Race, Crime, and Justice Final Exam UPDATED ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
What is policing? It isn't just about police officers and criminal law; it's more about regulating
behavior and space.
What does policing beyond criminal law involve? It involves rules and bylaws, discretion and enforcement, and control of public
space.
How can discretion in policing lead to bias? Discretion is where bias can occur, affecting the enforcement of rules.
Why is homelessness highly visible in public spaces? Homelessness is visible because it is governed through rules, not serious crimes,
and is seen as 'a problem to be managed.'
How does gentrification affect public spaces? Gentrification reshapes urban spaces, leading to pressures to 'clean up' visible
poverty.
What activities associated with homelessness are often Sleeping in public, panhandling, loitering/trespassing, and violations of park
criminalized? bylaws.
What does unequal enforcement of rules imply? Rules are enforced selectively, leading to unequal outcomes, particularly for
marginalized groups.
Who is most likely to be seen as 'out of place' in public Marginalized groups, particularly based on ethnicity and race.
spaces?
What is the impact of race on policing? Policing is not race-neutral; racialized people, especially Black and Indigenous
individuals, experience disproportionate surveillance.
, How are Indigenous people represented in Indigenous people are overrepresented in homelessness, rooted in structural and
homelessness statistics? colonial factors.
What does policing as colonial governance entail? It involves ongoing control over land, movement, and behavior, reflecting
colonialism's impact.
What are encampments in the context of homelessness? Encampments are the most visible form of homelessness, often framed as safety
or health issues.
Do encampments generally increase crime rates? Generally, no; many studies show no change or a decrease in crime rates
associated with encampments.
What factors intensify policing despite low crime rates in Political pressures and public perception of homelessness as a problem.
encampments?
What does framing surveillance as care involve? It includes practices like wellness checks, databases, tracking, and case
management systems.
What is the significance of housing in the context of Housing is a basic human right, and housing policy responses are a justice issue.
policing?
How does race, crime, and justice intersect with Homelessness is increasingly policed, with race and colonial histories shaping
homelessness? responses.
What is the 'panopticon' concept in policing? It refers to a system of surveillance where individuals are monitored, influencing
behavior.
What role do police play in the criminal justice system? Police act as gatekeepers and are often the first point of contact in the criminal
justice system.
What is police discretion? The authority and power police officers have to make decisions based on
judgment and understanding of situations.
What are some discretionary charges identified in the Charges include failure to comply, obstructing justice, assaulting police, and
2020 OHRC Research? cannabis possession.
What disparities exist in police charges among racial Black people were 3.7 times more likely to be charged compared to their
groups? population percentage.
What are broad discretion considerations in policing? Legal, community, situational, and extralegal factors influence police discretion.
What does Canadian research indicate about police Research shows that police stop practices and use of force disproportionately
practices? impact racialized people.
What is the significance of the 2013-2017 data on cannabis It highlights overrepresentation of Black and Indigenous people in arrest rates
arrests? prior to legalization.
What challenges exist regarding police use of force data There is no national database on police use of force, making it difficult to track
in Canada? incidents accurately.
CORRECT ANSWERS
What is policing? It isn't just about police officers and criminal law; it's more about regulating
behavior and space.
What does policing beyond criminal law involve? It involves rules and bylaws, discretion and enforcement, and control of public
space.
How can discretion in policing lead to bias? Discretion is where bias can occur, affecting the enforcement of rules.
Why is homelessness highly visible in public spaces? Homelessness is visible because it is governed through rules, not serious crimes,
and is seen as 'a problem to be managed.'
How does gentrification affect public spaces? Gentrification reshapes urban spaces, leading to pressures to 'clean up' visible
poverty.
What activities associated with homelessness are often Sleeping in public, panhandling, loitering/trespassing, and violations of park
criminalized? bylaws.
What does unequal enforcement of rules imply? Rules are enforced selectively, leading to unequal outcomes, particularly for
marginalized groups.
Who is most likely to be seen as 'out of place' in public Marginalized groups, particularly based on ethnicity and race.
spaces?
What is the impact of race on policing? Policing is not race-neutral; racialized people, especially Black and Indigenous
individuals, experience disproportionate surveillance.
, How are Indigenous people represented in Indigenous people are overrepresented in homelessness, rooted in structural and
homelessness statistics? colonial factors.
What does policing as colonial governance entail? It involves ongoing control over land, movement, and behavior, reflecting
colonialism's impact.
What are encampments in the context of homelessness? Encampments are the most visible form of homelessness, often framed as safety
or health issues.
Do encampments generally increase crime rates? Generally, no; many studies show no change or a decrease in crime rates
associated with encampments.
What factors intensify policing despite low crime rates in Political pressures and public perception of homelessness as a problem.
encampments?
What does framing surveillance as care involve? It includes practices like wellness checks, databases, tracking, and case
management systems.
What is the significance of housing in the context of Housing is a basic human right, and housing policy responses are a justice issue.
policing?
How does race, crime, and justice intersect with Homelessness is increasingly policed, with race and colonial histories shaping
homelessness? responses.
What is the 'panopticon' concept in policing? It refers to a system of surveillance where individuals are monitored, influencing
behavior.
What role do police play in the criminal justice system? Police act as gatekeepers and are often the first point of contact in the criminal
justice system.
What is police discretion? The authority and power police officers have to make decisions based on
judgment and understanding of situations.
What are some discretionary charges identified in the Charges include failure to comply, obstructing justice, assaulting police, and
2020 OHRC Research? cannabis possession.
What disparities exist in police charges among racial Black people were 3.7 times more likely to be charged compared to their
groups? population percentage.
What are broad discretion considerations in policing? Legal, community, situational, and extralegal factors influence police discretion.
What does Canadian research indicate about police Research shows that police stop practices and use of force disproportionately
practices? impact racialized people.
What is the significance of the 2013-2017 data on cannabis It highlights overrepresentation of Black and Indigenous people in arrest rates
arrests? prior to legalization.
What challenges exist regarding police use of force data There is no national database on police use of force, making it difficult to track
in Canada? incidents accurately.
