Free Practice Test: DSST Criminal Justice

This section requires you to understand how crime is defined and identify different types of crime. Additionally, there will be questions related to juvenile delinquency, including trends and causes. You will need to know who monitors and measure crime statistics within the U.S., as well as explain various theories of crime (i.e., its causes, demographics).

The criminal justice (CJ) system covered from a historical perspective, dating back to pre-revolutionary times will be assessed. You will want to know how primary government documents, such as the Constitution and Bill of Rights, impact our system of justice. Furthermore, you will be asked questions related to the parts of the criminal justice system.
Criminal justice in the United States exists to prevent, mitigate, and punish criminal actions against citizens and their property. It is a complex system that includes protections for both accused/criminal and victim.
Starter Information: The justice system in the United States is primarily based upon that of England. Early colonies, however, did not utilize persons trained in law. The system was made up of common law, meaning a system used to make decisions based upon legal decisions of prior judges which were known to colonists at that time. Early common law differentiated severe and lesser crimes by separating them into categories, known as felonies and misdemeanors. It was not until 1791, with the codifying of civil liberties through the Bill of Rights, that a unified American legal system was created.
The U.S. justice system is comprised of three parts; they are law enforcement, courts, and corrections. Each portion of this system is complex, containing local, state, and federal levels. Within each governmental level, there are often varying approaches to each practice.

All sections have a historical component. Therefore, you will want to know the history of policing in the U.S., including law enforcement roles both past and present. A survey of law enforcement agencies is likely to be measured as well.
Starter Information: Police are responsible for both prevention of crime, as well as apprehension of criminals. They are often the first to make contacts with offenders and victims. They often make determinations regarding how to proceed in various conflicts.
A symbolic presence of police within the community may act as crime prevention. Many citizens feel secure knowing that police are present in their neighborhoods. Police hold most CJ jobs. Of the 1.8 million criminal justice professionals, nearly 1 million are law enforcement professionals. Law enforcement agencies exist at local, state and federal levels. Each operates within its own jurisdiction.

This section will include questions about structure and levels within the courts system. You will want to know the difference between adult and juvenile courts, in terms of process. As with all sections of the exam, an understanding of courts’ history will be evaluated.
Starter information: The court system in the United States was primarily promoted by Quakers in Pennsylvania, who wanted a system more humane than judicial measures of the time. The court system is adversarial meaning that each side of an argument has equal opportunity to represent its views in accordance with formal rules.
There is a federal court structure and 50 separate state court systems. Each system varies slightly in its operation and rules. As with law enforcement, courts operate within a jurisdiction, limiting the matters each court may hear. Most legal issues are handled within the state courts, including juvenile courts, traffic courts, criminal or civil courts, and magistrate courts.
Both federal and state systems have appellate courts. These are courts that do not hear original filings, but instead they review findings of lower courts to determine if decisions should be upheld, reversed, or modified.

There are several philosophies of punishment; know them. There will be numerous questions related to jails, prison, and other types of confinement. However, you should also be familiar with intermediate sanctions such as probation, fines, and service. Your knowledge of state-controlled corrections (i.e., capital punishment) will be assessed.
Starter information: The United States is primarily known for humane punishment. During colonial America, many of those sentenced for criminal action were put to death or held in deplorable conditions.
There are numerous types of corrections within the criminal justice system. Each is based on a philosophy of punishment or rehabilitation. Ultimately, the goal of criminal corrections is to avoid recidivism, meaning repeat offense.
A leading form of correction is imprisonment within local jails, state prisons, or federal facilities. Different facilities house different security levels, including supermax, maximum, medium, and minimum. Each has various security measures, types of housing, inmate privileges, and services.
The most severe punishment within the United States justice system is capital punishment, also known as the death penalty. Over time, means by which offenders have been put to death have varied from hanging, shooting squad, electric chair, and lethal injection. Much controversy surrounds capital punishment related to human rights. Use of capital punishment is left to each state to implement or deny.
Lesser punishments include probation and parole. These often require an offender to regularly check-in with court agencies, as well as submit to home inspections and/or drug screenings. To address prison overcrowding, there has been a recent upswing in electronic monitoring, a punitive measure that permits offenders to remain in their home for large portions of time. House arrest recipients may be allowed to travel a certain distance for work or school.