Weekly Reading Quizzes

According to the readings, in what year did Congress abolish debtors' prisons?

1833

According to the Federal Reserve, nearly __________________ adults is either unable to stay current on their bills or is one unexpected expense away.

1 in 4

What was the decision in Beck v. Elmore County (Idaho, 2021)?

 Issuing warrants for nonpayment violated the 4th Amendment against unlawful seizure

The DOJ Investigation concluded that Ferguson's law enforcement practices disproportionately impact

African Americans

The DOJ Investigation found that the Ferguson Police Department is focused on:

Generating revenue

Which of the following is true about debt collection through incarceration?

1. It results in racial disparities 

2. It is unfairly coercive

3. It is a counterproductive response to inability to pay

In practice, many courts assume an ability to pay…

Without further considerations

True or False: Debtor's prison' refers to sending people to jail if they cannot pay court debts.

True

True or False: The investigation of the Ferguson Police Department relied solely on the responses of police officers.

False

According to the DOJ Investigation, the Ferguson Municipal Court's use of authority to compel payment and fees (instead of acting as a neutral arbiter of the law) violates the

14th Amendment 

According to experts cited in the report, which key skill is learned by youth participating in restorative justice programs?

Empathy

One benefit of diversion is that it helps youth avoid:

A formal delinquency record

According to the report, diversion is a way to address youth misconduct outside of what?

The formal justice system

In a study by Cauffman et al. (2021), diverted youth had ________________ outcomes on all 19 measures.

Equal or better

Which type of disparities does greater use of diversion help reduce?

Racial/ethic

Why is diversion considered advantageous compared to formal court processing?

It decreases the likelihood of future justice involvement

Research shows that youth who are diverted are more likely to succeed in what areas compared to those formally processed?

Education and employment

The report notes that youth of color are:

Less likely to be diverted than white youth

In Utah, what percentage of delinquency cases were diverted in 2023?

64% (more than 2x the year before!)

The movement toward diversion reflects a shift away from what historical approach?

 Punitive, court-centered processes

Why is proving racial discrimination in policing difficult?

The legal standard requires explicit proof of intent

 Alexander (2010) argues that many drug arrests occur because police focus enforcement in:

Poor urban communities

Alexander (2010) says mass incarceration affects which aspect of life after prison?

• Employment

• Housing access

• Public benefits

What is the main argument presented in The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness (2010)?

Mass incarceration functions as a new racial caste system

Which amendment protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures?

4th Amendment

What policing strategy involves officers stopping and questioning individuals based on suspicion?

Stop and frisk

According to Alexander, why is the new system harder to challenge than Jim Crow?

 It operates through race-neutral language

Which historical system came before Jim Crow that also enforced racial hierarchy?

Slavery

According to the introduction, what major shift occurred in U.S. incarceration rates beginning in the 1980s?

They increased dramatically

What is the overall effect of aggressive drug policy strategies described in Chapter 2?

expanded surveillance, searches, and arrests

What does Alexander suggest about the relationship between the War on Drugs and race?

It disproportionately impacts Black communities

 The War on Drugs began primarily in response to what?

 Political strategy

Why did the Supreme Court reject McCleskey's claim?

He failed to prove discrimination in his specific case

Which branch of government interprets the Constitution?

Judicial

According to Alexander, what does the legal system prioritize?

Efficiency and finality over fairness

Which concept refers to laws and policies that appear neutral but have racially discriminatory effects?

 Colorblind racism

What does colorblindness mean in legal terms?

Treating people the same regardless of race

What was the main issue in McCleskey v. Kemp (1987)?

Racial bias in the death penalty

Which constitutional principle is central to Chapter 3?

Freedom of religion

What must defendants prove to win an equal protection claim in court?

Intentional discrimination