AC4.1 Sociological theories informing crime policies Flashcards
prison
Prison is one of the main ways that society aims to control crime. Penal populism refers to the governments attempt at proposing laws that will be popular with the general public, for example in 1997 conservatives brought in the Crime Act that introduced a mandatory sentences for repeat offenders. Prison aims to help prisoners lead law-abiding lives both whilst in prison and after release
prison linked theories
This policy is linked to right realism as tougher sentences deter criminals due to an increased rational choice surrounding offending. Prison has two functions, incarceration and deterrence
how effective is prison
ineffective because…
- the reoffending rate for adults getting reconvicted in one year of release is 48% showing that it has limited effectiveness in creating law-abiding citizens.
- Prison is also seen to have limited effectiveness because prison population has increased 70% in the last 30 years
effective because…
- it takes criminals off the street creating a safer society and prison also offers rehabilitation and educational programmes for prisoners.
- Prison is also effective as the risk of prison deters would-be criminals who make rational choices about offending
restorative justice
restorative justice is a voluntary process where the victim and offender can meet with a trained facilitator to discuss why the crime happened and how it has affected them and what can be done to repair the harm. Government funding has been granted to police and crime commission to make the process available to victims of crime. Restorative justice can take place at any point in the justice system, both pre-sentence and after conviction
restorative justice linked theories
This policy links to left realism.
how effective is restorative justice
effective because…
- it does work as it reduces PTSD in victims of crimes and allows victims to have a say in criminal justice system. 85% of victims say that restorative justice benefitted them
- It also reduces offending rates; a study shows that it has reduced reoffending by 14%.
- Restorative justice also helps the economy as it reduces frequency of reoffending leading to £9 saving to the criminal justice system for every £1 spent on restorative justice
CCTV
CCTV is an invaluable asset when investigating crimes and is one of the first things police ask for when conducting an investigation. Without CCTV it would be very hard to identify a potential perpetrator or suspect. It has policy implications as a deterrent for crime. CCTV is an informal policy.
CCTV linked theories
This policy links to right realism as it acts as a deterrent for criminals who make rational choices about offending.
how effective is CCTV
effective because…
- it reduces theft of and from vehicles, although it has no effect on violent crimes
- CCTV can also be used as compelling evidence in a crime
- CCTV also helps police and identify and find suspects and witnesses of crimes. It also shows the severity of a crime.
zero tolerance
this policy demands all crimes to be acted upon no matter how trivial. Zero tolerance is favoured by right realists and has been seen to be successful in New York. In the UK it has been introduced in Hartlepool, Middlesborough, Strathclyde and Kings Cross
zero tolerance linked theories
This policy links to right realism as it acts as a deterrent for criminals who make rational choices about offending.
how effective is zero tolerance
effective because…
- as in New York since 1990’s murder has fallen by 49%, and the UK has seen similar results
- In Hartlepool, there was a 38% reduction in crime within 28 months of the policy beginning
ineffective because…
- it could be said it is unknown what the long term effects of this policy may be and it may have little effect in low crime rate areas or where the population is dispersed
- Zero tolerance can also cause racial tension if people feel victimised which has been seen in 2020 when George Floyd was murdered by a police officer leading to the BLM movement.
