Ac 4.1 Criminological Theories Informing Policy Development

Question 1

Biological theories informing policy Development -
What is The theory for brain chemistry?

Answer 1

Crime is due to low levels of serotonin
↓
Criminals lack vitamins and minerals which alters brain chemistry

Question 2

Biological theories informing policy Development -
What is The linked policy for brain chemistry?

Answer 2

Changing neurochemical levels By giving them vitamin and mineral supplements
Changed individuals diets to increase serotonin → given chocolate, oily fish and nuts

Question 3

Biological theories informing policy Development -
What are The strengths of this policy?

Answer 3

Clear evidence of effect - 26% improvement
Researchers used A placebo so we know it isn’t just The ‘placebo effect’
Has other experiments to back up results
Easy to impliment in prisons

Question 4

Biological theories informing policy Development -
What are The weaknesses of this policy?

Answer 4

Expensive For prisons to provide these types of foods
People in The real world eat what they like - difficult to impose once out of prison
Not 100% effective so must be only factor

Question 5

Biological theories informing policy Development -
What is The theory For genetics?

Answer 5

Inheritance of genes could explain Human behavioural characteristics
Reinforces biological determinism - biology contributes to Social problems

Question 6

Biological theories informing policy Development -
What is The linked policy genetics?

Answer 6

Eugenics
Steracisation of People with now-desirable traits
Criminals can’t have children in case of criminal offspring

Question 7

Biological theories informing policy Development -
What are the strengths of this policy?

Answer 7

Can be used To protect People from themselves

Question 8

Biological theories informing policy Development -
What are the weaknesses of this policy?

Answer 8

Can’t be morally justified
Assumes biological determinism
Twin studies prove its Not just genetic factors
Not justifiable because baby hasn’t been born let alone committed A crime
Not easy to apply
Can’t be used fairly
Complicated - how bad does crime need to be before implicated

Question 9

Biological theories informing policy Development -
What is The theory For biological?

Answer 9

Born to be A criminal → biological determinism

Question 10

Biological theories informing policy Development -
What is The linked policy For biological?

Answer 10

The death penalty

Question 11

Biological theories informing policy Development -
What are The strengths of this policy?

Answer 11

Stops People being in prison fir long periods - may be cheaper
Morally some People justify A life For life ‘
70% of prisoners reoffend - safest For society to use death penalty on worst offenders

Question 12

Biological theories informing policy Development -
What are The weaknesses of this policy?

Answer 12

USA murder rates are 25% higher in states that do have the death penalty than those that don’t
↓
Death penalty not a deterrent
Murder is often in The heat of The moment or because of drugs therefore People don’t consider consequences
↓
Not A deterrent
Morally Not justifiable to take A life
Other solutions can Help prisoners to G0 straight and avoid reoffending

Question 13

Individualistic theories informing policy Development -
What is the theory for Social learning?

Answer 13

Operant conditioning
Operant conditioning is linked to reinforcement. Reinforcement - anything that strengthens A behaviour and increases The likelihood of it happening
Positive reinforcement -when behaviour leads to A consequence that is rewarding (getting sticker- adding pleasure)
Negative reinforcement - when behaviour leads to The removal of an unpleasant consequence ( turning off alarm removes unpleasant sound - removing displeasure)
↓
Both increase chances of behaviour
Punishment - unpleasant consequence, removal of something nice or adding something bad.
↓
Reduces Chance of behaviours

Question 14

Individualistic theories informing policy Development -
What is The linked policy For Social learning theory?

Answer 14

Behaviour modification- token economy
Reward System where rewards are provided For positive behaviour
Token is given For desired action, which is later exchanged For A treat
Positive reinforcement
Treats- family visits, weekly spending allowance, Personal clothing, leisure activities

Question 15

Individualistic theories informing policy Development -
What are The strengths of this policy?

Answer 15

Good use of positive reinforcement that helps control behaviour in prisons

Question 16

Individualistic theories informing policy Development -
What are The weaknesses of this policy?

Answer 16

Only provides short term effectiveness For Youth and adult offenders
Only effective in prison - doesn’t translate outside

Question 17

Individualistic theories informing policy Development -
What is The theory linked to Freud?

Answer 17

Psychodynamic theory - criminality occurs due to unresolved conflict between parts of The personality
I’d ego, superego

Question 18

Individualistic theories informing policy Development -
What is The linked policy For this theory?

Answer 18

Psychoanalysis - A treatment that attempts to verbalise thoughts through A variety of methods, aiming to bring repressed thoughts of trauma to The conscious Mind where they can be dealt with
Free Association - talking therapy
Patient is encouraged to tack about whatever enters their Mind without censorship or selection

Question 19

Individualistic theories informing policy Development -
What are The strengths of this policy?

Answer 19

Replaced stigmatization of crime and punishment with careful consideration given to each individual case.
Study In 2010 concluded that it works as well as other psychotherapy treatments - such as CBT

Question 20

Individualistic theories informing policy Development -
What are The weaknesses of this policy?

Answer 20

Time consuming and unlikely to provide quick solutions
Potential power-imbalance between psychologist and patient - ethical issues
May discover painful memories that were deliberately repressed

Question 21

Individualistic theories informing policy Development -
What is The theory linked to Eysenck?

Answer 21

Eysencks personality theory -
Criminality results from certain personality types being more likely to commit crime
E,N,P personalities more likely to offend as difficult For them to control their impulses

Question 22

Individualistic theories informing policy Development -
What is The linked policy for this theory?

Answer 22

Social skills training- treatment that aims to improve Skills in order to avoid offending and Help individuals become more socially competent
Anger management - aims to avoid violent offences By Supporting offenders to understand and manage their anger

Question 23

Individualistic theories informing policy Development -
What are The Strengths of this policy?

Answer 23

Practical treatment - provides offender with Skills needed to control their anger, empowered to lead A ‘Normal’ life
Researchers found offenders are 30% less likely to be re convicted if they engage in CBT and finish programme

Question 24

Individualistic theories informing policy Development -
What are The weaknesses of this policy?

Answer 24

Little long term effectiveness - benefit of training can often be forgotten once The training ends
Some People do Not complete CBT programmes, Time consuming and require A lot of commitment
Requires patents to be motivated to complete The whole programme
Even if complete programme behaviour might Not change

Question 25

Sociological theories informing policy Development - social structure fundamentalist
What is The linked policy for mertons strain theory ?

Answer 25

Princes trust- focus o n getting education and employment to those who need it. For providing opportunities for all, such as free education, social housing, job centres, the government is hoping to reduce blocks on peoples opportunities to reduce crime.

Question 26

Sociological theories informing policy Development - social structure fundamentalist
Evaluation of this theory?

Answer 26

Free education has been successful in achieving a more literate societies- reduce the strain to achieve goals. Quality of education varies so some people may feel strain if they fail to achieve a good education so still turn to crime.
Employment in some areas is much higher than others so the policy of reducing the strain still exists

Question 27

Sociological theories informing policy Development -social structure Marxism
What is The linked policy for marxism ?

Answer 27

Traditional Marxists think a communist revolution is necessary to get rid of capitalism. This would lead to a crime free society

Question 28

Sociological theories informing policy Development - Marxism
Evaluation of this policy?

Answer 28

Communist revolution is unlikely to happen in our society
Evidence from other communist revolutions show they do not eliminate crime
Many communist societies still have high levels of crime

Question 29

Sociological theories- labelling theory
What is the linked policy for labelling theory?

Answer 29

Monitoring ethnic differences in stop and search- police forces have to record and report the ethnicity of those stop an searched to monitor and reduce stereotyping
Changes to media reporting- police and media work together to avoid copycat crimes- media are advised to avoid sensationalising or glorifying crime tp prevents people copying

Question 30

Sociological theories- labelling theory
Evaluation of this policy?

Answer 30

1- this policy has not led to a reduction on the focus on young black men. Police still stop and search ethnic minorities more than white groups- may lead to self fulfilling prophecy
2- not all media outlets have adhered to the rules of thhe policy, some use pictures and scaremongering stories to amplify people fear of crime. Policy had mixed success.

Question 31

Sociological theories- left realism
What is the linked policy for left realism?

Answer 31

Reduce early years marginalisation- perry preschool project, experiment followed children from deprived areas who were part of two groups. One half had highly focussed early years support and the other half had no extra support. Those who received this support had significantly lower rates of criminality than the other group, 8 times less likely to go to prison and significantly less likely to have drug or alcohol problems
Reduce the use of prison- prisons should be used as little as possible. Ex prisoners face face strong levels of marginalisation, left realists think we should avoid using prisons because it makes marginalisation worse. If we do use prisons it should be used for rehabilitation so they can be part of mainstream society after. If they feel different to others after release they are more likely to reoffend.
Restorative justice- suggests that offender should be restored or repaired so that they can rejoin society as better people. To ensure people make progress left suggests more investment in training, counselling and services to help them get back on track. USA- offered a puppy in prison to learn how to take care of something.

Question 32

Sociological theories- left realism
Evaluation of these policies?

Answer 32

1- perry preschool project hugely successful, impact they made reduced crime significantly.
2- may be correct with policy to avoid sending people to prison. Reoffending rates in uk 70% showing prison isn’t a good deterrent. Other countries with more people in prison also have more crime.
3- restorative justice seems to work in many places. In Finland reoffending rates is half what it is in the uk. Puppies behind bars has had a positive impact on the prisoners as they have to compete to become a puppy trainer and only best behaved are chosen

Question 33

Sociological theories- right realism
What is the linked policy for right realism?

Answer 33

1- environmental crime prevention- increasing the amount of police and CCTV on the streets. Zero tolerance policing used in New York was attributed to right realism. Policy moved a large number of police onto the streets of New York to reduce high crime rates in 1980s. Police asked to arrest people for even smallest offences, littering loitering. Point was to reassert high levels of social control. Argued you could prevent crime by focusing on less serious crime.
2- penal populism- political pressure to increase prison sentences and make prisons tougher. Suggest social control can be applied and asserted by using tough prison sentences, longer sentences, more custodial sentences more punishing prison system. Believe this will deter people from offending. Right realists believe tha in order for deterrence to work prisons must be unpleasant places.

Question 34

Sociological theories- right realism
Evaluation of these policies?

Answer 34

1- zero tolerance policing had positive outcomes, over decade crime dropped by around 70% however crime dropped around the world in this decade. However areas outside of zero tolerance policing zones attracted more crime so crimes don’t decrease they just move from places to place. Some evidence that zero tolerance policing has been used more aggressively with ethnic minorities- accused of being racist policy
2- high prison rates do not lead to low crime rates, reoffending rates in uk 70% showing prison is not a good deterrent. Shown in other countries with high prison rates.