Page 1 of 93
CMY1501 EXAM WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS DETAILED
RATIONALES GRADED A+
CMY1501: Introduction to Criminology – Crime, Offenders and Criminal Behaviour
THEME 1: WHAT IS CRIMINOLOGY?
Learning Unit 1.1: What is Criminology About? | Questions 1–50
1. Which of the following best defines criminology as an academic discipline?
A) The study of criminal law and legal procedures
B) An interdisciplinary applied discipline within the human sciences that includes the scientific
study of crime, offenders, victims, punishment, and crime prevention and control
C) The study of police administration and forensic science
D) The study of psychological disorders that cause criminal behaviour
Rationale: Criminology is an interdisciplinary applied discipline within the human sciences. Its
field of study includes the scientific study of crime, offenders, victims, the punishment of
offenders (criminal justice system), and the prevention (reduction) and control of crime.
2. According to Edwin H. Sutherland, the "father of criminology," criminology includes which
three major aspects?
A) Detection, arrest, and prosecution
B) The making of laws, the breaking of laws, and the reaction to the breaking of laws
1|Page
,Page 2 of 93
C) Biological, psychological, and social causes of crime
D) Crime, criminal, and victim
Rationale: Sutherland's definition includes three aspects: the making of laws (which relates to
the sociology of law), the breaking of laws (which relates to the causes of crime), and the
reaction to the breaking of laws (which relates to the work of police, courts, and correctional
services).
3. Which of the following is NOT included in the field of study of criminology?
A) The study of crime
B) The study of victims of crime
C) The study of legal procedures in civil cases
D) The study of the punishment of offenders
Rationale: Criminology focuses on crime, offenders, victims, punishment (criminal justice
system), and prevention and control of crime. Civil legal procedures are not part of
criminology's field of study.
4. What does the term "criminal law" refer to?
A) Legal rules that identify crimes and set down punishments
B) Legal rules that were not written down but have come to be accepted by the law of the land
C) Rules and regulations governing civil disputes
D) International treaties on crime
Rationale: Criminal law is a branch of law that covers the definition of crime and criminal
behaviour, as well as the rules and regulations regarding the control and prevention of crime.
5. What is the distinction between common law and statutory law?
2|Page
,Page 3 of 93
A) Common law is written by parliament; statutory law is based on customs
B) Common law consists of legal rules that were not written down but have come to be
accepted by the law of the land; statutory law is written legislation
C) Common law applies only to civil cases; statutory law applies only to criminal cases
D) There is no distinction between common law and statutory law
Rationale: Common law consists of legal rules that were not written down but have come to be
accepted by the law of the land. Statutory law is written legislation implemented by legislative
bodies that have the authority to make laws.
6. According to Sutherland's definition, the "making of laws" is primarily concerned with:
A) Why people break the law
B) The sociological and political processes by which certain behaviours are defined as criminal
C) The work of police and courts
D) The punishment of offenders
Rationale: The making of laws relates to the sociological and political processes by which
certain behaviours are defined as criminal, reflecting the values and interests of society.
7. What is the role of a criminologist according to Schmalleger?
A) A police officer who investigates crimes
B) A graduate who studies crime, criminals, and criminal behaviour
C) A lawyer who defends criminals
D) A psychologist who treats criminals
Rationale: According to Schmalleger, a criminologist is a graduate who studies crime, criminals,
and criminal behaviour. Their main task is to study, define, describe, interpret, explain, and
indicate policy directions in respect of crime, criminal behaviour, and victimisation.
3|Page
, Page 4 of 93
8. What is "recidivism"?
A) The first-time commission of a crime
B) Relapse into crime after previous conviction or punishment
C) The study of crime patterns
D) The rehabilitation of offenders
Rationale: Recidivism refers to a person's relapse into criminal behaviour after they have been
previously convicted or punished for a crime.
9. Which of the following best describes the scientific method as used by criminologists?
A) Accepting traditional beliefs about crime without question
B) Separating truth from error by demanding evidence for any conclusion
C) Relying solely on personal opinion
D) Using only qualitative research methods
Rationale: The scientific method in criminology involves separating truth from error by
demanding evidence for any conclusion. Criminologists use this method to build a body of
verified knowledge that can help policymakers, police, and correctional officials.
10. Which of the following is a key component of the definition of crime?
A) A violation of a moral code only
B) Mens rea (guilty mind), actus reus (guilty act), and a violation of statutory law with a legally
prescribed punishment
C) An act that offends the community
D) A violation of religious doctrine
Rationale: For an act to be a crime, it must be prohibited by law and have a prescribed
punishment (nulla poena sine lege). The essential components include mens rea (guilty mind),
actus reus (guilty act), and a violation of statutory law.
4|Page
CMY1501 EXAM WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS DETAILED
RATIONALES GRADED A+
CMY1501: Introduction to Criminology – Crime, Offenders and Criminal Behaviour
THEME 1: WHAT IS CRIMINOLOGY?
Learning Unit 1.1: What is Criminology About? | Questions 1–50
1. Which of the following best defines criminology as an academic discipline?
A) The study of criminal law and legal procedures
B) An interdisciplinary applied discipline within the human sciences that includes the scientific
study of crime, offenders, victims, punishment, and crime prevention and control
C) The study of police administration and forensic science
D) The study of psychological disorders that cause criminal behaviour
Rationale: Criminology is an interdisciplinary applied discipline within the human sciences. Its
field of study includes the scientific study of crime, offenders, victims, the punishment of
offenders (criminal justice system), and the prevention (reduction) and control of crime.
2. According to Edwin H. Sutherland, the "father of criminology," criminology includes which
three major aspects?
A) Detection, arrest, and prosecution
B) The making of laws, the breaking of laws, and the reaction to the breaking of laws
1|Page
,Page 2 of 93
C) Biological, psychological, and social causes of crime
D) Crime, criminal, and victim
Rationale: Sutherland's definition includes three aspects: the making of laws (which relates to
the sociology of law), the breaking of laws (which relates to the causes of crime), and the
reaction to the breaking of laws (which relates to the work of police, courts, and correctional
services).
3. Which of the following is NOT included in the field of study of criminology?
A) The study of crime
B) The study of victims of crime
C) The study of legal procedures in civil cases
D) The study of the punishment of offenders
Rationale: Criminology focuses on crime, offenders, victims, punishment (criminal justice
system), and prevention and control of crime. Civil legal procedures are not part of
criminology's field of study.
4. What does the term "criminal law" refer to?
A) Legal rules that identify crimes and set down punishments
B) Legal rules that were not written down but have come to be accepted by the law of the land
C) Rules and regulations governing civil disputes
D) International treaties on crime
Rationale: Criminal law is a branch of law that covers the definition of crime and criminal
behaviour, as well as the rules and regulations regarding the control and prevention of crime.
5. What is the distinction between common law and statutory law?
2|Page
,Page 3 of 93
A) Common law is written by parliament; statutory law is based on customs
B) Common law consists of legal rules that were not written down but have come to be
accepted by the law of the land; statutory law is written legislation
C) Common law applies only to civil cases; statutory law applies only to criminal cases
D) There is no distinction between common law and statutory law
Rationale: Common law consists of legal rules that were not written down but have come to be
accepted by the law of the land. Statutory law is written legislation implemented by legislative
bodies that have the authority to make laws.
6. According to Sutherland's definition, the "making of laws" is primarily concerned with:
A) Why people break the law
B) The sociological and political processes by which certain behaviours are defined as criminal
C) The work of police and courts
D) The punishment of offenders
Rationale: The making of laws relates to the sociological and political processes by which
certain behaviours are defined as criminal, reflecting the values and interests of society.
7. What is the role of a criminologist according to Schmalleger?
A) A police officer who investigates crimes
B) A graduate who studies crime, criminals, and criminal behaviour
C) A lawyer who defends criminals
D) A psychologist who treats criminals
Rationale: According to Schmalleger, a criminologist is a graduate who studies crime, criminals,
and criminal behaviour. Their main task is to study, define, describe, interpret, explain, and
indicate policy directions in respect of crime, criminal behaviour, and victimisation.
3|Page
, Page 4 of 93
8. What is "recidivism"?
A) The first-time commission of a crime
B) Relapse into crime after previous conviction or punishment
C) The study of crime patterns
D) The rehabilitation of offenders
Rationale: Recidivism refers to a person's relapse into criminal behaviour after they have been
previously convicted or punished for a crime.
9. Which of the following best describes the scientific method as used by criminologists?
A) Accepting traditional beliefs about crime without question
B) Separating truth from error by demanding evidence for any conclusion
C) Relying solely on personal opinion
D) Using only qualitative research methods
Rationale: The scientific method in criminology involves separating truth from error by
demanding evidence for any conclusion. Criminologists use this method to build a body of
verified knowledge that can help policymakers, police, and correctional officials.
10. Which of the following is a key component of the definition of crime?
A) A violation of a moral code only
B) Mens rea (guilty mind), actus reus (guilty act), and a violation of statutory law with a legally
prescribed punishment
C) An act that offends the community
D) A violation of religious doctrine
Rationale: For an act to be a crime, it must be prohibited by law and have a prescribed
punishment (nulla poena sine lege). The essential components include mens rea (guilty mind),
actus reus (guilty act), and a violation of statutory law.
4|Page
