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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Author Humes explains two cases involving Judge Dorn’s reform in the juvenile justice system in Part 2, Chapter 12. The good case involved a young schizophrenic named what?

2. Sharon Stegall found herself before what Court Commissioner awaiting Carla’s docket in Part 2, Chapter 11?

3. Who challenged the testimony of the prosecution’s key witness in Part 3, Chapter 13?

4. According to the narrator in Part 2, Chapter 10, Sister Janet prodded Geri Vance’s attorney to get him a reduced sentence. The attorney succeeded with a bargain that earned him what maximum sentence?

5. Who was George Trevino’s lawyer that the author approached in Part 4, Chapter 18?

Short Essay Questions

1. Humes relates two cases involving Dorn’s juvenile justice resolutions in Part 2, Chapter 12. How does he describe the “good outcome” case?

2. How much time has passed at the beginning of Part 4, Chapter 18? How does the author describe Judge Dorn’s courtroom at this time?

3. What argument did Jim Hickey make at a meeting to discuss juvenile justice reform in Part 2, Chapter 9?

4. Who was Peter Wilson? What did Peter Wilson address during a press conference described by the author in Part 2, Chapter 10?

5. Who was arrested for the brutal murders in Inglewood in Part 3, Chapter 13? How was this suspect apprehended?

6. How is Mark Lancaster’s background described in Part 3, Chapter 15? What was Mark charged with?

7. What changed the victims’ family’s perception of the District Attorney’s case against Roland Duncan in Part 3, Chapter 13?

8. What program helped to rehabilitate Andre, according to the author in Part 2, Chapter 9?

9. How was Geri Vance’s court case described in Part 3, Chapter 16? What was the outcome?

10. What did Roy Sukoda’s study show, according to the author in Part 2, Chapter 9?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Are any children truly irredeemable? Why or why not? Do you think the juvenile justice system as described by Humes overestimates the number of irredeemable children or underestimates it? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss role of the intake officers at Central Juvenile Hall. Why does the author describe these figures as powerful? How do their reports help to shape the life of a prisoner within the juvenile justice system?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the origins, history, and statistics of street gangs in Los Angeles from the 1960s to today. What are the contributing factors in the rise and fall of gang activity? Why are gangs such an issue in the juvenile justice system? Who among the kids followed by Humes in the book were involved in gangs?

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