Answers
1. False. Most people who commit crimes as youth lead law abiding lives as adults.
2. False. Although deterrence is one of the main three purposes for punishment, research suggests that harsher punishments will likely not deter many people from committing crimes. In fact, it may have more of a detrimental effect to the system as many researchers cite the possiblility of a "snowball effect." This is, essentially, when penalties are raised, resulting in more arrests, longer sentences, more overcrowding and additional tension within the prisons.
3. False. Although the media is constantly telling us that violent crime is on the increase, Crime Statistics from Statistics Canada, 1995 show that violent crime is at its lowest level for the third year in a row, and that it has hit its lowest level since 1969. This may be one way we can see that the media overplays violent crimes in particular, and raises public fear as a result.
4. False. According to victimization survey data, the majority of violent crimes such as sexual assault and hostile assault go largely unreported.
5. False. In fact, the most vulnerable age group and sex are males from 18-24 years old.
6. False. Most violent crimes are perpetrated by someone who is known to the victim.
7. True. Low visibility offenses are less likely to be reported or known to the criminal justice system. Therefore, the dark figure (number of unknown cases) is high.
8. False. There is large disagreement on how "crime" is defined. Popular approaches include legal, social, political, and psychological definitions.
9. False. Clearance rates are very high for murder.
10. False. Media images have contributed to an incorrect view that psychopaths and serial killers are abnormally intelligent.
11. True. Research suggests that there is an abnormal balance between the two hemispheres.
12. False. Data is inconclusive in this area. Some are right-handed but it depends on the measurement of psychopathy including violent and non-violent.
13. True. The owner of the car has the duty to ensure his vehicle is driven in a safe manner. By allowing a drunk driver to drive his car, he shares the same responsibility as the driver.
14. False. When Parliament enacted the Charter , they essentially gave the courts the last word on the constitutionality of law and hence the values Canadians will live by (with certain exceptions such as s.33 non-obstante clause).
15. True. British Columbia generally has much higher rates of violent and property crime than Newfoundland.
16. False. Arrests for violent crimes usually peak later in age. Most adolescents are arrested for less serious acts such as minor property crimes.
17. False. Many rural communities in northern Canada have far higher rates of violent and property crime.
18. True. Canada is only second to the United States in rates of incarceration per capita.
19. False. In fact, the estimates of prison inmates who are functionally illiterate are as high as 70%.
20. False. The most common option used is a fine.
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