Crime and Punishment (Modern Period) Flashcards
T/F: Crime has decreased since 1900
False: it has increased
What social changes have affected crime?
- The gap between the richest and the poorest continues to grow
- People feel poorer even though absolute poverty has declined
- Standards of living have increased
What are hate crimes?
Crimes committed due to a person’s race, sexual orientation, gender, religion etc. based on prejudice
How has technology enabled criminals?
They can commit crimes through the internet .e.g. hacking, car crime has increased and drug offences have become a new issue thanks to science
What is a new major threat and why are people so scraed?
Terrorism - people are so scared because of the media representation it gets
What types of crime have increased in the modern period?
Violent and sexual crimes
What does modern smuggling focus on?
Drugs, alcohol, tobacco and human trafficking
What equipment do policemen carry?
- Pepper spray/CS spray
- Tasers
- Batons
- Firearms are reserved for serious situations and highly trained officers
How has technology helped police officers?
- ANPR
- CCTV
- Police National Computer (PNC)
- Cars and motorbikes
- Radios and communication
- Identification .i.e. DNA or fingerprinting
How have police officers roles expanded?
They are now branching out from crime including missing persons, mental health incidents and providing their presence at large gatherings or events
When were women first allowed in the police force?
1920 - they now make up 28%
What is an open prison?
This is a type of prison where prisoners are allowed to leave for the day to work in order to prepare them for employment
What are some problems in current prisons?
- Overcrowding
- Violence and crime inside
- Deaths and suicide
What year was solitary confinement ended?
1922
Name some non-custodial sentences
Parole, probation (Les Mis), suspended sentence, electronic tagging and community service
How were young offenders (YOs) treated in the victorian period?
They were treated just as harshly as adults, sometimes worse
What tactics did people use to prevent youth crime?
- Military detention centres
- Reforming youth offenders
- Borstals
- Approved schools
What methods are used today?
- Tagging or non-custodial sentences
- Custody is used as a last resort
- Counselling
What year was the death penalty abolished?
1969
Give arguments for capital punishment
It is a good deterrent, it is much less expensive than prisons, it could avenge the murder of someone else and means the re-offending rate decreases
Give arguments against capital punishment
Crime had not increased when other countries got rid of the death penalty, if you kill an innocent person you cannot take it back, most murders happen without planning or thinking meaning they cannot be deterred and it goes against religious teachings .e.g. ‘sanctity of life’
T/F: The death penalty was abolished all at once
False: the number of crimes that were worthy of the death penalty gradually reduced
What happened to Ruth Ellis?
She was the last woman to be executed for the shooting of her husband who was regularly abusive which meant there was a lot of sympathy for her especially as she was leaving a child behind
What happened to Timothy Evans?
Timothy Evans was hung for the murder of his wife who was actually killed by the serial killer John Christie; Evans confessed out of guilt as his wife had been pregnant but did not actually commit the crime (Christie had murdered 8 other people)
What happened to Derek Bentley?
Derek Bentley had severe learning difficulties and so struggled to keep a job, therefore falling in with the wrong crowd; he was caught in the middle of a robbery along with a 16 year old who was carrying a gun (he had a knife and a knuckle duster but did not use them), he shouted ‘let him have it’ and his companion shot the police officer; he was hung for his crime but later pardoned as he was found innocent and the trial had been unfair
Why were COs treated so badly?
They were seen as cowards and weaker or inferior
