Incarceration: BC Law Criminal Justice Project

Massachusetts Prison Facts

100

As of January 1, 2015, how old was the oldest prisoner in the Massachusetts State Prison System (not including county jails)? A: 91 B: 87 C: 104 D: 82 According to the “Massachusetts Department of Corrections Prison Population Tends 2014;” http://www.mass.gov/eopss/docs/doc/research-reports/pop-trends/prisonpoptrends-2014-05042015-final.pdf; pg. 20.

A: 91

200

What was the average age of inmates in the Massachusetts State prison system (not including county jails) in 2014? A: 31 B: 27 C: 40 D: 35 According to the “Massachusetts Department of Corrections Prison Population Tends 2014;” http://www.mass.gov/eopss/docs/doc/research-reports/pop-trends/prisonpoptrends-2014-05042015-final.pdf; pg. 20.

C: 40

300

What Percent of the Massachusetts State Prison System (not including county jails) in 2014 were male? A: 72% B: 87% C: 95% D: 78% According to the “Massachusetts Department of Corrections Prison Population Tends 2014;” http://www.mass.gov/eopss/docs/doc/research-reports/pop-trends/prisonpoptrends-2014-05042015-final.pdf; pg. 18.

C: 95%

400

What was average population of inmates in the Massachusetts State Prison System (not including county jails) in 2014? A: 9,643 B: 10, 569 C: 5,987 D: 7,382 According to the “Massachusetts Department of Corrections Prison Population Tends 2014;” http://www.mass.gov/eopss/docs/doc/research-reports/pop-trends/prisonpoptrends-2014-05042015-final.pdf; pg. 8.

B: 10, 569

500

What was the racial composition of men in the Massachusetts State prison system (not including county jails) in 2014? A: White (80%), Hispanic (9%), Black (6%), Other (5%) B: Black (44%), White (30%), Hispanic (24%), Other (1%) C: White (39%), Black (37%), Hispanic (22%), Other (2%) D: White (41%), Black (30%), Hispanic (28%), Other (1%) According to the “Massachusetts Department of Corrections Prison Population Tends 2014;” http://www.mass.gov/eopss/docs/doc/research-reports/pop-trends/prisonpoptrends-2014-05042015-final.pdf; pg. 18.

D: White (41%), Black (30%), Hispanic (28%), Other (1%) The Actual Racial Composition Of Massachusetts A: White (80%), Hispanic (9%), Black (6%), Other (5%)

National Prison Statistics

100

What Percent of all prisoners held in both state and federal custody at the end of 2014 were female? A: 14% B: 5% C: 23% D: 7% According to the “Bureau of Justice Statistics: Prisoners in 2014;” http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/p14_Summary.pdf.

D: 7%

200

What age group (grouped in increments of 5 years) had the highest percent of all prisoners held in both state and federal custody at the end of 2014? A: 30-34 B: 40-44 C: 25-29 D: 35-39 According to the “Bureau of Justice Statistics: Prisoners in 2014;” http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/p14_Summary.pdf.

A: 30-34

300

Which states had the highest and lowest imprisonment rates per capita at the end of 2014? A: Highest: Texas, Lowest: Massachusetts B: Highest: Louisiana, Lowest: Maine C: Highest: Mississippi, Lowest: Alaska D: Highest: California, Lowest: South Dakota According to the “Bureau of Justice Statistics: Prisoners in 2014;” http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/p14_Summary.pdf.

B: Highest: Louisiana, Lowest: Maine Louisiana had the highest imprisonment rate for people of all ages (816 per 100,000 state residents and 1,072 adult inmates per 100,000 state residents age 18 or older) Maine had the fewest residents per capita imprisoned (153 per 100,000 of all state residents and 189 per 100,000 adult residents)

400

What was number of all prisoners held in both state and federal custody at the end of 2014? A: 1,263,800 B: 1,724,300 C: 1,561,500 D: 2,359,600 According to the “Bureau of Justice Statistics: Prisoners in 2014;” http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/p14_Summary.pdf.

C: 1,561,500

500

What was the racial composition of men in both state and federal custody at the end of 2014? A: Black (44%), White (30%), Hispanic (24%), Other (1%) B: White (62.1%), Hispanic (17.4%), Black (13.2%), Other (7.3%) C: Black (37%), White (32%), Hispanic (22%), Other (9%) D: White (41%), Black (30%), Hispanic (28%), Other (1%) According to the “Bureau of Justice Statistics: Prisoners in 2014;” http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/p14_Summary.pdf.

C: Black (37%), White (32%), Hispanic (22%), Other (9%) As compared to the National Racial Composition Statistics: B: White (62.1%), Hispanic (17.4%), Black (13.2%), Other (7.3%)

Prison Life

100

What do many jails charge a prisoner’s commissary account for? A. Medical Visits B. Medications C. A jail Stay Fee D. All of the Above http://www.jailexchange.com/countyjails/massachusetts/hampden/hampden-county-jail-inmate-commissary.aspx

D. All of the Above Under Tips: “Not surprisingly much of an inmate's commissary money is used to purchase item's to pay gambling debts or purchase prescription medicine from another inmate. If your inmate is spending more than $3-4.00 a day on commissary items, you are paying for him or her to gamble or buy drugs. Put your financial needs first and the inmate's second. Don't forget, the inmate is getting three free 2,000 calorie meals a day. The food may not be of the highest quality, but the commissary food is generally much less nutritious.”

200

What profit did the state of Texas make in 2009 off of prison commissaries? A: $15 Million B: $30 Million C: $25 Million D: $3 Million According to Prison Legal News; “That’s a Lot of Honeybuns: Texas Prison Commissaries a $95 Million-a-Year Business;” https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2010/nov/15/thats-a-lot-of-honeybuns-texas-prison-commissaries-a-95-million-a-year-business.

B: $30 Million

300

In Massachusetts’ Essex County some jails have a system that allows people to send emails to prisoners and receive emailed replies but you have to pay for this service using “credits” (every 100 credits cost $1), How Much does it typically cost to email a prisoner a picture? A: $0.50 B: $0.75 C: $5 D: $10 http://www.jailexchange.com/countyjails/massachusetts/essex/essex-county-correctional-facility-inmate-commissary.aspx

C: $5

400

How much did Texas prisoners spend on Ramen Noodles in 2009? A. $8.3 Million B. $3.7 Million C. $2.4 Million D. $9.5 Million According to Prison Legal News; “That’s a Lot of Honeybuns: Texas Prison Commissaries a $95 Million-a-Year Business;” https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2010/nov/15/thats-a-lot-of-honeybuns-texas-prison-commissaries-a-95-million-a-year-business.

A. $8.3 Million As compared to $0 spent on fruits or vegetables from commissaries, as Texas Prisons do not carry these items. By marking up the price of Ramen by 44% the state of Texas made almost a $3.7 Million profit on Ramen alone in 2009.

500

How much was paid in Kickbacks by the private telephone provider to the Massachusetts State Prison System (not including county jails) in 2014? A: $532,957.63 B: $1,714,972.89 C: $862,396.27 D: $1,248,513.94 According to the “Massachusetts State Prison phone rates and kickbacks;” https://www.prisonphonejustice.org/state/MA/.

B: $1,714,972.89

Life After Prison

100

As compared to never incarcerated fathers, recently incarcerated fathers are approximately _________ as likely to be suffering from depresssion. A. 1.5 times B. Two times C. Four times D. Ten times Turney, K., Wildeman, C., & Schnittker, J.. (2012). As Fathers and Felons: Explaining the Effects of Current and Recent Incarceration on Major Depression. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 53(4), 465–481. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.proxy.bc.edu/stable/41725232

B. Two times

200

1) There is some evidence that incarceration __________ health while in prison, and ___________ health on release. A. Increases, increases B. decreases, decreases C. Increases, decreases D. Decreases, increases Turney, K., Wildeman, C., & Schnittker, J.. (2012). As Fathers and Felons: Explaining the Effects of Current and Recent Incarceration on Major Depression. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 53(4), 465–481. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.proxy.bc.edu/stable/41725232

C. Increases, decreases

300

Rate of marital dissolution is approximately _________ times higher among incarcerated men than non-incarcerated. A. 1.5 B. 2 C. 3 D. 10 Massoglia, M., Remster, B., & King, R. D.. (2011). Stigma or Separation? Understanding the Incarceration-Divorce Relationship. Social Forces, 90(1), 133–155. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.proxy.bc.edu/stable/41682635

C. 3

400

) Going to state prison permanently reduces one's earning potential by about A. 1/4 B. 1/3 C. 1/2 D. 3/4 The Effects of High Imprisonment Rates on Communities Todd R. Clear Crime and Justice, Vol. 37, No. 1 (2008), pp. 97-132 Published by: The University of Chicago Press Article DOI: 10.1086/522360 Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org.proxy.bc.edu/stable/10.1086/522360

B. 1/3

500

likelihood of a black male over the age if 23 getting __________ drops by 50% if incarcerated. A. A marriage B. A job C. A mortgage D. A college degree The Effects of High Imprisonment Rates on Communities Todd R. Clear Crime and Justice, Vol. 37, No. 1 (2008), pp. 97-132 Published by: The University of Chicago Press Article DOI: 10.1086/522360 Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org.proxy.bc.edu/stable/10.1086/522360

A. A marriage

Community Effects of Incarceration

100

4) what percent of prisoners with children are visited by them while in prison? A. 90% B. 75% C. 50% D. 25% The Effects of High Imprisonment Rates on Communities Todd R. Clear Crime and Justice, Vol. 37, No. 1 (2008), pp. 97-132 Published by: The University of Chicago Press Article DOI: 10.1086/522360 Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org.proxy.bc.edu/stable/10.1086/522360

D. 25%

200

This fraction of juveniles convicted of crimes has children of their own. A. 1/20 B. 1/10 C. 1/4 D. 1/2 The Effects of High Imprisonment Rates on Communities Todd R. Clear Crime and Justice, Vol. 37, No. 1 (2008), pp. 97-132 Published by: The University of Chicago Press Article DOI: 10.1086/522360 Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org.proxy.bc.edu/stable/10.1086/522360

C. 1/4

300

approximately __________ children in the US have a parent in prison. A. 700,000 B. 1.6 million C. 2.3 million D. 7.7 million The Effects of High Imprisonment Rates on Communities Todd R. Clear Crime and Justice, Vol. 37, No. 1 (2008), pp. 97-132 Published by: The University of Chicago Press Article DOI: 10.1086/522360 Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org.proxy.bc.edu/stable/10.1086/522360

C. 2.3 million

400

1) As studies have become more refined in their ability to control for confounding factors, the crime reduction effect of increased incarceration as measured by the studies has generally A. increased B. Decreased C. Stayed the same D. Fluctuated wildly The Effects of High Imprisonment Rates on Communities Todd R. Clear Crime and Justice, Vol. 37, No. 1 (2008), pp. 97-132 Published by: The University of Chicago Press Article DOI: 10.1086/522360 Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org.proxy.bc.edu/stable/10.1086/522360

B. Decreased

500

Which of these has been found to increase among non incarcerated women who live in communities with high incarceration rates? A. STDs such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis B. Teen pregnancy C. Incarceration rates D. All of the above The Effects of High Imprisonment Rates on Communities Todd R. Clear Crime and Justice, Vol. 37, No. 1 (2008), pp. 97-132 Published by: The University of Chicago Press Article DOI: 10.1086/522360 Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org.proxy.bc.edu/stable/10.1086/522360

D. All of the above