Crime and Punishment Flashcards
Why do laws need to be just
- if they were unjust people will feel it is right to break them and society would disintegrate
- people will think all laws are therefore unjust and if the weak are not protected there is no purpose to follow them
- disobey and campaign eg 1960s equality for blacks
- people will think the legal system isn’t working and start a civil war eg Kosovans in Serbia
Theories of punishment
(1) Retribution
- criminals should pay for the severity of the crime, in the past death penalty for murder
- makes people suffer for making victims suffer
- punishment should ‘make them suffer for what they have dine wrong’ so it punishes them
Theories of punishment
(2) Deterrence
- eg if someone will get their hand cut off if they steal then people won’t steal
- if they know they will be executed for murder them won’t murder
Theories of punishment
(3) Reform
-reform criminals to make them honest citizens
-if criminals commit crimes because of childhood then need reform to teach them
-involves educating criminals so they can find a job (rehabilitation)
EXAMPLE:
2000, prisoner was allowed to use his first aid skills he learnt in prison to save a motorcyclists life: 14 days were removed from his sentence
Theories of punishment
(4) Protection
- Capital punishment is good so there is not threat of them recommitting
- long prison sentences for violence and burglars so society is protected
- community service keeps criminals off the streets
Why justice is important for Christians
- Bible says God is just and will reward the righteous and punish the sinful
- Jesus says the rich should share with the poor
- 1984 world council of christian churches say Christians should work for justice in the world ‘justice peace and the integrity of creation’
- Jubilee 2000 campaign persuaded the governments of rich countries to cancel the debts of the poor countries (run by Christians)
Why justice is important for Muslims
- God rewards the good and punishes the bad on the Last Day
- Muslims should follow the Shari’ah law which ensures they will behave justly and ensure people are governed in a fair way
- Islam teaches to not charge interest on the poor as it takes from them and gives to the rich
- Pillar of Zakah, Muslim Aid and Islamic relief work to bring justice in the world
- muslims role as vicegerents of God to behave justly so world governed fairly
Non religious attitudes to Capital Punishment
FOR
-it is a deterrent
-best way to protect society
-shows the value of human life
-only retribution for taking a life
AGAINST
-no court system can be sure of giving the right verdict (wrong)
-countries that don’t use it have lower murder rates
-murderers who think they will get caught (and killed) will just kill more people
-murderers regard life imprisonment as worse than death penalty (better retribution)
why do we need laws?
1) Human beings live in groups so need rules to control behaviour (eg speeding whilst driving)
2) people need to work and be paid, modern society would not function without laws in business
3) to protect the weak from the strong otherwise murder rape and theft would go without punishment
4) advanced civilisation like UK needs laws for organisation
Christian attitudes to the Death penalty
AGAINST
-Jesus came to save sinners; you can’t save them if they’re dead
-Jesus banned retribution; eye for an eye is wrong
-life is sacred and only God can take it
-most Christian churches have condemned it
FOR
-the bible lists the death penalty so God allows it
-RC church and C of E church have made statements allowing it
-Christian church used it in the past for heresy
-Thomas Aquinas says peace is more important than reform so it is allowed
Muslim attitudes to the Death penalty
FOR
-punishments send down from God in the Qur’an
-Muhammed agreed and he is the “seal of the prophets”
-Muhammed sentenced people to death in Madinah
-Shari’ah law allows it for murder, adultery and apostasy
AGAINST
-recommended in the Qur’an but not compulsory
-family of the victim can accept blood money instead
-agree with non religious arguments
Laws on drugs and alcohol
- tobacco businesses need 750,000 new smokers a year to replace the ones that die
- can be advertised in the Indian subcontinent as glamorous
- chief constable of North Wales 2007 said all drugs should be legalised; drug users turn to crime to buy the drugs
Health problems caused by drugs and alcohol
- smoking increases risk of 50 medical conditions
- causes cancer, heart disease
- can lead to complications with pregnancy
- serious liver problems from alcohol
- increased risk of road accidents
- addiction
- second hand smoking can cause illness
Christian attitudes to drugs and alcohol
Against illegal drug use:
-illegal for good reasons
-St Paul Cor 6:19 the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and should not be abused
-taking drugs have mental effects so can’t worship God properly and can’t live a good Christian life
-all Christian churches teach it is wrong
For alcohol and tobacco but in moderation:
-Jesus turned water into wine
-St Paul taught you could drink in moderation
-Jesus drank a sponge soaked in wine at his death
-churches use alcohol in communion
Against smoking and drinking:
-abusing gods temple as much as taking drugs
-bible warns of drunkenness eg Noah’s drunkenness caused family shame
-bible teaches it impairs judgement and invited violence
-Christians should set a good example with a healthy lifestyle
Muslim attitudes to alcohol
- qur’an says intoxicants are the way satan keeps people from God
- Muhammed says any intoxicant the clouds the mind is khamr so forbidden
- “do not harm yourselves or others” said Muhammed (literally)
- Muhammed said Muslims must have nothing to do with the production of alcohol either
- Islam forbids suicide and alcohol is equally abusing your body
