AC1.2

Question 1

social construction of criminality

Answer 1

-how laws change overtime
-how laws change from culture to culture
-how laws are applied differently according to circumstances

Question 2

how laws change from culture to culture

Answer 2

Homosexuality- illegal to discriminate against someone on basis of homosexuality in uk, illegal to be homosexual in some african countries can get death penalty
Adultery- no longer a crime in European countries+Australia, adultery is illegal in muslim cultures governed by islamic law+prosecutions are very common

Question 3

why does the law vary in different cultures

Answer 3

Homosexuality- religion and beliefs

Adultery- in the uk it is less centered around religion than it was 100 years ago, some countries have laws that are centered around religion

Question 4

How laws change overtime

Answer 4

Ruth ellis+Derek Bentley- cases regarded as miscarriages of justice lead to a change in public opinion on death penalty. capital punishment fully abolished in 1969
Dunblane primary school- snowdrop campaign 750,000 signatures, since attack handguns banned and tougher background checks. fire arm amendment act 1997 resulted in 160,000 handguns being surrendered to police

Question 5

How laws are applied differently according to circumstances

Answer 5

Kiranjit Ahluwalia case- set her husbands feet on fire in order to escape his abuse, she claims she did not mean to kill him but he died from injuries 10 days later, convicted of his murder sentenced to life in prison. retrial was ordered + she was found guilty of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility where if a defendant can show their mental condition reduced their ability to understand what they were doing or form a rational judgment it reduces to conviction of manslaughter