Mh522-psychology And The Legal System Final Exam
Settings
Final exam for psychology and the legal system course
- 1.1. What was the name of the case in which a federal court first ruled that psychologists were qualified to serve as expert witnesses in matters involving criminal responsibility?
- A.
Jenkins v. U.S.
- B.
Harlow v. U.S.
- C.
Nixon v. Indiana
- D.
Jackson v. Indiana
- 2.2. The term dual court system refers to:
- A.
Criminal and civil courts
- B.
Trial courts and appellate court
- C.
Courts of limited jurisdiction and courts of general jurisdiction
- D.
State and federal courts
- 3.3. Which of the following is not part of the pre-trial stage in a criminal case?
- A.
Preliminary hearing
- B.
Evidence suppression hearing
- C.
Beyond a reasonable doubt
- D.
B or c, depending on the crime
- 4.4. At the sentencing stage in a criminal case, forensic psychologists may offer evidence relating to:
- A.
The individual’s competence to be sentenced
- B.
Mitigation
- C.
The individual's dangerousness
- D.
The individual's rehabilitative potential
- E.
All of the above
- 5.5. What is the burden of proof required to convict someone of a crime?
- A.
Preponderance of the evidence
- B.
Clear and convincing evidence
- C.
Beyond a reasonable doubt
- D.
B or c, depending on the crime
- 6.6. In federal courts, the Daubert standard for the admission of expert testimony has replaced the _____ standard.
- A.
Jenkins
- B.
Kumho Tire
- C.
Joiner
- D.
Frye
- 7.7. Under which condition is the content of a psychological report that has been prepared following a psychological evaluation most likely to be kept confidential?
- A.
When the evaluation was ordered by the judge
- B.
When the evaluation was requested and paid for by the defense
- C.
When the evaluation was requested by the prosecutor but paid for by the court
- D.
When both the prosecutor and defense request the evaluation
- 8.8. Which of the following statements about ultimate opinion testimony is (are) correct?
- A.
The Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct of the APA strongly discourage such testimony
- B.
Courts often want psychologists to provide an opinion on the ultimate issue
- C.
Research indicates that the opinions of experts are least influential in pre-trial criminal proceedings
- D.
There is lack of consensus among psychologists as to whether such testimony is appropriate
- E.
Only b and d are correct
- 9.9. At which stage of the criminal justice process is competence not an issue?
- A.
Confessing to a crime
- B.
Being sentenced
- C.
Refusing the insanity defense
- D.
A and c only
- E.
Competence is an issue at every stage
- 10.10. American trial procedure is a(n)_____________system of justice
- A.
Inquisitorial
- B.
Disruptive
- C.
Adversarial
- D.
Impractical
- 11.11. The U.S. Supreme Court determined that Gerald Gault
- A.
Was delinquent as determined by the lower courts
- B.
Had been denied due process in the juvenile court
- C.
Should be punished as an adult
- D.
Was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt
- 12.12. Under the Daubert standard, what are the three criteria that must be evaluated by the presiding judge?
- A.
Reliability, validity, general acceptance in the scientific community
- B.
Validity, legal sufficiency, relevance
- C.
General acceptance, reliability, validity
- D.
Reliability, relevance, legal sufficiency
- 13.13. The most common of the forensic mental health assessments performed for the criminal courts involves the issue of:
- A.
Adjudicative competency
- B.
Criminal responsibility
- C.
Sex offender evaluation at sentencing
- D.
Amenability for rehabilitation
- 14.14. The case in which the U.S. Supreme Court set the standard for determining competency to stand trial was
- A.
Dusky v. U.S.
- B.
Godinez v. Moran
- C.
Cooper v. Oklahoma
- D.
Jackson v. Indiana
- 15.15. If a state requires a defendant to prove his or her incompetence, what is the highest standard of proof that can be required?
- A.
Preponderance of the evidence
- B.
Clear and convincing evidence
- C.
Beyond a reasonable doubt
- D.
Without all reasonable doubt
- 16.16. Approximately what proportion of defendants referred for competency evaluations is ultimately found incompetent?
- A.
10%
- B.
15-20%
- C.
25-30%
- D.
40-50%
- 17.17. In Sell v. U.S., the Supreme Court ruled that defendants found Incompetent to Stand Trial (IST):
- A.
Cannot be forced to take psychoactive medication intended to restore them to competency
- B.
Can be forced to take medication only if they are charged with a felony
- C.
Are entitled to a careful review of the trial-related risks and side effects of the medication before medication is ordered
- D.
Have a right to go to trial in a non-medicated state
- 18.18. Since the Hinckley case:
- A.
Cases involving the insanity defense have become much more common
- B.
Both the federal government and many states have made it more difficult for defendants claiming insanity
- C.
Juries have been more sympathetic to defendants claiming insanity
- D.
About twelve states have abolished the insanity defense
- 19.19. A mitigating factor is one which:
- A.
Lessens the individual’s responsibility for an act
- B.
Renders an act even more heinous than previously thought
- C.
Suggests that an individual is dangerous to society
- D.
Absolves the individual of guilt
- 20.20. In Kansas v. Crane, the Supreme Court ruled that, in order to commit sex offenders under sexually violent predator (SVP) statutes, the state had to demonstrate:
- A.
That the sex offender was seriously mentally ill
- B.
That the offender was unable to control his behavior
- C.
That the offender had some inability to control his behavior
- D.
That the offender showed no remorse for his crimes
- 21.21. Civil courts include all but which of the following?
- A.
Juvenile courts
- B.
Family courts
- C.
Probate courts
- D.
Municipal courts
- 22.22. According to the doctrine of parens patriae, the state can intervene in the lives of children:
- A.
Even over the objection of their parents
- B.
If they are perceived to be in danger
- C.
In the best interest of the children
- D.
All of the above
- 23.23. In Kent v. U.S., the Supreme Court ruled that:
- A.
Juveniles had a right to be represented by lawyers in delinquency hearings
- B.
The doctrine of parens patriae should be abolished
- C.
Judges had to hold hearings before transferring juveniles to criminal court
- D.
Juveniles charged with status offenses could not be institutionalized
- 24.24. Which of the following statements about custodial interrogation is correct?
- A.
Juveniles often waive their right to have a lawyer present during custodial interrogation.
- B.
Juveniles have a Constitutional right to have their parents/guardians present, but not lawyers, during custodial interrogation.
- C.
Under the U.S. Constitution, police are not allowed to question juveniles without their parents or guardians present.
- D.
Under the U.S. Constitution, police are not allowed to question juveniles without a lawyer present.
- 25.25. Research by Grisso indicates that:
- A.
Parents are the best protectors of their children’s legal rights
- B.
Many juveniles—particularly those 14 and younger—do not understand their constitutional rights
- C.
Juveniles today are aware of their rights and typically refuse to waive them
- D.
There are few age differences among juveniles in their ability to understand constitutional rights
Back to top