AC3.2 Behavioural Tactics for Social Control

Question 1

Anti-Social Behavioral Orders
(ASBOs)

Answer 1

These were created under Tony Blair’s government in 1998 to combat law level offending through a civil order. This does not come with a criminal record but it limits an individual’s behaviour so they cannot threaten another person’s legal rights. This means that if further offences are done, harsher punishments and sentencing follows.

Question 2

Strengths of ASBOs

there is only one

Answer 2

One strength of ASBOs is it is supported by the Broken Window Theory. This theory suggested by Kelling and Wilson states that if petty crimes continue to go unreported in certain areas and neighbourhoods it will prevoke the offender(s) to commit more serious crimes as they are going unpunished. This is a strength however because ASBOs would deal with tackling these low level offences to prevent an increase in crime.

Question 3

Weaknesses of ASBOs

There is only one

Answer 3

One weaknesses of ASBOs is it can be argued that it is not an effective individual deterrent. This is due to the offender not recieving a sentence that limits their freedom or a criminal record that restricts them from certain places or doing certain activities. This is a weakness because it therefore does not effectively deter and punish offenders from recommitting which results in an increase of crime.

Question 4

Criminal Behaviour Orders

Answer 4

These are used for high level antisocial behaviour which are deemed to be distressing to others. They last at least two years for adults and 1-2 years for under 18s depending on the severity of the crime. They contain prohibitations to stop the antisocial behaviour and ocassionally requirements to tackle the underlying cause of the offender’s behaviour. Breaching these prohibitations leads to 5 years in prison for adults and 2 years detention for under 18s.

Question 5

Strengths of Criminal Behaviour Order

There are two

Answer 5

One strength of a criminal behaviour order is it provides an opportunity for improvement. For example if an offender received a CBO for committing antisocial behaviour due to being under the influence of alcohol or a drug, they are required to undergo a type of therapy or rehab. This is a strength because it tackles the cause behind the behaviour and acts as a type of rehabilitation, allowing the offender to change.

Another strength of a criminal behaviour order is it inhibits the offender with self control. By requiring the offender to partake in certain activities it provides them with a sense of control over their behaviour. This is a strength because it makes this behaviour less regular until the offender finds no need to act antisociable which therefore impliments social control.

Question 6

Weaknesses of Criminal behaviour Order

Answer 6

One weakness of a criminal behaviour order is it is restricting. Although the order is good in its depletion of certain activities, the outright forbidding of an individual from doing something causes an uncontrolable need to do the opposite. This is a weakness because it leads to the order being breached which therefore highlights how it lacks social control.

Another weakness of a criminal behaviour order is the recidivism rates of offenders with CBOs. Studies have shown that when these orders are withdrawn after the two years the reinforcement stops and the desired behaviour disappears. This is a weakness because it demonstrates how ineffective this tatic is in the long term.

Question 7

The token economy system

Answer 7

Another behavioural tactic is token economies, which is when a desirable behaviour is rewarded with a token, which can be exchanged for rewards. These are used in prisons to control the behaviour of the prisoners by offering them tokens that they can exchange for privileges, such as TV time. This reduces the prisoners criminal tendencies which aids them once they are released from prison