AC1.2

Question 1

Capital punishment

Answer 1

Executing someone
• after legal trial
• laws made by rich to protect themselves + their property
(18th century - 200 offences punishable by death penalty include: pick pockets, shooting rabbits)
• view faded overtime, reasons for capital punishment faded too
• law changed overtime

Question 2

Law against double jeopardy

Answer 2

• changed overtime
• Ann Ming’s campaign
• double jeopardy law which prevented person being tried again for the same offence was abolished for SERIOUS offences

Question 3

Law concerning prostitution

Answer 3

• prostitution legal but many connected activities illegal
• past - prostitution had stigma and immoral because women were having sex for money
• now - decriminalised with appropriate regulation because prostitution became a source of income
• concern - protecting vulnerable people involved in prostitution sometimes against their will
• change why - decline in religion and increased moral tolerance
• status of women changed (increased equality)

Question 4

Vagrancy

Answer 4

• illegal under Vagrancy Act 1824
• Act fell into disuse and society accepted that there were legitimate reasons for homelessness
• recently - ^ convictions for faking vagrancy
• now - disapproval + looked down upon replaced with sympathy + concern

Question 5

Possession of cannabis

Answer 5

• illegal eng + wales
• Columbia + Uruguay cannabis legal
• calls to decriminalise use due to medical reasons
• police in Cumbria prosecute whereas Durham Constabulary do not prioritise ppl who grow plants for personal use
• views on cannabis different in different places (some countries view it as a recreational drug)
• others think it should be decriminalised for medical reasons

Question 6

Jay walking

Answer 6

• offence in USA legal in UK
• UK - considered personal responsibility to cross road safely

Question 7

Female genital mutilation <FGM></FGM>

Answer 7

• illegal in UK legal in many parts of Africa
• Middle East, connected yo cultural, religious and social reasons
• believed will benefit girl preserve virginity ready for marriage
• UK painful nature and health implications taken into account

Question 8

How are laws applied differently according to circumstances in which actions occur

Answer 8

• law should be applied equally
• few instances law applied differently (eg. age)

Question 9

How are laws applied differently according to age in different countries? (UK, Canada, Bangladesh, China)

Answer 9

Age of criminal responsibility:
• UK 10 years old
• Canada 12 years old
• Bangladesh 9 years old
• China 16 years old
Under these ages cannot be arrested, charged or prosecuted for a criminal offence.
However there are occasions where law allows alternative charge of manslaughter. Only happens in specified circumstances