crime and punishment Flashcards
how do the Ten Commandments impact people’s actions?
- focussed on both action and intention. they were changed in the Sermon on the Mount to include sinful thoughts as well as sinful actions, e.g. ‘you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife or goods’ concerns intention, not action.
- however, some actions aren’t always wrong - occasionally telling a white lie to your parents is not always done with evil intentions, you may be saving their feelings.
- having a central set of rules means that what’s good and bad is clearly laid out. if people were left to make their own decisions, there would be too much ambiguity, and people would be committing crimes not knowing they’re wrong.
what is a law about punishment in the UK today?
no legal punishment is allowed to deliberately cause harm to the offender
describe good and bad actions not part of the law:
- some good actions exist outside the law, such as giving to charity or helping people in need
- also, some evil actions may not be against the law but may be considered evil by some people, such as adultery or abortion
what is the Christian attitude towards good and evil intentions and actions?
- teachings in the Bible warn against having any evil or wrong thoughts and intentions
- evil actions such as using violence are considered to be sinful and against God
- many Christians would claim there’s no such thing as an evil person, as God created people to be good
- however, due to original sin, all humans have a tendency to do evil things even thought they are not evil in themselves
what is the Buddhist attitude towards good and evil intentions and actions?
- Buddhism doesn’t generally speak out of good and evil, but rather of skilful and unskilful actions and intentions
- not all unskilful actions are illegal (e.g. being unkind to someone)
- but not all skilful actions are legal (e.g. not all countries permit practising Buddhism)
- karma teaches that the intention behind an action is very important
- whether an action causes harm to someone, or agrees with the 5 moral precepts, can help to determine if it’s skilful or not
- Buddhists believe it’s correct to follow the law unless this seriously restricts their capacity to act in a skilful way
finish the quote:
‘But I tell you that _____________________________________________________________ has already committed adultery ___________________________.’
‘But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart’
name some reasons why people commit crimes, and what they may potentially lead to:
- peer pressure
- testing society’s and even their parent’s boundaries.
- hate crimes (minorities, council, government)
- addiction (e.g. sex addict)
- poverty, desperation, greed
- anger (being provoked) or defence, fear
- mental health issues (due to upbringing)
- opposition to an unjust law.
how do christians and buddhists react to crime due to desperation and poverty?
- welfare is given to people in poverty to help cover their living expenses, however sometimes it’s not given, and this can lead to desperation and theft (which is against the law and can lead to punishment)
- christians condemn stealing through the ten commandments. however, they are dedicated to ending poverty, so that know one must refer to stealing - they are ready to help those who are in poverty, as much as they can. the parable of the sheep and the goats.
- for buddhists, the 5 moral precepts also condemn stealing, and it can also cause suffering to others. however, through the quality of compassion (karuna) that is greatly emphasised across all branches of Buddhism, Buddhists are compelled to help those in need, in order to gain good karma. also complies with dependent arising.
how do christians and buddhists respond to hate crimes?
- Christians don’t support the hatred of anyone. They follow the Golden Rule. Jesus taught Christians to love everyone, including their enemies
- Buddhists don’t support hatred, as they believe it is a source of dukkha, and also brings suffering to the person who is doing the hating. in addition, Buddhists are against violence, as it goes against one of the 5 Moral Precepts - the entire message of Buddhism is non-violence and peace. hatred is one of the three poisons
how do Christians and Buddhists respond to crimes due to greed?
- personal possessions and wealth are seen as a sign of status. if someone feels inferior to someone else due to possessions, this can lead to theft or fraud.
- Christians follow the 10 commandments, in which they’re told not to ‘covet thy neighbour’s goods’. even craving someone else’s possessions, let alone stealing them is seen as a sin in christianity and frowned upon.
- Buddhists believe that craving (tanha) something that is unattainable leads to suffering - one of the seven unavoidable forms of suffering is ‘unfulfilled desires’. Buddhists believe that tanha leads to rebirth and endless samsara.
how do christians and buddhists respond to crimes due to addiction?
- addicts may resort to stealing in order to purchase the drinks/drugs/medication they need. the drug that causes the most crime in the uk is alcohol - drunkards lose their ability to process emotions and actions, leading to violent acts. alcohol is also responsible for many road accidents, as it slows reaction times.
- most Christian denominations don’t forbid alcohol, however for catholics, alcohol is a sin. they are against taking illegal drugs and support rehab as a way of defeating addiction
- alcohol is an intoxicant, and Buddhists forbid intoxicants that cloud the mind, as it goes against one of the 5 Moral Precepts.
how do christians and buddhists respond to crimes committed due to mental illnesses?
- some forms of mental illness (e.g. that affect a person’s emotions) may lead to crime
- Christians don’t have a direct answer to this issue. crimes committed by people with mental illnesses are still sins. however, they offer other Christians the chance to help people in need to overcome their sins, as this is the most loving and compassionate way to deal with these people
- Buddhists also believe that crimes committed by people with mental illnesses are still sins. however, they advise mentally ill people to look to dharma for advice on how to overcome their mental illness, and they believe in reformation of criminals, to educate them, and hopefully in the process, relieve the criminal of their mental illness through their education.
how do christians and buddhists respond to crimes due to the criminal’s upbringing?
- growing up in a household where crime is the way of life may encourage a person to follow in the footsteps of people they look up to, and eventually drift to crime. parents even sometimes encourage their children to commit crimes.
- for Christians and Buddhists, it’s the job of the parents to raise their child the correct way. a person is responsible for their deeds, but a child is the responsibility of their parent.
- Buddhists especially, believe people need supportive conditions growing up in order to develop sensitivity to others and to learn how to behave ethically
how do christians and buddhists respond to crimes due to an opposition to an unjust law?
- in the USA in 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested for breaking segregation laws by refusing to give up her seat on a bus. this act of defiance became an important symbol of the civil rights movement and led to many other Americans breaking that law.
- these could be laws based on inequality/that deny basic human rights
- Christians would support the idea that law should be fair and have in many cases protested for this. they do not all support breaking the law in order to change it though. ensure no violence is involved and no one gets harmed
- Buddhists believe that as long as you don’t break any of the 5 moral precepts, they have to opposition to breaking an unjust law.
what does the Buddha say about one crime leading to another?
the Buddha says that crimes can lead to another - it begins with small crimes, such as theft, and can escalate to murder. you must fix the root problem - we should step in and help the criminal before it gets worse.
what do Christians believe about lawbreakers?
may disapprove of the crime, but don’t hate the criminal who committed it
- offenders must be punished by law according to how serious their crime was
- offenders have basic rights so should not be given a punishment that is inhumane or harmful
- through their punishment offenders should be helped to become responsible members of society so they don’t reoffend
- the parable of the sheep and the goats teaches that helping prisoners is good
what do Buddhists believe about lawbreakers?
- doesn’t favour the idea of punishment as it’s rooted in the idea of vengeance and causes suffering to the offender
- however, they do believe there will be consequences to people who act unskilfully, either because of the law or karma
- they also teach that everyone can change, so rehab and reformation is important.
what is the Christian response to hate crimes?
- condemn them, as they believe God created all humans equal and no one should be singled out for inferior treatment
- Jesus taught his followers to ‘love your neighbour’, meaning show compassion, care and respect to everybody
what is the Buddhist response to hate crimes?
- hatred is one of the three poisons and the direct opposite of the emotions Buddhists aim to develop: metta and karuna
- no justification for hatred/intolerance
- a person who acts from hatred causes harm to themselves and others
what are the Christian and Buddhist responses to theft?
Christian:
goes against 10 commandments
Buddhist:
- breaks 2nd moral precept
- strengthens habit of greed (one of the three poisons)
- expresses a lack of respect and empathy for others
what are the Christian and Buddhist responses to murder?
Christian:
- only God has the right to take life
- goes against 10 commandments
Buddhist:
- breaks 1st moral precept
- inflicts suffering not only on the victim but also on their family and friends
name some ‘soft’ punishments:
- feeling guilty
- forgiveness (they may be moved by the kindness and realise their own mistakes themselves)
- education
- restorative justice (focusses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community at large)
name some ‘reasonable’ punishments:
- community service
- suspended sentences (a judicial punishment which is not enforced unless a further crime is committed during a specific period)
- fines
- driving license points
- repaying the victim/victim’s families
name some ‘extreme’ punishments:
- prison
- house arrest
- solitary confinement
- sectioned in a mental hospital
what are some aims of punishment?
- to protect other people (make them feel safe)
- to ensure the criminal does not re-offend
- compensation for victim’s families
- to stop others from committing crime (deterrent)
- to hurt criminals, making up for the pain they caused to others (‘an eye for an eye’)
describe retribution, one of the three aims of punishment:
- least positive of the 3 aims of punishment
- society, on behalf of the victim, is getting its own back on the offender
- it’s believed that criminals should receive the same injuries and damage that they caused to their victim (‘an eye for an eye’)
- lawful retribution does help to reduce the urge for vengeance on the part of the victim.
what are the christian and buddhist responses to retribution?
christian:
- ‘Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good’
- many Christians focus on other aims of punishment, which are less harmful and more positive
- some Christians support retribution due to ‘life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth’. but most interpret this as murderers should be punished severely but not killed
buddhist:
retribution is a form of violence that contradicts basic ethics. committing violence against the offender doesn’t wipe away the suffering caused by a crime, nor does it encourage the criminal to accept responsibility in order to act better in the future. it instead usually creates bitterness and breeds further violence and crime.
- according to the principle of karma, a person’s unskilful deeds will cause them to suffer. therefore, there’s no need to inflict further suffering on those who have acted badly.
describe deterrence, one of the three aims of punishment:
- many believe that if offenders are seen to be punished severely for their wrongdoings, the threat of similar punishment may put off others from committing crimes. the offender themselves may also be deterred in the future if they don’t like the punishment they received.
- many doubt people have been persuaded not to commit murder because they don’t want to spend many years in prison. reasons why people commit serious crimes tend to be more complex than a simple fear of punishment. however, the tactic may work on people committing less serious crimes.
what are the christian and buddhist responses to deterrence?
christian:
making such an extreme example of offenders in an effort to persuade others to obey the law is not acceptable to many Christians today as they’re excessively harsh, who believe every human being should be treated with respect instead of humiliating them, regardless of what they’ve done.
buddhist:
traditionally, the idea that a person will be reborn in a realm of suffering if they act badly has been a deterrent in buddhism. however, if criminals are in the grip of hatred, greed and delusion, they can lose all rational thought.
- buddhists may agree that it is important to protect society from certain criminals. therefore, they may support putting criminals in prison. however, the motive would not be to punish or even to deter, but to ensure the welfare of society.
describe reformation, one of the three aims of punishment:
most christians and buddhists prefer this aim of punishment because it seeks to help offenders by working with them to help them to understand that their behaviour is harming society and to give up crime. it’s hoped that offenders will change their attitudes and become responsible, law-abiding members of society. the offender needs to realise their behaviour is wrong before reformation (e.g. through group therapy sessions, individual counselling and treatment, meeting their victims to realise the harm they may have caused). This’ll rehabilitate the criminal in their own eyes, and in the eyes of society and the victim (s).
what are the christian and buddhist responses to reformation?
christian:
the Bible encourages Christians not to seek revenge, but instead to set an example by showing compassion. they respond by working with the offender and helping them turn their life around (improves their life chances) by showing them their actions’ effects on others. more positive than negative however, this isn’t a replacement for punishment - these sessions would usually occur in a prison.
buddhist:
in Buddhism, a criminal should be encouraged to recognise the suffering they’ve caused, and to apologise to their victims. they’re also encouraged to do some corrective action, e.g. repairing the damage caused by vandalism.
describe the case study of Anthony Walker, and how is mother and sister treated the culprit:
- Anthony Walker was a black eighteen year old boy, who was beaten to death with an ice-axe, by two white boys his own age, whom he’d known for years. they shouted racial abuse at him. they were found in a transit van near to an airport, attempting to escape.
- his mother and family were naturally distraught, but after a week of grief, his mother and sister forgave the perpetrators.
- it’s said in the Bible: ‘forgive 70 x 7’
- in the Lord Prayer, it’s mentioned to: ‘forgive us our trespasses’
- they must forgive, otherwise revenge and hatred can be all-consuming.
what are some Christianity forgiveness quotes?
Forgiveness shouldn’t be a replacement for punishment. they believe the offender should be forgiven as far as possible, but should also be punished to ensure justice and reformation
- Jesus forgave those who crucified him ‘Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing’
- Jesus said you should forgive a person ‘not seven times, but seventy-seven times’. there should be no limit to the amount of forgiveness they show
- the Lord’s Prayer shows that God expects them to show forgiveness to others, and in turn, God will forgive them for the sins they commit ‘Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us’
what are the Buddhist attitudes to forgiveness?
- forgiveness involves letting go of anger and resentment, as well as the desire for the offender to suffer through punishment
- if people don’t forgive they’ll suffer (they’ll continue to be angry and resentful). they should therefore forgive others for the sake of their own health and welfare
- forgiving a criminal doesn’t mean their actions won’t have consequences: they’ll still be punished by law/karma
- someone who has acted unskilfully should confess and apologise before hoping for forgiveness. it’s considered unskilful to not accept an apology
finish the quote:
‘Of those who wrap themselves up in it, ____________________.’
‘Of those who wrap themselves up in it, hatred is not quenched’
describe the case study of the adulterous woman:
- a group of men were going to stone a woman who had cheated on her husband to death. jesus said: ‘let he who is without sin cast the first stone’
- Jesus is trying to teach that everyone has sinned. therefore what right do people have to commit other people’s sins? only God has the right to judge sinful people, as only God is sin-free.
- the idea is fair, but impractical when it comes to more serious crimes, such as murder.
- the book ‘Leviticus’ includes the Laws of Moses, including stoning those who have done wrong (this is where the men got the idea to stone the woman). Jesus believes that it is outdated, and he modernised it.
describe the case study of Elizabeth Fry:
- an educated young woman, who lobbied for equal education rights, and righted women’s prisons which had horrible conditions. people slept on concrete floors, and they excreted in a single bucket in the corner.
- she educated young girls, and set up a team of nurses to reform the healthcare system.
- she claimed that women should run women’s prisons, as only they know what a woman needs. she did this because of a compassionate upbringing, and because her Quaker church preaches that everyone should be treated fairly.
- all criminals should be treated with respect
describe what Buddhists believe about forgiveness on behalf of the victim:
if someone is a victim of a crime, they can hold onto emotions such as anger and resentment, which would lead to suffering. they must move on and forgive instead. however, forgiveness doesn’t mean the crime is acceptable. the culprit must still realise that what they’ve done is wrong.
describe the case study of Anh-Huong Nguyen:
- zen Buddhist from Vietnam.
- spent 10 months in a Malaysian refugee camp
- at the camp she met women and girls who had been raped by pirates.
- she was angry with the men, but through meditation, she understood they were victims of their own upbringings and environments.
- she came to forgive them, by understanding them.
describe the Christian attitude towards suffering:
- Christians believe they have a duty to help those who are suffering, whatever the cause
- try to follow the example of Jesus, who helped the suffering
- they should also try not to cause others to suffer. when they do, they should apologise and try to repair the damage they’ve caused in order to restore relationships
- where it is unavoidable, suffering may strengthen a person’s character and faith
finish the quote:
‘We also glory in our _____________, because we know that suffering produces ____________________________________________________________.’
‘We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance…character…and hope’
but how can a loving God allow people to suffer?
- Christians believe it’s wrong to blame God for the suffering that results from human actions
- God gave humans free will, and also plenty of guidance on how to use it responsibly
- the teachings and example of Jesus will reduce suffering is followed
what is the role of the law in a Christian’s eyes?
to give more compulsory guidance about the best way to use free will, together with punishments for those who cause suffering by committing crimes
what are the main features of a prison?
- main punishment is a loss of liberty
- prisoners are locked in cells for some of the day, and have to do manual work for little money
- reserved for more serious crimes
what are the Christian and Buddhist responses to prisons?
Christian:
- support the use for more serious crimes
- believe prisoners should be treated well, and involved in positive activities and education to help them reform
Buddhist:
- primary aim should be to protect society from dangerous criminals
- may also provide time and space for rehab
what are the Christian and Buddhist responses to corporal punishment?
Christian:
- don’t support it
- doesn’t seek to reform the offender, so simply negative and harmful
- doesn’t show respect to individual
Buddhist:
- expresses violence and causes resentment rather than reformation
- doesn’t solve underlying cause of crime
describe community service:
- includes work in the community, such as cleaning graffiti, decorating/clearing wasteland
- used for more minor offences
- may include treatment for addiction/medical conditions such as counselling and education
- a meeting may be set up so the victim can tell the offender the impact their crime had and the offender can apologise
what are the Christian and Buddhist responses to community service?
Christians:
- approve
- allows offenders to make up for what they’ve done wrong, deters them from committing future offences
- reforms them by making them realise the consequences of their actions
- no harm is done to the offender
Buddhists:
- approve, helps to rehabilitate criminal
- must directly address the crime and help the criminal to see the impact of their actions
- should also address the needs of the victims
what is a ‘panopticon’?
- a ‘panopticon’ (‘pan’ = everything, ‘optic’ = to see’) is designed to watch the cells in a prison - there’s a central tower, surrounded by cells. the cells are transparent, so the prisoners’ every move is watched.
- the idea is that prisoners don’t know if they’re being watched by the tower or not. their behaviour will be modified as a result of this.
describe the difference between Category A, B, C, and D prisons:
Cat A:
high security. male prisoners who pose a threat to the public, police or national security.
Cat B:
either local/training prisons. prisoners taken directly from local courts, and training prisons hold long-term and high-security prisoners.
Cat C:
training and resettlement prisons. prisoners develop their skills and find work to settle back into the community on release. (most prisoners come here).
Cat D (open prison):
minimal security, prisoners spend most of the day away to carry out education/work. only houses prisoners who have been risk-assessed and deemed safe for the public.
describe the difference between a YOI (young offender’s institute) and Youth Custody:
YOI: houses prisoners between 18 and 21.
Youth Custody: houses young people under 18 who have been remanded (placed in bail or custody) or sentenced to periods of detention by the courts.
what prisons are females held in?
females are held in either open or closed conditions, according to their risks and needs. high risk prisoners are recorded as ‘restricted status’, meaning they can only be held in closed conditions. in exceptional cases, females are held in a Cat A prison, in a separate area to the males.
what happened to the death penalty in Wales, England, Northern Ireland and Scotland?
the death penalty was abolished in Wales, England and Scotland in 1968, and in Northern Ireland in 1973.
- Parliament still debates whether to bring back the death penalty (they have voted on this matter 4 times since 1970). when this occurs, MPs don’t have to follow a party line - they can have a free vote and express their views.
which country uses the death penalty the most?
China puts the most people to death with the death penalty, followed by Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the USA
what is the difference between retentionists, abolutionists, and retentionists by nature?
- retentionist countries still have the death penalty.
- abolutionist countries have abolished the death penalty (all of Europe, Canada, etc.)
- retentionists by practice admit that they haven’t used the death penalty in years, but it is still legal in their country.
what are the 5 different methods of the death penalty?
- lethal injection.
- hanging. (in Egypt, hanging is a public spectacle).
- the electric chair.
- gassed in a gas chamber. (the preferred method of execution in the USA).
- firing squad. (popular in China).
what are the 5 crimes that end in Death Row?
- Murder of a police officer of a jail warden.
- Murder whilst kidnapping, burglary, aggravated sexual assault, arson.
- Murder during a prison escape.
- Multiple murders.
- Murder of an individual under 6 years of age.
describe the case of Anders Breivik, and argue for and against the death penalty:
- detonated bombs in Oslo. attacked a political youth camp. worked by himself. killed 77 people. was found guilt, received a twenty year prison sentence.
for D.P.:
- prevents further pre-meditated mass-killing from Breivik.
against D.P.:
-he said in his trial that he wanted to be killed. do not give him what he wants.
describe the case of Ian Huntley, and argue for and against the death penalty:
- killed 2 schoolgirls. abused their trust - he was a trusted adult. got a lifetime prison sentence, attempted suicide twice, and had previously raped other underage girls.
- for D.P.:
- stops further incidents, he’s untrustworthy.
- the British public want a harsher prison sentence - provides retribution.
- against D.P.:
- gives him an out from his punishment.
- he’s bullied awfully in prison, due to his high-profile case - why stop that torment?
describe the case of Timothy John Evans, and argue for and against the death penalty:
- convicted of murdering his daughter, but he completely denied it. was hanged in 1950. he’d claimed it was his neighbour, John Christie. Christie, after Evans had been hanged, admitted to killing Evans’ daughter, and it was later found that he was a serial killer.
- for D.P.:
- against D.P.:
- the death sentence is too permanent if you sentence the wrong person - there’s no chance to redo, apologise, make things right.
describe the case of Charles Watson, and argue for and against the death penalty:
- part of a cult called the Manson Family, which murdered people. he took part in murdering famous people (e.g. wife of a famous movie producer), because he was told to by Mr Manson. in prison, he became a Christian, set up an organisation to help people in prison and to teach them about Jesus. he’s changed many criminals’ attitudes and lives.
for D.P.:
- still killed many people, and so will prevent him from continuing.
- being told to murder by Mr Manson isn’t a good excuse - what else could he do if someone else told him to do another crime?
against D.P.:
- began a life changing Christian organisation, and helped to rehabilitate many criminals - can continue to do good.
- wasn’t entirely his idea to kill - Mr Manson may have been a dangerous man, so he may have felt pressured to kill.
what are some Bible quotes that argue the for and against of the Death Penalty?
For: ‘an eye for an eye, a life for a life’
Against:
- only God has the right to kill - we take away some of his power if we kill instead.
- all life is sacred - even that of murderers
- two wrongs don’t make a right.
what are some opinions that argue for and against the death penalty?
For:
- the principle of utility states that an action is right if it produces the maximum amount of happiness for the greatest number of people affected by it. if the death penalty is proven to protect society, it can be justified
- it’s justified retribution for those who commit the worst possible crimes
- protects society by removing the worst criminals so they can’t reoffend
Against:
- chance of killing an innocent person
- little evidence that it’s an effective deterrent, as often the threat of punishment doesn’t enter into a murderer’s thinking. the UK murder rate is no higher than in retentionist countries
- not right to take another person’s life, as this doesn’t show forgiveness or compassion
- society can be protected by imprisoning criminals instead of execution
what are the Christian beliefs on the death penalty?
- ‘You shall not murder’
- ‘For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.’
- ‘Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death’.
- Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed’
- sanctity of life (all life is holy as it’s created by God). only God can take it away
- wrongdoers should be reformed not executed
what are the Buddhist beliefs on the death penalty?
- ‘Abstain from harming living things’
- ‘The more evil that comes from him, the more good goes from me.’
- ‘An action, even if it is brings benefit to oneself, cannot be considered an a good action if it causes physical and mental pain to another being.’
- doesn’t allow possibility of rehabilitation
- makes revenge part of the criminal justice system
- not possible to relieve the suffering of the victim by making the offender suffer
- Thailand, however, is a largely Buddhist country but has capital punishment for more than 30 crimes. Buddhist principles don’t always impact government policy
describe the James Bulgar case study:
- 2 year old James Bulgar, murdered by two boys, aged 10.
- snatched from mother in shopping centre. tortured by the two boys, died from his injuries.
- in 1993, law stated that a person must be 13 years old or over to have criminal responsibility. after James’ murder, Houses of Parliament changed law and lowered the age to 10 years old so that the two boys could be charged with murder.
- the boys received a life sentence. they were recently released, causing a lot of public outcry. people felt they should be locked up for longer.
