CMRJ101 UNIT TEST 1 – INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND SYSTEM OVERVIEW EXAM PRACTICE 2026/2027 COMPLETE CURRENT TESTING QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES.

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CMRJ101 UNIT TEST 1 – INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL
JUSTICE AND SYSTEM OVERVIEW EXAM PRACTICE
2026/2027 COMPLETE CURRENT TESTING QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES.
CMRJ
Prepare for the CMRJ101 Unit Test 1 – Introduction to Criminal Justice and System
Overview Exam with this focused practice resource designed to reinforce foundational
criminal justice concepts. Use it to review the criminal justice system, its major
components, key processes, and essential introductory topics. This resource can help
strengthen your understanding, identify areas that may require additional study, and
improve your test readiness. It provides a structured supplement to your coursework
and supports a more confident approach to the CMRJ101 assessment.



MULTIPLE CHOCIE.
Module 1: Foundations of Criminal Justice (Questions 1–20)
1. What is the primary function of the criminal justice system in the
United States?
A. To investigate crimes
B. To enforce laws
C. To maintain social order and protect the public
D. To rehabilitate offenders
Answer: C
Rationale: The criminal justice system is designed to maintain social
order and protect the public through the enforcement of laws. While
individual agencies within the system may focus on investigation,
enforcement, or rehabilitation, the overarching function is to ensure
public safety and social order.
2. Which of the following is NOT one of the three primary components of
the criminal justice system?
A. Police
B. Courts

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C. Corrections
D. Legislature
Answer: D
Rationale: The three primary components of the criminal justice system
are police, courts, and corrections. The legislature is responsible for
creating laws but is not considered a component of the criminal justice
system itself. The police enforce laws, the courts adjudicate cases, and
corrections manage offenders.
3. What is the name of the model that emphasizes the efficient processing
of cases and the suppression of crime?
A. Due process model
B. Crime control model
C. Rehabilitation model
D. Restorative justice model
Answer: B
Rationale: The crime control model emphasizes the efficient processing
of cases and the suppression of crime. It prioritizes speed and finality
over individual rights. The due process model, by contrast, emphasizes
the protection of individual rights and the presumption of innocence.
4. Which model of criminal justice emphasizes the protection of
individual rights and the presumption of innocence?
A. Crime control model
B. Due process model
C. Punishment model
D. Deterrence model
Answer: B
Rationale: The due process model emphasizes the protection of
individual rights and the presumption of innocence. It prioritizes fairness
and the prevention of wrongful convictions over the efficient processing
of cases. The crime control model emphasizes efficiency and crime
suppression.

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5. What is the "wedding cake model" of criminal justice used to illustrate?
A. The hierarchy of court systems
B. The different levels of criminal cases and how they are processed
C. The steps in the criminal justice process
D. The relationship between police and courts
Answer: B
Rationale: The wedding cake model, developed by Samuel Walker,
illustrates how different levels of criminal cases are processed
differently. The top layer consists of celebrated cases, followed by serious
felonies, lesser felonies, and misdemeanors. The lower the layer, the
more cases and the less attention they receive.
6. According to the wedding cake model, which layer receives the most
attention and resources?
A. Celebrated cases
B. Serious felonies
C. Lesser felonies
D. Misdemeanors
Answer: A
Rationale: Celebrated cases, such as high-profile murders or celebrity
trials, receive the most attention and resources. They are at the top of the
wedding cake model. Misdemeanors, at the bottom, receive the least
attention and are typically processed quickly through plea bargains.
7. What is the term for the process by which criminal justice officials
make decisions based on their own judgment rather than on fixed rules?
A. Discretion
B. Due process
C. Precedent
D. Adjudication
Answer: A
Rationale: Discretion is the process by which criminal justice officials
make decisions based on their own judgment rather than on fixed rules.
Discretion exists at all levels of the criminal justice system, from police
decisions to arrest to judicial decisions in sentencing.

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8. Which of the following is an example of discretion in the criminal
justice system?
A. A police officer deciding whether to issue a warning or a ticket
B. A judge deciding on a sentence
C. A prosecutor deciding what charges to file
D. All of the above
Answer: D
Rationale: Discretion exists throughout the criminal justice system.
Police officers decide whether to arrest or issue warnings, prosecutors
decide what charges to file, and judges decide on sentences. All of these
are examples of discretion.
9. What is the primary source of law in the United States?
A. Common law
B. Statutory law
C. Constitutional law
D. Administrative law
Answer: B
Rationale: Statutory law is the primary source of law in the United States.
Statutes are laws enacted by legislative bodies at the federal, state, and
local levels. Common law, constitutional law, and administrative law are
also sources of law but are secondary to statutory law.
10. Which type of law is based on judicial decisions and precedent?
A. Common law
B. Statutory law
C. Constitutional law
D. Administrative law
Answer: A
Rationale: Common law is based on judicial decisions and precedent. It
originated in England and is also known as case law or judge-made law.
Common law evolves through court decisions that establish precedent
for future cases.