3.4 Evaluate Effectiveness of Agencies In Achieving SC Flashcards
- Police
strengths :
- keep peace, maintain order, protect life and investigate crime mostly effeciently for minor crimes
concerns :
- 48% of cases being closed w no suspect identified (68% of these are criminal damage or arson)
- proportion of offences with ppl being charged fell from 14% - 11%
inefficiency :
- mcpherson report highlights that they failed prosecution in the stephen lawrence case
- accused of institutional racism and 70 recommendations were made to help improve their reporting procedures
criticisms :
- crime rate increasing, amount of crime being solved has decreased
- 2015-2020 - clear up rates of people being charged fell from 17%-15%
puppy family murder :
- surrey police heavily criticsed for returning a firearm certificate and shottgun to a double murder suspect just a few months prior
- he killed his 4 puppies, wife and step daughter
quality of data :
- could report better
- dark figure of crime increasing
- CPS
strengths :
- provide a fair trial and it is honest and independent with no influence
- apply codes of practice
concerns :
- funding problems - 25% decrease led to 1/3 of staff leaving
- more budget cuts will lead to disaster as digital technology is creating a heavier workload for staff - 600 hrs to analyse phone content
- work too close w the police despite saying they are independent
- failed to appropriately apply the ful code test to damilola taylor - didnt examine evidence fully and failed to realise a key witness is lying
- acted irresponsibly and therefore they failed
- Judiciary
Strengths :
- interpret law and make decisions about it
- set precedents about law for other courts to appeal
- ensure fair trial aligning w human rights
- drawn from senior ranks of legal professions - experts
- independent - incorruptiable
- magistrates have links to communities so these issues can be addressed
concerns :
- out of touch because of demographic
- budget cuts - backlog of criminal cases and so delayed victim support
- these cuts dont align with gov wishes of being tougher on crime
- increased appeals for sentences which were too lenient
cases :
- sander vs uk - racist remarks made my juries and failed to recognised by trial judge until ECHR intervened
- Prisons
strengths :
- provide incapactiation of dangerous criminals from society
- allow rehabilitation by providing education courses etc
- provide general and individual deterrence
concerns :
- 1/10 people said that they dont think prisons is effective for tackling crime
- early intervention and discipline etc is better
- prison pop has increased by 70% in last 30 years
- violence, attack on staff and suicide rates are high in prisons
- HMP Prison Birmingham - 5000 cells opened by other prisoners - not effective
- SLT, Token Economies etc doesnt really work or apply
- National Probation Service
Strengths :
- 1/2 the reoffending rate compared to prisons
- allow rehabilitation while on probation and curfews etc
Concerns :
- 21 CRS’ but 19 failed to meet their targets and this was shown in an inspection report
- some were only failed over phone instead of properly
- head of the NPS said it is ‘iredeemebly flawed’ and because of this less probation sentences have been given out
- 1/98 ppl reported having a mentor
- suicide rates within system are high
- some high risk offenders have been released with inadequate assessments
- Charities
- NACRO
- help young offenders who are in prison
- aim to support a range of client groups to change their lives and reduce crime and reoffending rates
- reduce offender stereyotypes - have helped house 3000 tenants in their own properties
- 2018 - 2,600 people left prison with secure accom - Prince’s Trust
- help young people in trouble with the law
- helped 825,000 aged 13-30
- help the unemployed and those struggling in general
- help ex - offender’s positively transition back into communities
