Crime and the Law Flashcards
Roles of the Police:
Control Traffic
Prevent Crime
Investigate/Catch Criminals
Control Traffic example:
For example, on average, 7000 people are killed each year in the UK as a result of drink driving.
Prevent Crime example:
For example, every year, police monitor TRNSMT to provide a presence and discourage drug use.
Economic Causes of Crime:
Poverty
Unemployment
Greed
Poverty example:
For example, North Lanarkshire saw a 40% increase in shoplifting in 2018 due to “destitute shoplifting.”
Unemployment example:
For example, a former high court judge claims a huge increase in joblessness caused by Covid-19 will lead to more people becoming desperate and breaking the law, leaving overstretched courts unable to cope.
Greed example:
For example, former SNP MP Natalie McGarry was jailed for 18 months in 2018 for embezzling money from pro-independence groups.
Social Causes of Crime:
Peer Pressure
Drugs and Alcohol
Peer Pressure example:
For example, people that are part of gangs may be more likely to commit a crime due to the others’ expectations and actions.
Drugs and Alcohol example:
For example, in over 42% of all homicide cases, the person committing the crime was drunk at the time of the offence.
Biological Causes of Crime:
Sex
DNA
Sex example:
For example, a male is more likely to commit a crime than a woman, although women still commit crimes.
DNA example:
For example, there is a gene called the “warrior gene” that is common in psychopaths. It causes a lack of empathy and, when paired with a negative childhood/upbringing, can cause people to commit crimes.
Consequences of Crime for the Perpetrator:
Being locked up in jail (physical)
Separated from family and friends (social)
No income (economic)
Locked in jail example:
For example, their physical health could decline which could therefore impact their mental health and wellbeing.
Separated from family/friends example:
For example, 60% of all offenders in Scotland had mental health problems whilst in jail.
No income example:
For example, this could lead to them ending up homeless or stealing to survive.
Consequences of Crime for the Victim:
Severe injuries/death (physical)
Poor mental health (social)
Having to take time off work (economic)
Severe injuries/death example:
For example, if a victim of violent crime died, it would impact their loved ones’ mental health and if they are disabled after the crime, this may impact their ability to work.
Poor mental health example:
For example, 31% of all rape victims will develop PTSD throughout their lives.
Having to take time off work example:
For example, every year, nearly a million victims lost wages, 180,000 moved home and 32,000 changed their jobs as a result of crime in Scotland.
Consequences of Crime on Society/Communities:
Businesses losing money (financial)
‘Environmental Poverty’ (social)
Stereotyping (economic/social)