AC3.1 - Explain the roles of agencies in social control

Question 1

What are the Police’s roles in social control

Answer 1

• Aim is to arrest, detain, search and interview suspects
• Funded through main gov. as well as some through council tax
• They respond to emergency/non-emergency calls, foot patrols, have specialist teams like anti-terrorism, firearms team and dog unit
• PCOSs work on front line and deal with anti-social behaviour
• Special constables = trained volunteers who help support
• Police and Crime Commissioners are regionally elected and hold the police to account as well as aiming to cut crime in those areas

Question 2

What are the CPS roles in social control

Answer 2

• Aims to prepare and present cases at court, whilst providing information and support to victims/prosecution witnesses
• Decides what cases to prosecute, determine the charge and advise the police
• Funded through Parliament as well as from recovering criminal assets
• Has 13 geographical areas across Eng. and Wales and is available 24/7 with charging advice
• Code of practise used to decide whether prosecution should happen and will only happen if Evidental and public interest is satisfied

Question 3

What are the Judiciary’s roles in social control

Answer 3

• Superior and inferior judges make decisions about law, interpretate it, apply it and manage a trial
• Sum up evidence for the jury and pass a sentence if needed at the end of a trial
• Funding decided by Salaries Review Body (provides independent advice to prime minister and gov. officials
• Responsible for making decisions about freedom, taking two oaths which ensures they work separately from the gov. influences as well as being fair and consistent

Question 4

What are the Prison Service’s roles in social control

Answer 4

• Aims to keep people sentenced to prison in custody and help them live more law abiding lives (works with police, councils and charities to do so)
• Funded through gov. by tax
• Most prisons are a public sector and ran by the gov. But there are 14 private ones ran by private security companies
• Prisons are divided into 4 sections: Cat A - D. Cat A is high risk and max security, through to Cat D which is Low risk/open prisons

Question 5

What are the Probation Service’s roles in social control

Answer 5

• Supervises high-risk offenders when they are being released (works with around 30,000 offenders a year trying to help rehab offenders)
• Offenders could have to do unpaid work, complete education/training and have regular meetings with a probation officer
• Funded through income tax by National Offender Management Service
• Prepare pre-sentence reports for courts , help select the most appropriate sentence, prepare peoples release from prison. supervise offenders once released from prison and communicate with victims of serious crimes when offenders are going to be released

Question 6

What are the Charities and Pressure Groups roles in social control

Answer 6

• Not funded by the gov. so can have independent advice as well as able to challenge the CJS
• Rely on voluntary donations
• Non-profit organisations (e.g. The Prison Reform Trust) works towards creating a hummane and effective penal system)

Question 7

Charity example

Answer 7

Howard League of Penal Reform:
- Aims for less crime, safer communities and fewer people in prisons
- Works with parliament, the media and other agencies to achieve these aims
- Entirely independent of the gov.
- Funded by voluntary donations
- Runs many successful campaigns such as books for prisoners
- Oldest penal reform charity in the UK