#1
What is the insanity defense?
A legal strategy to argue that the defendant is not guilty by reason of insanity
ExplanationLegal defense asserting that a defendant should not be held criminally liable for their actions if, at the time of the crime, they were unable to understand the nature or consequences of their actions or distinguish right from wrong.
#2
What is the purpose of the juvenile justice system?
To rehabilitate juvenile offenders
ExplanationSystem designed to address the needs of youthful offenders through rehabilitation, education, and community-based programs, aiming to prevent future delinquent behavior.
#3
What is the purpose of juvenile detention centers?
To provide education and rehabilitation programs
ExplanationFacilities for detaining juvenile offenders that aim to provide education, counseling, and rehabilitative services to help them reintegrate into society.
#4
What is the purpose of the juvenile court system?
All of the above
ExplanationThe juvenile court system aims to provide guidance, treatment, and supervision to juveniles in a manner that promotes their welfare and the safety of the community, while also ensuring their legal rights are protected.
#5
What is the purpose of the Miranda warning?
All of the above
ExplanationThe Miranda warning informs individuals of their constitutional rights, including the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney, ensuring that any statements they make are voluntary and not the result of coercion.
#6
What is the primary goal of the juvenile justice system?
Rehabilitation
ExplanationThe primary goal of the juvenile justice system is to rehabilitate juvenile offenders, focusing on their treatment and reintegration into society.
#7
Which standard is used to determine insanity in most US jurisdictions?
Model Penal Code test
ExplanationLegal standard used to determine insanity, focusing on whether, due to mental disease or defect, the defendant lacked substantial capacity to appreciate the criminality of their conduct or to conform their conduct to the requirements of the law.
#8
At what age can a defendant typically use the defense of infancy?
Under 16
ExplanationDefense based on the idea that a child under a certain age is incapable of forming criminal intent and should not be held criminally responsible for their actions.
#9
What is the parens patriae doctrine?
A legal principle that allows the state to intervene on behalf of individuals who cannot care for themselves
ExplanationLegal doctrine allowing the state to act as a parent for individuals who are unable to care for themselves, often applied in cases involving minors or individuals with disabilities.
#10
Which of the following is NOT a factor typically considered in determining whether a defendant is competent to stand trial?
Educational background
ExplanationFactors typically considered include the defendant's ability to understand the charges, the ability to assist in their defense, and the ability to understand the court proceedings, but not educational background.
#11
What is the difference between competency to stand trial and the insanity defense?
Competency to stand trial assesses the defendant's current mental state, while the insanity defense assesses their mental state at the time of the crime.
ExplanationCompetency to stand trial evaluates the defendant's mental state at the time of the trial, focusing on their ability to understand the legal proceedings and assist in their defense, while the insanity defense focuses on their mental state at the time of the crime.
#12
Which of the following is NOT typically considered a mitigating factor in juvenile sentencing?
Severity of the crime
ExplanationMitigating factors in juvenile sentencing typically include the juvenile's age, mental health, and prior record, but not the severity of the crime.
#13
Which case established the standard that a juvenile defendant cannot be sentenced to death?
Roper v. Simmons
ExplanationSupreme Court case that ruled imposing the death penalty on juveniles under 18 at the time of the crime is unconstitutional, based on the evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society.
#14
In which landmark case did the U.S. Supreme Court abolish the death penalty for juvenile offenders?
Roper v. Simmons
ExplanationSupreme Court case that declared the death penalty for juveniles under 18 unconstitutional, citing the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.
#15
Which legal standard requires that a defendant's mental state must have caused them to be unable to appreciate the nature or quality of their actions in order to be found not guilty by reason of insanity?
M'Naghten rule
ExplanationLegal standard for insanity that focuses on whether, due to mental illness, the defendant was unable to understand the nature and quality of their actions or that their actions were wrong.
#16
In which case did the U.S. Supreme Court rule that mandatory life sentences without parole for juvenile homicide offenders are unconstitutional?
Miller v. Alabama
ExplanationSupreme Court case that held that mandatory life sentences without parole for juveniles violate the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.
#17
What is the principle of doli incapax?
A legal presumption that children under a certain age are incapable of forming criminal intent
ExplanationLegal principle presuming that children under a certain age lack the capacity to form criminal intent and should not be held criminally responsible for their actions.
#18
Which case established the 'irresistible impulse' test as a defense for insanity?
Brawner case
ExplanationCase that introduced the 'irresistible impulse' test, which focuses on whether, due to a mental disorder, the defendant was unable to control their actions or conform their behavior to the law.