Practice Exam: Correctional Administration - Contemporary Issues in Corrections (Set 68)
A 30-question practice exam covering modern correctional challenges, reforms, and innovations.
1. Which of the following is a primary driver of prison overcrowding in the Philippines?
A.Low crime rates
B.Slow judicial process and court congestion
C.High budget allocation for new prison facilities
D.Widespread use of alternative dispute resolution
2. What is the direct consequence of severe prison overcrowding on PDL?
A.Improved access to rehabilitation programs
B.Increased living space per inmate
C.Higher rates of disease transmission and health problems
D.Reduced tension and prison violence
3. Which solution directly addresses overcrowding by reducing the number of individuals entering the formal justice system?
A.Building new, larger prisons
B.Implementing community-based diversion programs
C.Lengthening mandatory minimum sentences
D.Restricting the use of parole and probation
4. How does plea bargaining help alleviate prison overcrowding?
A.It proves the innocence of the accused.
B.It results in a quicker disposition of cases, moving inmates out of congested jails.
C.It mandates the construction of new detention centers.
D.It automatically grants presidential pardon.
5. The Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) Law (RA 10592) is a decongestion measure that primarily aims to:
A.Increase the maximum penalty for heinous crimes.
B.Provide financial aid to families of PDL.
C.Reduce the actual time served by PDL based on good behavior.
D.Fund the construction of additional courtrooms.
6. Which of these is NOT a recognized negative effect of prison overcrowding?
A.Strain on prison resources (food, water, medical supplies)
B.Difficulty in implementing effective rehabilitation programs
C.Increased security risks and gang-related violence
D.Higher success rate of educational and vocational training
7. What is the primary purpose of the Katarungang Pambarangay (Barangay Justice System)?
A.To prosecute serious criminal offenses at the community level.
B.To provide a venue for amicable settlement of disputes, diverting cases from the formal court system.
C.To operate and manage local detention cells (barangay tanod posts).
D.To sentence offenders to long-term imprisonment.
8. Which program specifically targets the management of jail populations by accelerating the legal process for detainees?
A.Livelihood projects for released prisoners
B.Enhanced Justice on Wheels (EJOW) Program
C.Inmate classification and segregation system
D.Religious and spiritual counseling services
9. A key strategy for decongestion that focuses on non-custodial sentences for minor offenses is called:
A.Maximum security lockdown
B.Mandatory pre-trial detention
C.Community service or probation
D.Sentence augmentation
10. The concept of "paralegal services" in jails, often provided by trained PDL, aims to decongest by:
A.Offering medical assistance to fellow inmates.
B.Leading religious services.
C.Assisting PDL in understanding their case status and processing release documents.
D.Acting as prison guards.
11. What is the role of the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) in the context of corrections?
A.To build and manage national penitentiaries.
B.To focus on community-based prevention, and monitoring of drug offenders who may be on probation or parole.
C.To conduct raids inside maximum-security prisons.
D.To prosecute high-level drug traffickers.
12. A Therapeutic Community Modality Program (TCMP) used in Philippine prisons for drug dependents primarily focuses on:
A.Isolating the individual from all social contact.
B.Using the community as the primary agent of change, emphasizing peer support and responsibility.
C.A purely medical and pharmacological approach to treatment.
D.Administering corporal punishment for rule infractions.
13. Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, allows for what option for a first-time minor offender found to be a drug dependent?
A.Mandatory life imprisonment without parole.
B.Suspension of sentence and undergoing treatment and rehabilitation.
C.Immediate transfer to a maximum-security penal colony.
D.A fine without any requirement for rehabilitation.
14. What is the main challenge in implementing drug rehabilitation programs within overcrowded correctional facilities?
A.Lack of interest from the PDL population.
B.Overfunding and excess resources.
C.Insufficient space, trained personnel, and funding for effective program delivery.
D.The programs are too short and easy to complete.
15. The "Mamamayang Ayaw sa Anomalya, Mamamayang Ayaw sa Iligal na Droga" (MASA MASID) program is a community-based initiative that primarily supports the correctional system by:
A.Building new prisons.
B.Encouraging the reporting of drug-related and criminal activities, and aiding in monitoring rehabilitated offenders.
C.Providing legal defense for accused drug lords.
D.Acting as a private prison operator.
16. The concept of a "Drug-Free Workplace" within the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) is primarily enforced through:
A.Voluntary reporting by personnel.
B.Mandatory and random drug testing of all officials and personnel.
C.Relying on inmate reports and gossip.
D.Annual physical examinations.
17. Which agency is primarily responsible for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug dependents within government-run centers in the Philippines?
A.Bureau of Corrections (BuCor)
B.Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)
C.Department of Health (DOH)
D.Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)
18. What is a critical component of a successful post-release program for former PDL with a history of drug abuse?
A.Total isolation from their family and community.
B.Strong aftercare support, including counseling, job placement, and community supervision.
C.Encouraging them to associate with their old drug-using peers.
D.Providing a large sum of money upon release without any follow-up.
19. What is the primary security benefit of using electronic monitoring (e.g., ankle bracelets) for certain classes of offenders?
A.It provides vocational skills to the offender.
B.It eliminates the need for any human supervision.
C.It allows authorities to track an offender's location in real-time, ensuring compliance with curfews or geographical restrictions.
D.It serves as a tool for physical punishment.
20. Video visitation in correctional facilities is a technological innovation designed to:
A.Replace all in-person contact between PDL and their families.
B.Increase the risk of contraband being smuggled into the facility.
C.Supplement or provide an alternative to in-person visits, especially for families living far away.
D.Monitor the private thoughts of inmates.
21. A Prison Management Information System (PMIS) is primarily used for:
A.Digitizing and managing inmate records, case files, and facility operations.
B.Providing entertainment and streaming services to PDL.
C.Teaching PDL how to code and develop software.
D.Exclusively tracking the movement of prison guards.
22. Which of the following is a major concern regarding the use of technology like body cameras on correctional officers?
A.The technology is too expensive to be effective.
B.Privacy concerns for both officers and PDL, and data storage management.
C.The cameras are too heavy and cumbersome to wear.
D.The footage is always considered inadmissible in court.
23. The use of biometric technology (e.g., fingerprint or facial recognition) at prison entrances primarily aims to:
A.Provide PDL with access to social media.
B.Accurately verify the identity of visitors, staff, and PDL to prevent unauthorized entry or exit.
C.Calculate the daily food budget for the facility.
D.Diagnose medical conditions.
24. A potential disadvantage of replacing in-person visits entirely with video visitation is:
A.It is more expensive for the correctional facility to operate.
B.It can weaken emotional bonds due to the lack of physical contact and presence.
C.It allows for easier smuggling of contraband.
D.It requires all family members to be tech experts.
25. What is the primary goal of reentry programs for individuals leaving prison?
A.To ensure they are permanently monitored by the police.
B.To provide services and support that facilitate a successful transition back into the community and reduce the likelihood of reoffending.
C.To isolate them from their families and former communities.
D.To encourage them to find housing in designated ex-convict colonies.
26. Recidivism is a core concept in corrections that refers to:
A.The process of entering prison for the first time.
B.The successful completion of a rehabilitation program.
C.The tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend and return to prison.
D.A specific type of prison architecture.
27. Which of the following is a common argument IN FAVOR of private prisons?
A.They are always more humane and have better conditions than public prisons.
B.They can potentially operate more cost-effectively due to competition and streamlined management.
C.They are not accountable to the government or the public.
D.Their primary goal is rehabilitation, not profit.
28. What is the most significant argument AGAINST the privatization of prisons?
A.Private companies are incapable of building secure facilities.
B.Private prisons are not allowed under the Philippine Constitution.
C.The profit motive may lead to cutting corners on staff, services, and rehabilitation, compromising safety and inmate welfare.
D.Private prisons are required to hire only former convicts as guards.
29. During the COVID-19 pandemic, what was a key protocol implemented in correctional facilities to prevent widespread outbreaks?
A.Allowing unrestricted entry of all visitors.
B.Suspending in-person visitation and implementing mass testing and isolation of suspected cases.
C.Combining all PDL, regardless of health status, into large common areas.
D.Discontinuing all cleaning and sanitation measures to save money.
30. Why is reducing recidivism a key measure of a correctional system's success?
A.A high recidivism rate indicates that prisons are effective at punishment.
B.It is not a relevant measure; the only goal is incapacitation.
C.A low recidivism rate indicates that rehabilitation and reentry efforts are effective, leading to safer communities.
D.It directly measures the profitability of the prison system.