Criminology : Police
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Criminology
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Police
Which of the following is not a primary duty of police officers?
Providing social services
Apprehending violators and combating crime
None of these
Keeping the peace
Preventing crime
None of these
The correct choice is "none of these." Police officers have four primary duties: keeping the peace, apprehending violators and combating crime, preventing crime, and providing social services. "Keeping the peace" involves the protection of rights of individuals in dangerous situations such as fights or domestic disputes. "Apprehending violators and combating crime" is most commonly associated with police work; however, it makes up the smallest portion of time in an officers career. "Preventing crime" or reducing the crime rate involves the education or the public about criminal threats and reducing the number of situations where criminal activity can occur. Last, "providing social services" is a very important and often overlooked aspect of police work and it includes the following: returning stolen property, directing traffic, providing medical aid, as well as other social services.
Example Question #4 : Criminology
Which of the following is not a component of community policing?
Community based crime prevention
Making the police more accountable to the public
Decentralizing police policy decision-making to include residents
Maximizing the number of police interventions and observations in the community
Changing the focus of police patrol activities to nonemergency services
Maximizing the number of police interventions and observations in the community
"Maximizing the number of police interventions and observations in the community" is the correct answer. This choice outlines the primary precept of aggressive policing patrols. On the other hand, community policing attempts to involve neighborhood residents into policing procedures to make their own communities safer. it is based on the idea that citizens are concerned about crime in their local area and emphasizes cooperation between police and citizens in the identification of neighborhood needs and means necessary to meet them.
Example Question #4 : Criminology
A person sees two young men in front of their neighbor's house and assumes they are "horsing around" until they break a window and begin to burglarize the home. After seeing this the person calls the police. This would be an example of which of the following?
None of these
Ambiguity delay
Conflict delay
Traffic delay
Coping delay
Ambiguity delay
This scenario is considered to be an "ambiguity delay." It is considered to be an ambiguity error because the person was delayed in their ability to acknowledge a criminal act. They thought that the two young men were "horsing around" later they saw them break into the house; thus, they were delayed by the ambiguous nature of the behavior of the young men.
Example Question #2 : Criminology
Based on the 1966 Supreme Court case Miranda v. Arizona, which of the following rights is not required to be read to a suspect prior to questioning?
If they decide to make a statement, it can and will be used against them in court
If they cannot afford an attorney, the state will provide one
They have the right to have an attorney present during interrogation or to have an opportunity to consult with an attorney
They have the right to remain silent
If they cannot afford an attorney, the state will not provide one
If they cannot afford an attorney, the state will not provide one
In the 1966 Supreme Court case Miranda v. Arizona, the Supreme Court made a decision that stated that as soon as an investigation begins to focus on a suspect, the so-called Miranda warnings must be read aloud before questioning can begin. The Miranda warnings are composed of the following four components: they have the right to remain silent;if they decide to make a statement, it can and will be used against them in court; they have the right to have an attorney present during interrogation or to have an opportunity to consult with an attorney; and if they cannot afford an attorney, the state will provide one. The choice that stated "if they cannot afford an attorney, the state will not provide one" is not a part of the Miranda warning.
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