Crime And Punishment Flashcards
What is crime?
A legal word that describes when an action breaks a law made by people like the government e.g. speeding
What is sin?
-an action which goes against the will of God e.g. adultery
-some actions can be both crimes and sins e.g. murder as the Bible says “thou shall not kill” and Uk law states “do not kill”
What is retribution?
An approach that suggests the punishment of the person should be equal to the crime they have committed e.g. the death penalty for murder
What are the strengths of retribution ?
-some people might see it as a fair punishment as the punishment is proportionate or the crime committed
-it is consistent with the Exodus teaching “an eye for an eye”
What are the weaknesses of retribution?
-using the death penalty is controversial- if taking a life is wrong, surely we shouldn’t use it as a punishment ?
What is deterrence?
An approach which aims to put people off committing crimes e.g. death penalty
What are the strength of using deterrence?
-it might prevent people from engaging in criminal activity.
-For example, convicting and executing murderers might save many innocent lives, as someone might think twice about committing a crime with a heavy penalty.
What are the weaknesses of using deterrence ?
Some suggest that harsher punishments do not necessarily put people off offending or reoffending, meaning that it might not be an effective form of punishment. In countries that use the death penalty for murder, for example, murder is still committed.
•people may not consider punishment when committing a crime as they do not expect to be caught
• It might be impossible to deter someone from breaking the law, for example if they are unable to make rational decisions because of mental illness.
What is rehabilitation?
An approach to help criminals so they can move on from their criminal acts and return to society to make a positive contribution to
What are the strengths of using rehabilitation?
• This is a compassionate response to the criminal, recognising that people who have done wrong need to turn their lives around so they do not become trapped in a life of crime.
• This approach is consistent with the Christian belief that all people are created imago Dei and deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, as well as be given the chance to change themselves.
What are the weaknesses of using rehabilitation?
- Some people may feel that rehabilitation isn’t a sufficient punishment for someone who has done wrong.
