AC 3.3 Flashcards
What is recidivism?
Recidivism refers to repeat offenders who fail to rehabilitate and continue to commit crime.
How has the prison population changed in England and Wales from 1993 to 2015?
The prison population nearly doubled, with an increase of 41,000 people, reaching 89,332 by June 2016.
What is the minimum supervision period for offenders released after serving two days or more?
Offenders must serve a minimum of 12 months under supervision in the community.
What has happened to the recall population since February 2015?
The recall population has increased by 19%, with nearly 1,100 more people recalled to custody.
What are the re-conviction rates within a year of release from prison?
The re-conviction rate is very high at 48%, and for those serving short sentences of less than 12 months, it is 63% for adults.
Who is more likely to reoffend?
Individuals with more previous convictions, males compared to females, and those serving prison sentences are more likely to reoffend.
What do right realists argue about prison?
Right realists argue that prison works as a deterrent, but high rates of reoffending challenge this view.
What do Marxists argue about unemployed offenders?
Marxists argue that unemployed offenders are more likely to reoffend due to limited opportunities to meet their needs.
What are civil liberties?
Civil liberties are basic rights and freedoms granted to citizens, including freedom of speech, movement, and assembly.
How can civil liberties limit social control?
Civil liberties can restrict agencies like the police from achieving social control, such as when foreign nationals cannot be deported due to EU regulations.
What is an example of human rights abuse in authoritarian states?
In police states, social control agencies may have few restrictions, leading to indefinite detention of government critics.
What does the case of Abu Qatada illustrate?
It demonstrates how civil liberties can limit social control, as he could not be deported due to risks of torture in Jordan.
What is due process?
Due process includes protections against arbitrary arrest and detention without trial, acting as a barrier to state control.
How does access to resources limit rehabilitation?
Upon release, offenders face challenges with finance, accommodation, and employment opportunities.
What are literacy levels among the prison population?
Nearly two-thirds (62%) of people entering prison have literacy skills expected of an 11-year-old.
What issues exist with education and training in prisons?
Inadequate resources and a drop in participation in education programs limit rehabilitation opportunities.
What is the purpose of Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL)?
ROTL allows trusted prisoners to attend training and job interviews, but few can utilize it due to staff shortages.
What is the government’s plan to increase support for prisoners?
The government plans to introduce a prisoner apprenticeship program to help with reintegration.
What challenges do prisoners face upon release?
Prisoners often lack money, jobs, and stable accommodation, leading to higher chances of reoffending.
What is the ‘End Friday releases’ campaign?
This campaign aims to end Friday releases to prevent ex-prisoners from facing service access issues over the weekend.
What are community sentences and their effectiveness?
Community sentences are more successful than prison in reducing recidivism, with only 34% reoffending within 12 months.
What are some reasons for reoffending among community sentences?
Inadequate support for complex needs and lax supervision by probation services contribute to reoffending.
What financial challenges do police forces face?
Between 2010 and 2018, police budgets were cut by 19%, leading to a reduction in police numbers and investigations.
How have CPS budget cuts affected case investigations?
CPS budget cuts of a quarter led to staff losses and inefficient investigations, downgrading charges for quicker prosecutions.
What issues have arisen in prisons due to budget cuts?
Budget cuts led to overcrowding and reduced rehabilitation opportunities, with recidivism rates around 60% for short sentences.
What problems were highlighted in the probation service?
Staff shortages and failures by private Community Rehabilitation Companies have undermined the effectiveness of the probation service.
How do charities face challenges in social control?
Charities rely on voluntary contributions and have lost over £3.8 billion in government grants over the last decade.
How do local police forces prioritize crimes?
Local police may focus on trivial crimes to meet government targets, potentially neglecting serious offenses.
What changes were made to police stop and search powers in 2019?
The Home Secretary made it easier for police to stop and search without reasonable suspicion under section 60 of the Criminal Justice Act.
What is the serious violence strategy?
It aims to involve multiple agencies in addressing violence, particularly among youth at risk of gang involvement.
What local policies may arise in response to crime?
Local policies may prioritize specific crimes based on community needs, such as areas with high knife crime.
What crimes will police focus on tackling nationwide?
Police will focus on tackling knife, gun, and gang crimes nationwide.
What new offences were introduced to improve prosecution rates?
New offences such as gang injunctions were introduced to improve the prosecution rate.
What plans did the mayor of London introduce in 2019?
The mayor of London introduced plans to tackle hate crime and boost the metropolitan antiterrorism squad.
What can happen to other crimes as a result of focusing on gang crimes?
Other crimes such as white-collar crime or fraud can be ignored as it is not in the government interest.
How are local policies set in response to local needs?
Some priorities are set locally in response to local needs, such as increased stop and search in areas with high knife crime.
What is the impact of decriminalising low-level cannabis possession in Durham?
Decriminalising low-level cannabis possession allows police to focus more on serious crimes.
What theory can arise from ignoring small levels of crime?
Ignoring small levels of crime can lead to the broken window theory, where minor crimes lead to more serious crimes.
What are weapons amnesties?
Weapons amnesties are local priorities where police do not arrest people who surrender illegal weapons.
What was the outcome of the two-week guns amnesty in London in 2017?
The amnesty led to 350 firearms and 40,000 rounds of ammunition being handed in.
What is the impact of the environment on recidivism?
The environment an ex-offender returns to can significantly impact recidivism; family visits reduce reoffending.
What percentage of prisoners had no family visits according to the Prison Reform Trust (2016)?
68% of prisoners had no family visit.
How does purposeful activity in prison affect reoffending?
Purposeful activity, including education and work, reduces the risk of reoffending.
What percentage of prisons received a positive rating for purposeful activity work in 2015-2016?
Fewer than half (44%) of the prisons received a positive rating.
What is the employment situation for released prisoners?
Only one in four (27%) people had a job to go to on release from prison.
What percentage of employers have hired someone with a criminal record in the past three years?
Only 12% of employers surveyed said they had employed someone with a criminal record.
What is a moral imperative?
A moral imperative is a strongly felt principle that compels a person to act, leading offenders to commit crime believing they are doing the right thing.
What did the Suffragettes do in the early 20th century?
The Suffragettes campaigned for women’s right to vote, breaking the law through direct action and civil disobedience.
What actions did the Suffragettes take as part of their campaign?
They set fire to post boxes, smashed windows, cut telegraph wires, and attacked a portrait of the Duke of Wellington.
What happened to Emily Davison during the Derby race in 1913?
Emily Davison died when she protested by throwing herself under the king’s horse.
What crime did Kay Gilderdale commit?
Kay Gilderdale broke the law by assisting the suicide of her seriously ill daughter.
Why did Alan Blythe cultivate cannabis?
Alan Blythe cultivated cannabis to provide it to his terminally ill wife to relieve her pain.
What is the legal status of assisted suicide and euthanasia under English law?
Assisted suicide is illegal and punishable by up to 14 years imprisonment; euthanasia is regarded as either manslaughter or murder.
What do functionalists like Durkheim argue about deviance?
Functionalists argue that without deviance, new social values could not emerge, and society would stagnate.
How did the Suffragettes’ law-breaking impact society?
Their actions drew attention to the injustice of denying women the vote and promoted equality as a basic value of UK society.
