Mh522-psychology And The Legal System Final Exam

50 Questions | By Nilda_clark | Updated: Mar 18, 2022 | Attempts: 96

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Final exam for psychology and the legal system course

Questions and Answers

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