Attitudes to Crime and Punishment Flashcards
6 key reasons why we punish people
To retribute
To discipline
To reform
To protect
To deter
To keep order
3 key reasons why overtime attitudes to punishment have evolved
Reflect developments in society
Reflect changes in social attitudes
Reflect the role and purpose of government in protecting individuals and their property
6 key reasons why reasons we punish criminals has changed overtime
Social change
Role of media
Ideas and attitudes
Actions of individuals
Wealth and poverty
Fear of crime
How has the role of media changed attitudes to punishment over time
Media can influence people in debate over abolition of death sentence
2 key reasons why bloody code was introduced
Social change (growing industrial towns and migrating between towns made it harder to enforce law and order) - needed as harsh punishment to deter people from committing crimes
From 1688 rich landowners had the power to pass laws through parliament to protect their property and wealth
Why was the bloody code abolished
Crowds that watched public executions were huge threat to law and order itself
Juries increasingly unwilling to carry out death penalty as they thought it was too harsh
1770-1830 35,000 death sentences were passed but only 20% of offenders were actually hanged
Juries found reasons for offenders to not be guilty to avoid public execution
Between 1770 and 1830 there were how many death sentences passed
35,000
Between 1770 and 1830 out of 35,000 death sentences passed how many offenders were actually hanged
20%
When did public executions end
1868
Arguments for death penalty
Dead murderers can’t kill again
Acts as ultimate deterrent
Prisons too expensive
Protects police and prison staff
Arguments against death penalty
Wrong person may be hanged
Against certain religions e.g christian teachings
No chance to reform
4 main purposes of punishments in medieval era
Deter (by making the punishment cause so much suffering that other don’t want to have to face the same consequence)
Retribution (revenge)
Keep order
Humiliate
Main purpose of punishment in 1500s and 1600s
Deterrence
Retribution
Keeping order
Humiliation
(Same as Medieval era)
Difference between attitudes to crime and punishment in medieval era vs early modern era
Very similar attitudes- punishments were very harsh and aimed around deterrence, retribution, humiliation and keeping order
More crime in 1500s and 1600s led to more public punishments and executions e.g vagabonds branded with V and had hole burnt in ear
JPs introduced houses of correction to reform beggars through supervised work which is first time reform is introduced.
Prisons exist but are mainly used to hold offenders before being punishment instead of acting as the punishment itself
One major change to punishment beginning in 1678 was the introduction of …..used as an alternative to the death penalty and aimed at removing criminals from society
Transportation
3 key reasons why transportation was introduced
Building and maintaining prisons would be expensive
Dangerous criminals moved away from society so removes their bad threat and keeps society safe
Criminals would be reformed by hard work abroad
4 key reasons Why prisons increased in the 1800s
Transportation ends in 1800s so criminals can no longer kept abroad but instead need somewhere in England to go
By the end of 1800s only murder and treason were punishable by death- a form of punishment was needed for all other forms of crime
1868 public executions banned so hangings and executions needed to take place inside e.g in prisons
People changes attitudes that criminals should be reformed instead of harshly punished
Why in 1865 was an act passed to once again make prisoners experience very harsh pinsihment instead of reform
When the separate and silent systems were introduced to try and get prisoners to reform, it didn’t have the expected effects, re-offending rates didn’t lower and many prisoners committed suicide/ went insane
Why in 1865 was an act passed to once again make prisoners experience very harsh pinsihment instead of reform
When the separate and silent systems were introduced to try and get prisoners to reform, it didn’t have the expected effects, re-offending rates didn’t lower and many prisoners committed suicide/ went insane
When is the first time young offenders are properly treated differently to adult offenders
1900s e.g borstals
When is the first time young offenders are properly treated differently to adult offenders
1900s e.g borstals
3 key cases that showed that execution needed to be abolished as a form of punishment
Derek Bentley- hanged for a murder that was committed by his friend
Ruth Ellis
Timothy Evans- hanged for murders he didn’t commit
Timeline of how attitudes change over time eras
Medieval- aim of punishment was to be brutally harsh to act as retribution and deterrence and cause lots of suffering
1500s and 1600s- people executed for treason to protect Monarch and their religious views
1800s- wealthy landowners increased number of crimes punishable by death to deter people from stealing off their land etc and to protect their status
1800s prisons built based off separate and silent system based off key ideas of reformers
1900s and 2000s- aim to prevent offenders from reoffending by promoting reformation and rehabilitation
Timeline of how attitudes change over time eras
Medieval- aim of punishment was to be brutally harsh to act as retribution and deterrence and cause lots of suffering
1500s and 1600s- people executed for treason to protect Monarch and their religious views
1800s- wealthy landowners increased number of crimes punishable by death to deter people from stealing off their land etc and to protect their status
1800s prisons built based off separate and silent system based off key ideas of reformers
1900s and 2000s- aim to prevent offenders from reoffending by promoting reformation and rehabilitation
What year was the death penalty abolished
1965
