AC 3.1 Explain the Role of Agencies in Social Control Flashcards
The Role of the Police
- Funded by government (17Bill in March 2023), local council tax, organisations pay the constabulary to have officers at football games
- National reach, regional in constabularies
- Some departments are UK wide - NCA, Transport Police, Border Force
- Deal with all types of crimes and ages (e.g. HMRC - tax evasion and fraud)
How do the Police achieve social control?
- The police are the main body of social control
- Act as a deterrent because they have the power to punish people
- Arrest, patrol, stop and search, fine
- Can also order you to leave an area
The Role of the CPS
- Independent to the police, prosecute cases
- Advise police in investigations, assess evidence, prepare cases for court
- Aims to be independent and fair, honest and open, treat everyone with respect, equality and inclusion
- CPS funding - majority from government, recover some cost when the court award goes against the D
- Deal with all crimes and all ages
How do the CPS achieve social control?
They are the main public prosecutor, impose punishments on people
Role of the Prison Service (stats)
- Protect the public from harm
- Help people to rehabilitate so they can become positive members of society
- Punish people who have committed crimes
- Cost government £6B per year, £48,000 per prisoner per year in 2020
How do the Prison Service achieve social control?
- Through the categories of prisons (A-D), (A = Belmarsh) (D = Kirkham)
- Risk assessment done to decide which prison to send them to
- Incentives and privileges in the prison for good behaviour (TV, video games, visits, letters from home) (Token Economy - Behaviourism)
- Comply with parole conditions
Role of the Judiciary
- Judges are in all courts from mags and county to supreme court
- Ensure the trial is fair and done in accordance with the law
- Consider aggravating and mitigating factors
- The sentencing council provides sentencing guidelines in a range that the judge must impose
- Different roles in different courts (mag→supreme)
How do the Judiciary achieve social control?
- Create social control by giving sentences, decide if someone will lose their freedom
- Deter others from committing the offence so they dont get sentenced
- Decisions are legally binding
Role of the Probation Service
- Change offenders for the better
- Supervise high-risk offenders who’ve been released into the community
- Support victims of serious, sexual and violent crimes
- Protect the public by rehabilitating offenders, tackle the root cause of their offending so they can turn their life around
- Funded by government, but less funding=less help. Reliant on it
How do the Probation Service achieve social control?
- Sodexo Justice System (used to run 6 CRC’s) - projects, skills, employment
- Prepare pre-sentence reports for court to give the best sentence
- Assess prisoners to see if they can be released on license
- Ensure court requirements are being followed
- Communicate with V’s
- Manage housing for people living in supervised accomodation
- Manage community order’s
Role of Charities/Pressure groups
- Voluntary and non-profit organisations that are independent of Government control
- Aim to promote the interests and welfare of people they are concerned with e.g. ex-offenders or victims of crime
- The difference:
- Charities = organisations to help people in need
- Pressure groups = organisations that campaign for change
How do Charities/Pressure Groups achieve social control? + Examples
1) NACRO:
- Funded £50m/year in government grants, public donations and contracts
- Provide housing for 3,000 tenants
- Provide bail accomodation and support services
- Provide education (2018 = 4,900 studying with their services)
- General support and advice, specialising in employment, education, accomodation for offenders because these are the biggest areas they suffer with
2) BAN THE BOX: (also nacro)
- Campaigns to remove the tick-box for criminal convictions in job applications
- Concerned with the needs of disadvanatged people
3) END FRIDAY RELEASE
