1.1 - Sanctions Flashcards
What is social control?
All sanctions are forms of social control. They are punishments there to prevent crime and deviance, and to ensure people adhere to our norms and values.
What are the types of sanctions?
- Formal Sanctions
- Informal Sanctions
- Positive Sanctions
What are formal sanctions?
Enforced by official organisations like the police and courts.
What are informal sanctions?
Punishments that are not written down. Ways that peers and family show disapproval.
What are positive sanctions?
Rewards for behaviour that society approves of / that aligns with societal norms.
Examples of formal sanctions against criminals
- Custodial Sentences (prison)
- Community Sentences
- Discharge
- Absolute Discharge
- Police Sanctions
Examples of community sentences
Curfews, tags, community service, fines.
What deos discharge mean?
Released as long as they don’t commit further crimes in a given time.
What is absolute discharge?
Not a conviction - the defendant is guilty, but punishment is not appropriate.
What are police sanctions?
Cautions (warnings). Conditional cautions come with conditions like going for weekly drug treatment.
What might a judge consider to ensure that sentences are appropriate for the crime?
- seriousness.
- harm caused.
- offenders level of blame.
- any previous convictions?
- personal circumstances of offender.
- remorse shown.
- guilty plea / admitted to crime.
- what sort of sentence is most likely to change behaviour?
