Sample Exam

Comprehensive exam questions are designed to test your knowledge of, and ability to apply, class material from your required courses (all except Law & Society). Below are two examples of comprehensive exam questions for practice purposes only. These questions will not appear on the exam, but they are formatted exactly like the questions on the exam. You can do additional practice questions on your own by subbing in other topics from Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice and other theories covered in Contemporary Developments in Theory.

Instructions (read carefully):

Choose ONE of the following two sets of questions (either A1-6 or B1-6). Both ask you to 1) describe a current issue, 2) discuss two theories and apply them to that issue, 3) discuss a policy or program recommendation, and 4) describe how you would evaluate the policy or program recommendation. Answer ALL parts (1-6) of the question you choose in the textbox provided.

No internet or Artificial Intelligence (AI). You can use your class materials, but you are NOT allowed to use the internet or collaborate with others. This is a test of your knowledge from your required MA classes as well as your ability to apply what you learned; thus, you should only be drawing from lecture & slides, class notes and reading materials, such as assigned books and articles. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in any form is not permitted.

Answer ALL parts of each question and explain your arguments. Each section has multiple questions, and you need to make sure you directly and clearly answer each part of the question. If you don’t provide an answer to one part, we cannot give you credit for that answer. Also, don’t just copy portions of your notes without explanation; make sure you add explanation, like what the information means or what points it supports. 

Use in-text citations and do not plagiarize material. You do not need a reference page, but you need to use APA format for in-text citations to cite the sources of information that you use to support your answers. (Providing page numbers and lectures slide numbers or titles would also be helpful when available.) If you read the original sources or were provided with the original study citations in lecture, you should cite the theorist or author(s) rather than your professor or editors of the reader. Citations are needed even when you paraphrase (putting another’s ideas into your own words by rewriting and changing how the original text is structured but keeping the original meaning). Also, do not use more than three direct quotes in total. Plagiarism or any type of academic dishonesty will result in failure of the exam and an academic integrity violation; it could also result in removal from the program.

Manage your time wisely and proof-read. It is very important to pace yourself so you have sufficient time to completely answer all the questions and subparts. The exam is four hours long so divide the time wisely. Finally, make sure to check, edit, and reread what you wrote to ensure your words mean what you wanted to convey. We don’t grade on grammar, but if we can’t understand what you are trying to say, we won’t be able to give you credit for the answer. Once you submit the exam, you will not be allowed to edit or add to your answers.

Community Oriented Policing

A1) Discuss the use of Community Oriented Policing in the United States. Make sure you include:

1. what they are (key components) and when/why they became popular,
2. the arguments for and against their use,
3. what the research shows about their effectiveness, and
4. the impact they have had on the criminal justice system and society.

A2) Describe Social Learning Theory (aka Differential Reinforcement Theory); make sure you include:

1. who developed the theory,
2. how each theory explains crime - be sure to identify and describe the constructs of each theory, and
3. how each theory could be used to support the use of Community Policing.

A3) Describe Social Bond Theory; make sure you include:

1. who developed the theory,
2. how each theory explains crime - be sure to identify and describe the constructs of each theory, and
3. how each theory could be used to support the use of Community Policing.

A4) Assume you have been hired by the Governor of NJ to advise her on how Community Oriented Policing could be used to improve relations between police and the community in NJ (either something that already exists or something new that you would design). 

1. Briefly describe the program or policy that you would recommend, including the problem it intended to solve,
2. the target population(s),
3. three components of your program, and
4. justifications for your recommendations.

A5) Describe how you would evaluate the implementation of your recommendation. Be sure to address how the program would be monitored to determine if it was implemented as planned (“process evaluation”).

1. What data would be collected to monitor the implementation of the three components you described in A4?
2. Who would collect that data?
3. How would the data be collected?

[Be sure that your evaluation examines the implementation of the components of the program/policy that you described in A4.]

A6) Describe how you would evaluate the effectiveness of your recommended program by conducting a study. Be sure to address how the program impacted the problem it was trying to address (“outcome evaluation”). Discuss the:

1. research design,
2. sample selection,
3. measurement of the variables of interest (identifying which is/are independent and which is/are dependent and which are control variables).

[Be sure you are proposing a study to test the effectiveness of the intervention you described in A4], and

1. the policy implications of possible findings; assume you found a positive impact of your policy or program, what would the policy implications be? What if you found a negative impact?

Programs for Parolees

B1) Discuss programs for parolees in the United States.  Male sure you include:

1. the purpose and use of parole in the United States,
2. the needs of parolees that these programs try to address (pros), and the problems that have arisen with parole (cons),
3. what the research shows about effectiveness of parole programs,
4. the impact parole programs have had on the criminal justice system and society.

B2) Describe Rational Choice Theory; make sure you include:

1. who developed each theory,
2. how each theory explains crime - be sure to identify and describe the constructs of the theory, and
3. how each theory could be used to support programs for parolees.

B3) Describe General Strain Theory; make sure you include:

1. who developed each theory,
2. how each theory explains crime - be sure to identify and describe the constructs of the theory, and
3. how each theory could be used to support programs for parolees.

B4) Assume you have been hired by the Warden of Southwoods State Prison to advise him on how to implement a program for the inmates who are being released on parole (either something that already exists or something new that you would design).  

1. Briefly describe the program or policy that you would recommend, including the problem it intended to solve,
2. the target population(s),
3. three components of your program, and
4. justifications for your recommendations.

A5) Describe how you would evaluate the implementation of your recommendation. Be sure to address how the program would be monitored to determine if it was implemented as planned (“process evaluation”).

1. What data would be collected to monitor the implementation of the three components you described in A4?
2. Who would collect that data?
3. How would the data be collected?

[Be sure that your evaluation examines the implementation of the components of the program/policy that you described in A4.]

A6) Describe how you would evaluate the effectiveness of your recommended program by conducting a study. Be sure to address how the program impacted the problem it was trying to address (“outcome evaluation”). Discuss the:

1. research design,
2. sample selection,
3. measurement of the variables of interest (identifying which is/are independent and which is/are dependent and which are control variables).

[Be sure you are proposing a study to test the effectiveness of the intervention you described in A4], and

4. the policy implications of possible findings; assume you found a positive impact of your policy or program, what would the policy implications be? What if you found a negative impact?