AC 3.3 Flashcards
Examine the limitations of agencies in achieving social control
limitation one – repeat offenders/recidivism
-on average, those who reoffend commit a further 4 offences each, continues to rise
-prison population is double what it was in 1993
-white offenders are most likely to reoffend (28%)
-60% of crime is unreported
-theft, fraud and drug crimes are those most likely to reoffend
-more convictions someone has, the more likely to reoffend
-more convictions someone has, the more likely they are to reoffend
-annual cost of reoffending is £18 billion
-63% of juveniles released from custody reoffend within a year
-average min. sentence for murder increased to 21.3 years
limitation one – link to theory
-right realism: high recidivism rate suggests prison isn’t a deterrent
-marxism: financial status of some people who are released from prison means that they struggle to meet their needs, reoffending is likely
-social learning theory: recidivism can be explained, offender learn from and copy other offenders
limitation two – civil liberties and legal barrier
-laws can prevent social control
-civil liberties are basic rights and freedoms granted to citizens through the law
-can limit social control, people have a right to freedom of speech etc.
-example, foreign nationals with criminal convictions who cannot be removed due to EU regulations, deportation cannot take place, danger at home
-example, Abu Qatada, radical islamic clerk and hate preacher, UK wanted to deport him, EU court of human rights said he couldn’t due to risk of torture
limitation two – link to theory
-marxism: these laws are necessary to protect the working class from the ruling elite making judgements against them
limitation three – access to resources and support
-lack of resources and support can prevent social control being established
-short sentences don’t give enough time to address issues
-average reading age of someone going to prison = 11 years old, numeracy level = 9 years
-2020, 2/5 of prisons were delivering enough programmes of useful activity due to inadequate education resources
-15% cut in prison officers numbers, staff shortages = prisoners locked up by 6pm
-release on temporary license (ROTL), allow trusted prisoners out to attend funerals etc.
limitation three – access to resources and support – in the community
-prisoners have little money when they leave prison, given £46 discharge grant
-only 1/4 of them have a job to go to
-NACRO, 1/9 prisoners have no permanent accommodation to go to upon release
-prisoners lose entitlement to housing benefits if they stay longer than 13 weeks in prison
-example, end friday releases, 1/3
limitation four – finance – Police
-19% reduction in funds between 2010-2018, led to a fall of 20,000 officers
-more cases were dropped so that they could prioritise, led to more crimes going unreported
limitation four – finance – CPS
-1/4 of the budget was cut between 2010-2018, staff members decreased
-not able to investigate cases efficiently
-accused of downgrading crimes, can utilise all courts, led to lenient sentences
limitation four – finance – Prisons
-2010-2018 prison budget fell by 16%, staff levels declined
-overcrowding = less opportunities for education, training, poor mental health, increased assaults
limitation four – finance – Probation services
-Glenys Stacey = 2019 staff shortages
-led to service not being effective, inadequate safeguarding of victims, substandard private agencies
limitation five – local and national policies
-focus on policies being enforced in one area may lead to lack of prioritisation in another
-national policies, stop and search 1994 etc. – introduced by the government
-under Criminal Justice and Public Order Act (1994), police give ability to stop and search for weapons without suspicion
-‘serious violence strategy’ brought in to increase police powers and collaborations with other agencies
-example, Knife angel, weapon amnesty in areas where knife crime is high
limitation six – environment
-upon release, offender return to same social circle and environment
-Prison Reform Trust (2016), only 27% of prisoners have a job upon release and only 12% of employers said they had employed someone with a criminal record in the past 3 years
limitation six – link to theory
-Marxism: bourgeoisie construct the rules of society to prevent the proletariat from achieving in life, have no other option but to commit crime
limitation seven– crime committed by those with moral imperatives
-offenders may commit cimes as they believe it is correct and a moral thing to do
-example: Anti-vivisection protestors, (testing on live animals), Luke Steele, head of coalition, imprisoned twice for attacks on labs, along with harassment and intimidation of lab workers
limitation seven – link to theory
-Functionalism: some crimes may be positive and serve a function in society, law-abiding people reaffirm their good values and produce social solidarity
