Q41. [True/False]
International law mandates that citizens of all countries be afforded the same rights and freedoms.
a) True
b) False ✓ correct
Correct answer: False
Q42. [True/False]
The freedoms that Americans enjoy were established when the Constitution of the United States was ratified and have remained the same since.
a) True
b) False ✓ correct
Correct answer: False
Q43. [True/False]
The United States PATRIOT Act increased the power of the government, while decreasing the rights of citizens.
a) True ✓ correct
b) False
Correct answer: True
Q44. [True/False]
U.S. Supreme Court decisions likeMiranda v. Arizonagave citizens more freedoms but restricted the ability of the police to perform their duties.
a) True ✓ correct
b) False
Correct answer: True
Q45. [True/False]
Arresting someone is an example of police using their authority.
a) True ✓ correct
b) False
Correct answer: True
Q46. [True/False]
The use of force by police officers is one of the most controversial aspects of policing.
a) True ✓ correct
b) False
Correct answer: True
Q47. [True/False]
Officers are required to make moral and ethical decisions when exercising discretion.
a) True ✓ correct
b) False
Correct answer: True
Q48. [True/False]
The most accurate way to measure “good policing” is to compare arrest rates from one year to the next.
a) True
b) False ✓ correct
Correct answer: False
Q49. [True/False]
The media presents an accurate representation of the police.
a) True
b) False ✓ correct
Correct answer: False
Q50. [True/False]
Ethical standards should be considered when making discretionary decisions in policing.
a) True ✓ correct
b) False
Correct answer: True
Essay (7)
Q51. [Essay]
Explain the difference between “sworn officers” and “civilians” who work in police departments.
Suggested answer: Sample response: Sworn officers take an oath to uphold the laws of the United States, their state, and their community. They also have the authority to make lawful arrests and to legitimately use force when necessary. Civilian employees do not take an oath nor do they have authority to make arrests or use force.
Q52. [Essay]
Freedom can be described as a relative concept. Why?
Suggested answer: Sample response: Freedom is a dynamic, constantly changing concept. Within the United States, what freedoms exist may change from time to time. They change via the passage of new legislation, like the USA PATRIOT Act, and they may change as a result of Supreme Court decisions, like Miranda v. Arizona (1966). Furthermore, freedom varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, both domestically, and internationally.
Q53. [Essay]
Explain why the ability of police to use force tends to be controversial. Choose or create an example of police use of force and analyze whether the use of force in that scenario was necessary.
Suggested answer: Sample response: The police are unique among professions in that they have the authority to use force, even deadly force, against citizens if the situation requires it. As policing often requires officers to make split-second decisions regarding the appropriate amount of force to use in a situation, mistakes are sometimes made in choosing the appropriate level of force to use, causing public outcry. In addition, even when officers do use the appropriate level of force, the public may still react negatively. Thus, use of force is highly controversial aspect of policing. One infamous example of police use of force was against George Floyd, who was killed by police officer Derik Chauvin holding his knee on Floyd’s neck for several minutes. This was done to restrain Floyd and arrest him for using a counterfeit $20 bill. In this case, use of force was unnecessary, and the riots following Floyd’s murder reflected the outrage warranted by such behavior.
Q54. [Essay]
Why is it difficult to measure “good” policing?
Suggested answer: Sample response: It is difficult to measure good policing for a number of reasons. First, it is hard to reach a consensus on how we measure police performance. In other words, what exactly do we consider to be indicative of “good policing”? Often, crime reduction is used as a measure to evaluate performance, but an increase or decrease in crime could be the result of a number of factors and is not necessarily a reflection of police effectiveness. Next, there is no way to accurately measure crimes that do not occur. If “good policing” leads to less crime, how do we measure the number of crimes that were effectively prevented? When attempting to measure “good policing,” it is often more practical to identify specific examples of good police policies or “best practices” as an indication of how well a department performing, but even best practices can be ineffective if they are not being implemented correctly.
Q55. [Essay]
Tyrel has been on the force as a sworn officer for ten years. He often feels like the expectations that people have for police officers are “impossible” to achieve. Why might Tyrel feel this way?
Suggested answer: Sample response: It is often said that the police have an “impossible mandate.” The police are expected to prevent and solve crime, but there are a number of limitations that make this virtually impossible. First, there are a number of factors that directly influence crime that police have no control over, like poverty, family structure, weather, unemployment, and self-control. Second, policing is largely reactive. As many crimes are never reported to the police, the police cannot respond to or solve all crimes. Third, police have finite resources and must follow the rules when investigating crimes. As such, they must manage manpower and control costs when deciding what types of investigative techniques to employ. In addition, officers’ actions are limited by the Constitution and by various organization rules and procedures.
Q56. [Essay]
Explain the difference between ethics and morality.
Suggested answer: Sample response: Ethics and morality are very similar, as both relate to distinguishing between right and wrong. The distinction is that morality deals with the individual and one’s sense of what constitutes proper conduct, while ethics is actual behavior exhibited by the individual.
Q57. [Essay]
Identify and provide examples of the four different forms of unethical conduct in policing.
Suggested answer: Sample response: (1) Illegal means to accomplish good ends, for example, searching a house without a warrant in order to find evidence of drugs being manufactured. (2) Legal but unethical means to accomplish good ends, for example, lying to a person during an interrogation. (3) When the law is silent, for example, police creating fake social media pages to catch people by using details of people who have been arrested. (4) Unethical ends, for example, police corruption, that is, engaging in theft, soliciting sex, accepting bribes, and so on.
Hard
Multiple Choice (5)
Q58. [Multiple Choice]
Chizoba is unhappy with law enforcement in her city. What is the easiest way for her to affect law enforcement policies and behavior?
a) vote in her mayoral elections ✓ correct
b) apply as a police recruit
c) run for public office
d) write a letter to the editor
Q59. [Multiple Choice]
Officer Sarti pulls someone over for driving with a taillight out. The driver says they had no idea and will get it fixed right away. Officer Sarti decides to give them a warning rather than a ticket. Officer Sarti used ______ to arrive at this decision.
a) morality
b) police mandate
c) discretion ✓ correct
d) ethics
Q60. [Multiple Choice]
Which of the following is an example of a discretionary decision for police?
a) giving a juvenile a warning ✓ correct
b) leading a funeral procession
c) directing traffic
d) in-service training
Q61. [Multiple Choice]
Which scenario is an example of using illegal means to achieve “good ends”?
a) performing a field sobriety test on a suspected drunk driver
b) engaging in a high speed pursuit of a person fleeing a felony scene
c) stealing evidence to sell for personal profit
d) planting evidence to catch a person known to deal drugs ✓ correct
Q62. [Multiple Choice]
Which of the following is an example of a police action that fails the test of having “good ends”?
a) soliciting sex in exchange for not writing a ticket ✓ correct
b) searching a house without a warrant
c) lying to a person in an interrogation
d) searching a citizen without reasonable suspicion
Essay (8)
Q63. [Essay]
Janice dislikes the police. One day she is walking down the street and witnesses a police officer yelling at a person without housing for loitering outside of a convenience store. Janice takes this as further evidence that the police are unjust. Why is Janice using this experience as an indicator of police performance not reliable?
Suggested answer: Sample response: Janice is displaying a confirmation bias. She has already formed an opinion and is using this experience to confirm her previous bias. In general, our personal experiences with law enforcement are limited. Just because we have interactions with one officer or one police department, or witness someone else’s interaction, does not necessarily mean that this interaction is representative of other departments or officers. In addition, interaction may not even be representative of how that officer or department operates in general.
Q64. [Essay]
Explain the trade-off between police power and the rights of citizens. Include one example.
Suggested answer: Sample response: The trade-off between police power and citizens’ rights is referring to the fact that if one increases, the other will decrease. Additionally, police power is connected to government power. That is, when government power increases, so does police power, and citizen rights decrease. There are a variety of possible examples for this. One would be the USA PATRIOT Act, which increased government power in after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
Q65. [Essay]
Tomas is a police officer, and he is skeptical of the recent decision to mandate that officers wear body-worn cameras on the job. Imagine you are Tomas’s supervisor. What would you tell Tomas about this mandate?
Suggested answer: Sample response: I would tell Tomas that even though body-worn cameras may seem like a curb on his police power or even like people do not trust him and his fellow officers, there are actually many potential benefits for the police of utilizing body-worn cameras. Accountability is strengthened, officer professionalism is improved, and it can provide a more accurate record of events and thereby protect officers from allegations of misconduct. It can also improve officer and agency transparency and reveal officer misconduct. Having the footage is useful because it can be used as a training tool or as evidence for investigations and prosecution.
Q66. [Essay]
Annette is the current police chief of her town. Elections are coming up and she is nervous about who will be elected mayor and whether they will keep her on as police chief because of recent publicity of excessive use of force by officers in her department. Explain how Annette’s fear of being fired demonstrates how the police are held responsible for their actions in a “free” society.
Suggested answer: Sample response: Annette is nervous because there has been some bad publicity about her officers and the new mayor may decide to let her go due to this. Police are held accountable for their actions via the ability of citizens to vote, organize, and protest. Through the power of voting, citizens hold elected officials responsible for their actions and for the actions of those who work under them. As a result, elected officials have expectations for police administrators, who in turn have expectations of their officers. In addition, citizens also have the right to organize and protest if they are unhappy with the behavior or actions of the police.
Q67. [Essay]
John was pulled over by the police for driving 50 in a 40 mph zone. John has never gotten a speeding ticket before and seemed remorseful to the responding officer. John was let off with a warning. Do you believe discretion was used in this scenario? Why or why not?
Suggested answer: Sample response: Officers are routinely required to exercise discretion, or their own judgment, while performing their duties. In this scenario, because John had never had a speeding ticket before and seemed remorseful, the responding officer likely used their discretion to let him off with a warning. Other examples of police using discretion could include whether or not to use force, and the appropriate level of force.
Q68. [Essay]
George and Mattias are arguing over whether the police in their town are effective. George thinks that they are not doing a good job because crime rates have increased this past year, while Mattias thinks you cannot use crime rates as a good indicator of police effectiveness. Who do you think is correct? Justify your answer.
Suggested answer: Sample response: I think Mattias is correct that crime rates are not a good indicator of police effectiveness. Crime may fluctuate from year to year for a number of reasons that have nothing to do with police effectiveness. For example, the number of crimes committed may vary as the population increases or decreases. Crime counts may also fluctuate from one year to the next because citizens report more or less crime.
Q69. [Essay]
Jordan was watching the news recently and saw a news segment about a police officer who beat up a civilian. Jordan was considering joining the force before this, but now isn’t sure he should. Is Jordan right to reconsider his decision? Why or why not?
Suggested answer: Sample response: I don’t think Jordan should base his decision on media coverage of police. This is because the media generally does not provide an accurate representation of the police and their work. The news media is selective in what they report. They disproportionately cover violent, random, or unusual crime and tend focus on incidents where police conduct is questionable, or when officers use force against citizens. Social media also reflects the trend in overrepresenting incidents where officers act questionably or inappropriately. Finally, the entertainment media provides an unrealistic view of the police, often exaggerating capabilities and effectiveness for dramatic effect.
Q70. [Essay]
Richard lives in a densely populated urban area. He sees the police every day and believes they are overpolicing his neighborhood. If you were talking to Richard, what might you say about his belief?
Suggested answer: Sample response: I would discuss with Richard the fact that local police tend to be preoccupied with predatory street crime, which takes place more frequently in densely populated urban areas. Because the police are responsible for crime control, officers tend to have a greater presence in areas where there is more street crime. Such areas tend to have high levels of unemployment, poverty, and population density. So, at least in urban settings, the police pay more attention to some areas and some people than others. Indeed, the police spend more time in some public spaces than others.