3.3 Limitations Of Agencies In Achieving Social Control

Question 1

What are the 6 limitations of agencies in achieving social control

Answer 1

• repeat offending
• civil liberties and legal barriers
• access to recourses and support
• finance
• local and national policies
• crime committed by those with moral imperatives

Question 2

Explain repeat offending as a limitation

Answer 2

• high recidivism rates
• 2017- 30% for all criminals, 74% for those serving short sentence in juvenile centre

Question 3

What does repeat offending cause

Answer 3

• overcrowding (also caused by longer sentences)

Question 4

When is someone more likely to reoffend

Answer 4

• have several previous convictions
• spent time in prison opposed to community sentence
• those with addictions

Question 5

What 2 theories are used for repeat offending and what is said

Answer 5

Right realism- increased realism highlights that prison isn’t a deterrent, which challenges right realists ideas of rational choice theory
Marxism- the financial struggle of offenders after release means that they struggle to meet their needs and are more likely to reoffend

Question 6

Explain civil liberties and legal barriers as a limitation

Answer 6

Civil liberties are basic freedoms/rights, agencies who are given legal powers over citizens may prevent human rights e.g. negatively sanctioning speech they consider undesirable

Question 7

Explain legal processes such as the due process as a limitation (civil liberties and legal barriers)

Answer 7

These processes prevent people from exercising rights e.g. we have right to freedom from arbitrary arrest but police have legal powers to arrest if they claim they have reasoanble cause