AC3.1/.3/.4 PRISONS

Question 1

Aims and objectives of prisons

Answer 1

public protection
rehabilitation
deterrence
implement sentences from the court

Question 2

Funding of prisons

Answer 2

-taxes (through government)
-£5.42 billion budget
-£50,000 per year to keep one person in prison

Question 3

Philosophy of prisons

Answer 3

rehabilitation focus
retribution (ensuring proportionate justice)

Question 4

Working practices of prisons

Answer 4

123 prisons across E&W
109 state, 24 private
range from categories A-D (A being the most secure and D being open prisons)

Question 5

Limitations of prisons in achieving social control

Answer 5

-risk of rioting (e.g, G4S Birmingham riot)
-funding cuts can lead to reduced staff and less control

Question 6

Effectiveness of prisons in achieving social control

Answer 6

+ inmate behaviour is highly controlled inside prisons
+access to rehab and education programmes
+low re-offending rates for longer sentences
- no. of prison officers fell by 15% between 2010 and 2018
- risk of riots
- only given £46 on release, some don’t have an address to go to

Question 7

Overall judgement on effectiveness

Answer 7

Overall prisons have the potential to be effective, however this is hindered by budget cuts, because it limits the number of staff for each prison, leading to reduced social control. As well as this, rehabilitation is limited because of reduced number of programmes avaliable to inmates.