ac 4.1 - policy development for sociological theories Flashcards
what are the policies for sociological theories?
right realist approach:
- zero tolerance policing
- penal populism
left realist approach:
- restorative justice
- education in prison
what is zero tolerance policing?
this is taking a tough ‘zero tolerance’ stance towards all crime, no matter how trivial, this included tackling ‘quality of life’ offences such as aggressive begging, vandalism and prostitution
strengths of zero tolerance policing
- in the 1990’s New York introduces ZTP and the murder rate reduced by 49%. this shows the effectiveness of zero tolerance policing as a policy for crime prevention.
- in the UK, crime was cut by 20% in 18 months after the introduction of ZTP. this shows how it is an effective crime control policy.
weaknesses of zero tolerance policing
- ZTP fails to address the underlying causes of crime, e.g. inequality. they also tend to focus on street crime rather than those of the wealthy, like white collar crimes. therefore, ZTP is limited in it’s effectiveness.
- Males and Macallair found that ZTP actually increased juvenile crime. by removing the law abiding youths from the street, they leave them emptier and more favourable to crime. therefore, ZTP may have unintended consequences rather than being beneficial.
what is penal populism?
this is a process whereby the major political parties compete with each other to be ‘tough on crime’ (laws based on winning votes). for example, after the Jamie Bulger case of 1993, the public - fuelled by the media - demanded a tougher stance of crime
crime (sentences) act 1997
this act introduces mandatory minimum sentences for repeat offenders, and included the idea of ‘three strikes and you’re out’. for example, an automatic life sentence would be given for a second serious sexual or violent offence
strengths of penal populism
- can increase public confidence in the criminal justice system. introduces tough-on-policies that the general public favours. trust may reduce fear of the police and increase cooperation.
- harsh penalties can act as a deterrent. ‘three strikes and you’re out’ and mandatory minimum sentences. right realists believe in rational choice so criminals may think the risks outweigh the benefits and not commit crime.
weaknesses of penal populism
- populism over practicality. laws that are driven by the public rather than expert knowledge may prioritise short term popularity over long-term effectiveness. effectiveness is questioned.
- doesn’t tackle social factors that influence criminality. underlying issues are ignored, e.g. poverty, labelling, etc. recidivism rates are unlikely to be decreased.
- can lead to over population in prisons. England and Wales imprison a bigger portion of their population than any other European country. costly for government.
what is restorative justice?
a voluntary process where the victim and offender are brought together to talk (with a trained facilitator there) about what happened, how they were both affected, etc. can occur at any stage of the criminal justice process
strengths of restorative justice
- in 2001, an independent report by the ministry of justice found that RJ reduces reoffending rates by 14%, making it cost-effective. therefore, an effective crime control policy.
- RJ both reduces reoffending and improves victim satisfaction (Campbell collaboration 2013). has the potential to address underlying issues that influence criminality. effective and in depth policy.
weaknesses of restorative justice
- may bring up memories for the victim. although it is voluntary, they may agree and be reminded of their trauma when confronted with the offender. therefore may be considered unethical.
what is education in prison?
this is the idea that better education in prisons would help inmates to gain skills which can help them with getting a good job and avoiding reoffending
strengths of education in prison
- reduces reoffending rates. providing prisoners with education and skills training increases their chances of securing employment upon release which will help them to reintegrate into society. shows effectiveness.
- improves rehabilitation and wellbeing. education can give prisoners a sense of purpose and encourage personal growth with shifting their mindset away from criminal behaviour and towards making positive life decisions. effective policy.
weaknesses of education in prison
- access issues. access may be limited due to factors like overcrowding, limited staff, security issues, etc. all prisoners may not be able to benefit.
- public and political resistance. oppose investing in education in prison as they believe they should be punished and not given opportunities. can lead to limited funding which means there are fewer educational programmes. effectiveness is reduced.
