How does the National Crime Victimization Survey gather its data?Bureau of Justice Statistics, "National Crime Victimization Survey". DSST outline: I. Criminal Behavior (15%), d. Measurement of crime and delinquency
In 1939 the sociologist Edwin Sutherland first defined white-collar crime. By his definition, who commits it?Wikipedia, "White-collar crime". DSST outline: I. Criminal Behavior (15%), b. Types of crime
In criminal law, what does actus reus refer to?Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute, Wex, "actus reus". DSST outline: I. Criminal Behavior (15%), a. Defining crime
In research on why young people become delinquent, what is a protective factor?Youth.gov (U.S. government), "Risk & Protective Factors". DSST outline: I. Criminal Behavior (15%), c. Juvenile delinquency
Jaywalking is not inherently immoral, but a statute prohibits it. Which term describes an act of that kind?Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute, Wex, "malum prohibitum". DSST outline: I. Criminal Behavior (15%), a. Defining crime
Juvenile courts handle status offenses, which do not apply to adults. Which of these is a status offense?Bureau of Justice Statistics, "The Justice System". DSST outline: I. Criminal Behavior (15%), c. Juvenile delinquency
Show all 100 questions (94 more)
Criminal behavior, continued
Mens rea is the criminal intent a conviction usually requires. What is its literal translation from Latin?Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute, Wex, "mens rea". DSST outline: I. Criminal Behavior (15%), a. Defining crime
National crime rates are built from index offenses. Which of these did the FBI's crime index class as a violent crime?Wikipedia, "Uniform Crime Reports". DSST outline: I. Criminal Behavior (15%), e. Crime in the United States
Robert K. Merton's strain theory traces crime to which source?Wikipedia, "Strain theory (sociology)". DSST outline: I. Criminal Behavior (15%), f. Theories of crime
Routine activity theory names three conditions that come together for most crime. Two are a likely offender and a suitable target. What is the third?Wikipedia, "Routine activity theory". DSST outline: I. Criminal Behavior (15%), f. Theories of crime
What does the theory of differential association say about criminal behavior?Wikipedia, "Differential association". DSST outline: I. Criminal Behavior (15%), f. Theories of crime
Where do the figures in the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program come from?Wikipedia, "Uniform Crime Reports". DSST outline: I. Criminal Behavior (15%), d. Measurement of crime and delinquency
Which crimes does the National Crime Victimization Survey capture that a count of police reports cannot?Bureau of Justice Statistics, "National Crime Victimization Survey". DSST outline: I. Criminal Behavior (15%), d. Measurement of crime and delinquency
Which kind of offense typically carries under 12 months in jail?Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute, Wex, "misdemeanor". DSST outline: I. Criminal Behavior (15%), b. Types of crime
Who wrote On Crimes and Punishments (1764), a founding work of the classical school of criminology?Wikipedia, "Cesare Beccaria". DSST outline: I. Criminal Behavior (15%), f. Theories of crime
Criminal justice system 25
A judge sets bail far above what the charge could justify. Which amendment speaks to that?National Archives, "The Bill of Rights: A Transcription". DSST outline: II. Criminal Justice System (25%), a. Historical origins and legal foundations
A jury acquits a defendant, and the same government then files the same charge again. Which amendment stands in the way?National Archives, "The Bill of Rights: A Transcription". DSST outline: II. Criminal Justice System (25%), a. Historical origins and legal foundations
After an arrest, who decides whether formal charges will be filed with the court?Bureau of Justice Statistics, "The Justice System". DSST outline: II. Criminal Justice System (25%), c. Criminal justice agencies
At what point does Miranda v. Arizona (1966) require the police to give their warnings?Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute, Wex, "Miranda warning". DSST outline: II. Criminal Justice System (25%), a. Historical origins and legal foundations
The Bureau of Justice Statistics flowchart of the justice system updates a chart first prepared in 1967. Which body prepared the original?Bureau of Justice Statistics, "The Justice System". DSST outline: II. Criminal Justice System (25%), c. Criminal justice agencies
Corrections is primarily a function of which level of government?Bureau of Justice Statistics, "The Justice System". DSST outline: II. Criminal Justice System (25%), c. Criminal justice agencies
The Federal Bureau of Prisons belongs to which department?Wikipedia, "Federal law enforcement in the United States". DSST outline: II. Criminal Justice System (25%), c. Criminal justice agencies
How does the Bureau of Justice Statistics describe the way the United States apprehends, tries and punishes offenders?Bureau of Justice Statistics, "The Justice System". DSST outline: II. Criminal Justice System (25%), c. Criminal justice agencies
In a criminal prosecution, which of these rights is written into the Sixth Amendment?National Archives, "The Bill of Rights: A Transcription". DSST outline: II. Criminal Justice System (25%), a. Historical origins and legal foundations
Substantive law defines rights and offenses. What does procedural law do?Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute, Wex, "procedural law". DSST outline: II. Criminal Justice System (25%), a. Historical origins and legal foundations
Through which amendment have parts of the Bill of Rights been made applicable to the states?Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute, Wex, "incorporation doctrine". DSST outline: II. Criminal Justice System (25%), a. Historical origins and legal foundations
Under the crime control model, the justice process is compared to which image?Introduction to the American Criminal Justice System (Open Oregon, open textbook), 1.8 The Crime Control and Due Process Models. DSST outline: II. Criminal Justice System (25%), b. Crime control model versus due process model
Under the crime control model, what is the most important function of the criminal justice system?Introduction to the American Criminal Justice System (Open Oregon, open textbook), 1.8 The Crime Control and Due Process Models. DSST outline: II. Criminal Justice System (25%), b. Crime control model versus due process model
Under which doctrine do courts adhere to precedent when they decide a case?Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute, Wex, "stare decisis". DSST outline: II. Criminal Justice System (25%), a. Historical origins and legal foundations
What did the Supreme Court rule in Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)?Wikipedia, "Gideon v. Wainwright". DSST outline: II. Criminal Justice System (25%), a. Historical origins and legal foundations
What does the exclusionary rule do?Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute, Wex, "exclusionary rule". DSST outline: II. Criminal Justice System (25%), a. Historical origins and legal foundations
What is common law?Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute, Wex, "common law". DSST outline: II. Criminal Justice System (25%), a. Historical origins and legal foundations
What is of utmost importance under the due process model?Introduction to the American Criminal Justice System (Open Oregon, open textbook), 1.8 The Crime Control and Due Process Models. DSST outline: II. Criminal Justice System (25%), b. Crime control model versus due process model
What must generally be satisfied under the Fourth Amendment before police may make an arrest or obtain a warrant?Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute, Wex, "probable cause". DSST outline: II. Criminal Justice System (25%), a. Historical origins and legal foundations
Which amendment protects people against unreasonable searches and seizures?National Archives, "The Bill of Rights: A Transcription". DSST outline: II. Criminal Justice System (25%), a. Historical origins and legal foundations
Which burden of proof must the prosecution meet for a criminal conviction?Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute, Wex, "beyond a reasonable doubt". DSST outline: II. Criminal Justice System (25%), a. Historical origins and legal foundations
Which legal scholar proposed the crime control and due process models of criminal justice?Wikipedia, "Herbert L. Packer". DSST outline: II. Criminal Justice System (25%), b. Crime control model versus due process model
Which term means an authority conferred by law to act in accordance with an official's own considered judgment and conscience?Bureau of Justice Statistics, "The Justice System". DSST outline: II. Criminal Justice System (25%), c. Criminal justice agencies
Who is the chief federal law enforcement officer within each federal judicial district?U.S. Department of Justice, Offices of the United States Attorneys, "Mission". DSST outline: II. Criminal Justice System (25%), c. Criminal justice agencies
With which level of government does the responsibility to respond to most crime rest?Bureau of Justice Statistics, "The Justice System". DSST outline: II. Criminal Justice System (25%), c. Criminal justice agencies
Law enforcement 20
How do most county sheriffs in the United States come to hold the office?Wikipedia, "Sheriffs in the United States". DSST outline: III. Law Enforcement (20%), b. Types of law enforcement agencies
In problem-oriented policing, what do the letters of the SARA model stand for?Wikipedia, "Problem-oriented policing". DSST outline: III. Law Enforcement (20%), c. Law enforcement roles and responsibilities
The Peelian principles treat officers as citizens in uniform who act with the public's agreement. By what name is this approach known?Wikipedia, "Peelian principles". DSST outline: III. Law Enforcement (20%), a. History of policing
Police protection is primarily a function of which level of government?Bureau of Justice Statistics, "The Justice System". DSST outline: III. Law Enforcement (20%), b. Types of law enforcement agencies
Under Tennessee v. Garner (1985), when may an officer use deadly force to stop a fleeing suspect?Wikipedia, "Tennessee v. Garner". DSST outline: III. Law Enforcement (20%), c. Law enforcement roles and responsibilities
What did the Kansas City preventive patrol experiment of 1972 and 1973 find?Wikipedia, "Kansas City preventive patrol experiment". DSST outline: III. Law Enforcement (20%), a. History of policing
What did the Knapp Commission call officers who accept gratuities and small payments but do not pursue corruption payments?Wikipedia, "Knapp Commission". DSST outline: III. Law Enforcement (20%), d. Issues and trends in policing
What does the broken windows theory, introduced by James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling in 1982, claim?Wikipedia, "Broken windows theory". DSST outline: III. Law Enforcement (20%), d. Issues and trends in policing
What is the blue wall of silence?Wikipedia, "Blue wall of silence". DSST outline: III. Law Enforcement (20%), d. Issues and trends in policing
What must the police have before they briefly stop a person on the street under Terry v. Ohio (1968)?Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute, Wex, "stop and frisk". DSST outline: III. Law Enforcement (20%), c. Law enforcement roles and responsibilities
What was the initial mandate of the United States Secret Service?Wikipedia, "United States Secret Service". DSST outline: III. Law Enforcement (20%), b. Types of law enforcement agencies
Which approach, both a philosophy and a way of organizing, has police work with citizens and community groups to produce safety and security?Wikipedia, "Community policing". DSST outline: III. Law Enforcement (20%), c. Law enforcement roles and responsibilities
Which department, created in 2002, became the one with more sworn, armed federal officers than any other?Wikipedia, "Federal law enforcement in the United States". DSST outline: III. Law Enforcement (20%), b. Types of law enforcement agencies
Which era, beginning around the 1840s, is often called the earliest era of American policing?Introduction to the American Criminal Justice System (Open Oregon, open textbook), 6.3 Policing Eras. DSST outline: III. Law Enforcement (20%), a. History of policing
Which federal officers were created by the Judiciary Act of 1789 and are described as the original federal law enforcement officers?Wikipedia, "United States Marshals Service". DSST outline: III. Law Enforcement (20%), b. Types of law enforcement agencies
Which first police chief of Berkeley, California, is known as the father of modern policing?Wikipedia, "August Vollmer". DSST outline: III. Law Enforcement (20%), a. History of policing
Which of these federal law enforcement agencies is part of the Department of Justice?Wikipedia, "Federal law enforcement in the United States". DSST outline: III. Law Enforcement (20%), b. Types of law enforcement agencies
Which standard did Graham v. Connor (1989) set for a claim that police used excessive force in an arrest?Wikipedia, "Graham v. Connor". DSST outline: III. Law Enforcement (20%), c. Law enforcement roles and responsibilities
Who introduced the Metropolitan Police Act 1829, which established London's Metropolitan Police?Wikipedia, "Metropolitan Police Act 1829". DSST outline: III. Law Enforcement (20%), a. History of policing
The Wickersham Commission published its report in 1931. Which police practice did it expose?Wikipedia, "Wickersham Commission". DSST outline: III. Law Enforcement (20%), a. History of policing
Court system 20
How many Supreme Court justices must agree to review a case before the Court grants certiorari?Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute, Wex, "certiorari". DSST outline: IV. Court System (20%), b. Organization, structure and levels of the court system
In a juvenile case, which filing requests an adjudicatory hearing?Bureau of Justice Statistics, "The Justice System". DSST outline: IV. Court System (20%), c. Adult and juvenile court systems
In Kent v. United States (1966), what did the Supreme Court require before a juvenile court sends a minor to adult court?Introduction to the American Criminal Justice System (Open Oregon, open textbook), 10.6 Due Process in the Juvenile Court. DSST outline: IV. Court System (20%), c. Adult and juvenile court systems
In the federal system, which courts are the trial courts?Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, "Court Role and Structure". DSST outline: IV. Court System (20%), b. Organization, structure and levels of the court system
Marbury v. Madison (1803) is remembered for establishing which power of the courts?National Archives, Milestone Documents, "Marbury v. Madison (1803)". DSST outline: IV. Court System (20%), a. History of the court system
On whose presentence investigations do courts often rely when they assess a convicted person's circumstances?Bureau of Justice Statistics, "The Justice System". DSST outline: IV. Court System (20%), e. Sentencing options and trends
What can a court of general jurisdiction do that a court of limited jurisdiction cannot?Introduction to the American Criminal Justice System (Open Oregon, open textbook), 7.2 Jurisdiction. DSST outline: IV. Court System (20%), b. Organization, structure and levels of the court system
What did the Supreme Court hold in In re Gault (1967)?Wikipedia, "In re Gault". DSST outline: IV. Court System (20%), c. Adult and juvenile court systems
What do three-strikes laws generally mandate?Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute, Wex, "three strikes". DSST outline: IV. Court System (20%), e. Sentencing options and trends
What does a defendant do by pleading nolo contendere?Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute, Wex, "nolo contendere". DSST outline: IV. Court System (20%), d. Pretrial, trial and post-trial processes
What happens during voir dire?Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute, Wex, "voir dire". DSST outline: IV. Court System (20%), d. Pretrial, trial and post-trial processes
What is a plea bargain?Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute, Wex, "plea bargain". DSST outline: IV. Court System (20%), d. Pretrial, trial and post-trial processes
What is it called when a prosecutor drops charges after making efforts to prosecute?Bureau of Justice Statistics, "The Justice System". DSST outline: IV. Court System (20%), d. Pretrial, trial and post-trial processes
What is the task of a federal court of appeals?Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, "Court Role and Structure". DSST outline: IV. Court System (20%), b. Organization, structure and levels of the court system
What marks a determinate sentencing law?Bureau of Justice Statistics, "The Justice System". DSST outline: IV. Court System (20%), e. Sentencing options and trends
What were pretrial release and bail traditionally intended to do?Bureau of Justice Statistics, "The Justice System". DSST outline: IV. Court System (20%), d. Pretrial, trial and post-trial processes
Where was the juvenile court created in 1899?Introduction to the American Criminal Justice System (Open Oregon, open textbook), 10.3 History of the Juvenile Justice System. DSST outline: IV. Court System (20%), c. Adult and juvenile court systems
Which formal written accusation is submitted to the court by a prosecutor and not by a grand jury?Bureau of Justice Statistics, "The Justice System". DSST outline: IV. Court System (20%), d. Pretrial, trial and post-trial processes
Which law, signed by President Washington on September 24, 1789, established a federal court system?National Archives, Milestone Documents, "Federal Judiciary Act (1789)". DSST outline: IV. Court System (20%), a. History of the court system
Which part of the Constitution created the Supreme Court and let Congress establish a system of lower courts?Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, "Court Role and Structure". DSST outline: IV. Court System (20%), b. Organization, structure and levels of the court system
Corrections 20
A judge gives a harsh sentence mainly so that the public will be discouraged from the same crime. Which aim of punishment is that?Wikipedia, "Deterrence (penology)". DSST outline: V. Corrections (20%), b. Philosophies of punishment
Donald Clemmer described inmates taking on the folkways, customs and general culture of the penitentiary. What did he call the process?Wikipedia, "Prisoner". DSST outline: V. Corrections (20%), g. Inmate characteristics
Furman v. Georgia (1972) brought executions to a halt across the country. What had the Court found?Wikipedia, "Furman v. Georgia". DSST outline: V. Corrections (20%), f. Capital punishment
How were prisoners held under the Auburn system of the 19th century?Wikipedia, "Auburn system". DSST outline: V. Corrections (20%), a. History of corrections
In the juvenile system, what is a detention center?Introduction to the American Criminal Justice System (Open Oregon, open textbook), 10.11 Juvenile Institutions. DSST outline: V. Corrections (20%), e. Juvenile correctional facilities
On which principle was the separate system, also called the Pennsylvania system, based?Wikipedia, "Separate system". DSST outline: V. Corrections (20%), a. History of corrections
Under Estelle v. Gamble (1976), what must a prisoner show to claim that poor medical care violated the Eighth Amendment?Wikipedia, "Estelle v. Gamble". DSST outline: V. Corrections (20%), h. Issues and trends
Under retributive justice, how is punishment set?Wikipedia, "Retributive justice". DSST outline: V. Corrections (20%), b. Philosophies of punishment
What did the Supreme Court hold about California's overcrowded prisons in Brown v. Plata (2011)?Wikipedia, "Brown v. Plata". DSST outline: V. Corrections (20%), d. Adult prison facilities
What did the Supreme Court hold in Roper v. Simmons (2005)?Wikipedia, "Roper v. Simmons". DSST outline: V. Corrections (20%), f. Capital punishment
What does restorative justice seek to do?Wikipedia, "Restorative justice". DSST outline: V. Corrections (20%), b. Philosophies of punishment
What does the deinstitutionalization of status offenders requirement of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act generally prohibit?Wikipedia, "Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act". DSST outline: V. Corrections (20%), e. Juvenile correctional facilities
What is a private prison?Wikipedia, "Private prison". DSST outline: V. Corrections (20%), h. Issues and trends
What is parole?Bureau of Justice Statistics, "The Justice System". DSST outline: V. Corrections (20%), c. Intermediate status (probation, parole)
Where do offenders sentenced to less than one year of incarceration generally serve their time?Bureau of Justice Statistics, "The Justice System". DSST outline: V. Corrections (20%), d. Adult prison facilities
Which 1976 decision reaffirmed the Supreme Court's acceptance of the death penalty and ended the moratorium that followed Furman?Wikipedia, "Gregg v. Georgia". DSST outline: V. Corrections (20%), f. Capital punishment
Which aim of punishment means making a person unable to commit further crimes?Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute, Wex, "incapacitation". DSST outline: V. Corrections (20%), b. Philosophies of punishment
Which boot maker and penal reformer is known as America's Father of Probation?Wikipedia, "John Augustus". DSST outline: V. Corrections (20%), c. Intermediate status (probation, parole)
Which sentence lets a convicted person remain at liberty, subject to conditions and restrictions?Bureau of Justice Statistics, "The Justice System". DSST outline: V. Corrections (20%), c. Intermediate status (probation, parole)
Who was the first superintendent of the Elmira Reformatory, which opened in 1876 and sought to reform and rehabilitate its inmates?Wikipedia, "Elmira Correctional Facility". DSST outline: V. Corrections (20%), a. History of corrections
How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to the content outline of the DSST Criminal Justice fact sheet (Prometric, revised 11/2021, https://getcollegecredit.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/DSST_CriminalJustice.pdf, read 2026-10-08): criminal behavior 15%, criminal justice system 25%, law enforcement 20%, court system 20%, corrections 20%. The bank holds 15, 25, 20, 20 and 20 questions, the same shares of the real exam's 100. Every answer was read on 2026-10-08 in the public page its question names: the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Archives, the U.S. Courts, the Department of Justice, Youth.gov, Cornell's Wex legal encyclopedia, the Open Oregon textbook Introduction to the American Criminal Justice System and Wikipedia. Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site.
How it works
This free criminal justice DSST practice test has 100 questions of our own, as many as the real exam, each marked at once with its reason and source. Unofficial, and not affiliated with Prometric, which owns the DSST program.
Read the full guide
Five areas and their weights
The fact sheet (revised 11/2021, read October 8, 2026) weights them: the criminal justice system 25%; law enforcement, the court system and corrections 20% each; criminal behavior 15%. The bank holds 25, 20, 20, 20 and 15 questions.
100 questions, 2 hours
The real exam gives 2 hours for its 100 questions, and exam mode keeps both numbers.
Where the answers come from
Each answer was read in a public page that the question names, among them the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Archives, the U.S. Courts, Cornell's Wex legal encyclopedia, an open college textbook and Wikipedia.
The largest area is the system itself: sources of law, the Bill of Rights, the two models of justice, and which agency does what.
Pair each case with its rule: Mapp and the exclusionary rule, Gideon and counsel, Terry and reasonable suspicion, Gault and juvenile due process.
Questions and answers
Is there a criminal justice DSST study guide?
The free fact sheet from Prometric lists the five content areas and three reference textbooks. Here each of the five areas can be practiced by itself.
What score do you need on the DSST Criminal Justice exam?
The American Council on Education recommends 3 semester hours of lower-level baccalaureate credit at a minimum score of 400. That is a scaled score, not a percent, and each college sets its own policy.
Are these real DSST Criminal Justice questions?
No. Every question was written for this site from the public outline and public sources. None is copied or reworded from the real exam or from the sample questions on the fact sheet.