Attitudes To Crime

Question 1

Why do we punish those who have committed crimes? 6 reasons

Answer 1

-to discipline
-for retribution (revenge)
-to deter
-to reform
-to keep order
-to protect

Question 2

Why have the reasons we punish criminals changed over time? 6 points

Answer 2

-social change (eg urbanisation)
-role of the media (impression of rising crime)
-ideas and attitudes (eg industrial was more influenced by humanitarian ideas)
-fear of crime
-wealth and poverty (eg more poverty in tutour times = vagrancy laws)
-actions of individuals (like prison reformers)

Question 3

Why was the bloody code introduced?

Answer 3

-fear of rise in crime in the 17th centuary meant punishments needed to be harsh
-increased reporting of crime gave the impression of rising crime rates
-increase in new crimes like highway robbery and smuggling

Question 4

What was the real name for the bloody code?

Answer 4

Waltham Black Act

Question 5

When was the Waltham Black Act passed?

Answer 5

1723

Question 6

When the bloody code was introduced, how many crimes became punishable by death? Give some examples?

Answer 6

-255
-pickpocketing and sending threatening letters

Question 7

Why was the bloody code abolished?

Answer 7

-juries became reluctant to convict those accused of minor crimes as it felt unfair
-attitudes were shifting more towards reform of criminals
-new punishments like transportation available
-large (possibly rioting) crowds made it hard for authorities to keep order

Question 8

When was the end of public excecutions?

Answer 8

1868

Question 9

When was the abolition of corporal punishment?

Answer 9

1948

Question 10

When was the abolition of capital punishment?

Answer 10

1969

Question 11

What happened in the 1930 attempt to end capital punishment?

Answer 11

-A government select committee recommended ending capital punishment for 5 years
-the home secretary did not accept this

Question 12

In what two years did MPs vote to abolish capital punishment and what was the reaction?

Answer 12

-1948 and 1956
-the House of Lords overturned their decision

Question 13

In what year was capital punishment restricted to 5 crimes?

Answer 13

-1957

Question 14

What 5 crimes was capital punishment restricted to in 1957?

Answer 14

-murder of a police/prison officer
-murder by shooting/explosion
-murder while resisting arrest
-murder while carrying out theft
-murder of multiple people

Question 15

What were the argument for the death penalty in the 20th century?

Answer 15

-dead murderers can’t kill again
-prison is expensive
-ultimate deterrent
-justice for the victims family’s and society

Question 16

What were the arguments against the death penalty in the 20th century?

Answer 16

-the wrong person may be hanged
-barbaric
-everyone has the opportunity to be reformed
-didn’t take into account the different mental states of criminals

Question 17

How did the case of Timothy Evan’s contribute to the ending of the death sentence?

Answer 17

-accused of killing his wife and daughter
-confessed (probably due to high stress environment)
-hanged
-police lacked forensic expertise and didn’t investigate closely enough
-later it was found that the downstairs neighbour was the serial killer

Question 18

How did the case of Derek Bentley contribute to the ending of capital punishment?

Answer 18

-found guilty in being the accomplice in the murder of a police officer while carrying out burglary
-didn’t actually commit the murder but was heard to shout “let him have it”
-the murderer (16 year old Craig) went to prison (minor)
-Derek hanged
-caused uproar as he had the mental capacity of an 11 year old

Question 19

How did the case of Ruth Ellis contribute to the elimination of the death sentence?

Answer 19

-she shot her lover after a stormy affair in which he had assaulted her on many occasions
-he had had many affairs with other women during this relationship
-was refused as being a crime of passion

Question 20

Which out of the separate and silent system was reform and which was punishment?

Answer 20

-separate = reform (isolated so they could reflect)
-silent = punishment (hard discipline so they’d never dare offend again

Question 21

When was the Gladstone committee?

Answer 21

1895

Question 22

What were the findings of the Gladstone committee?

Answer 22

-isolation was not reforming prisoners
-juvenile prisoners should not be treated as harshly as
-younger prisoners should be given an education

Question 23

What did the government do in response to the Gladstone committee?

Answer 23

-time that prisoners were kept isolated was reduced
-unproductive labour was abolished
-first borstal opened

Question 24

When was hard labour (crank, treadmill) abolished?

Answer 24

1902

Question 25

When were prisoners allowed to meet and talk at allocated times (end of the silent system)?

Answer 25

1923

Question 26

When was the first open prison established and where?

Answer 26

1936, Wakefield

Question 27

When was flogging abolished?

Answer 27

1948

Question 28

Who campaigned for the better treatment of prisoners in the 20th centuary?

Answer 28

Sir Ruggles-Brise and Sir Paterson

Question 29

Why were Borstals abandoned and youth detention centres introduced?

Answer 29

Studies showed that 60% of those released from borstals offended again

Question 30

What changes to treatment of youth offenders have occurred in the 21st century?

Answer 30

-antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) first used in 1999
-tagging and curfews