GOVT 2306: Chapter 13- Crime and Corrections

A felony is

a serious criminal offense that could subject a person to state prison punishment.

A misdemeanor is a

less serious crime that could subject a person to a fine or up to a one-year sentence in county jail.

According to rulings by the US Supreme Court, which of the following individuals are prevented from facing the death penalty?

juveniles

According to the textbook,

Texas has more verified wrongful convictions than any other state in the United States.

Arraignment before a judge is necessary at what stage of the criminal justice process?

after a person is arrested for a crime

Based upon a provision in the penal code, a person convicted of __________ felonies can be sentenced to life in prison.

three

In 1936, Texas amended the state constitution so that the governor can only grant clemency on the recommendation of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. Why was this limitation on gubernatorial power created?

Governors had tended to abuse the power of clemency, and there were fears of widespread corruption with respect to clemency granted by the governor.

In 2002, the police department of which city had its crime laboratory closed due to serious problems with its policies, procedures, and quality of work?

Houston

Prosecuting attorneys are, according to the authors of the textbook,

the most important actors in the Texas criminal justice system.

Shortly after Texas joined the union, the first state ___________ in Texas was constructed in Huntsville.

prison

The head of every district attorney's office in Texas is

an elected official who runs under a party label.

The percentage of African Americans on death row in Texas is __________ the African American share of the state population.

greater than

The prison system in Texas is managed by the

Texas Department of Criminal Justice

What is a grand jury?

a jury that determines whether there is enough evidence to justify a trial

What is the process for granting clemency in Texas?

The governor must follow the recommendations of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.

What percentage of Texas prison inmates has been convicted of drug offenses alone?

17 percent

What was the effect on Texas prisons of the Supreme Court case Ruiz v. Estelle?

Texas's prison system was declared unconstitutional, and the federal courts stepped in to oversee its administration.

Which of the following best describes capital punishment in Texas?

Texas executes more individuals than any other state and has a statistically low rate of successfully appealed capital cases.

Which of the following best describes the incarceration rate in Texas, compared to that in other states?

Texas's incarceration rate is one of the top two state incarceration rates.

Why was the Texas Forensic Science Commission established in 2005?

to investigate claims of misconduct or errors by forensic scientists