Crime and the Law Flashcards
Explain 3 hate crimes
One hate crime is race. This is when you are discriminated for the colour of skin and this would be considered a hate crime. For example, There are 3,038 hate crime charges towards race reported in 2019-20, 4% more than in 2018-19.
Another hate crime is disability. This is when you have a disability and people will discriminate for that. For example, There were 387 charges towards disability charges reported in 2019-20. 29% more than in 2018-19.
A third hate crime is transgender. This is when you have changed from one gender to another and some people do not like that. For example, There were 41 hate crime charges towards transgenders reported in 2019-20, compares to 40 in 2018-19
Explain 3 roles of the police
One role of the police is to maintain law and order. This involves policing the streets during large protests in order to ensure that the law is followed and that the people who are assembling to protest do so safely and responsibly. For example, police officers were deployed to maintain law and order during the Black Lives Matter protest in Aberdeen in 2020.
Another role of the police is to search and protect. Police have to search civilians to ensure no drugs or weapons that may cause harm is on them.
A third role of the police is to arrest criminals. If police feel that they should arrest the criminal , the offender may be taken to jail.For example “Liverpool had the highest rate of stop and searches in 2022.”
What are the consequences of crime for victim offender, families and wider society.
victim-death, ptsd/trauma , injuries, poverty
offender-prison, job loss, criminal record, can’t aply to certain jobs,
families- mental health problems, stresses , worried, anger
wider society- stress on the government, schools educate on the particular crime, more alcohol or drug restrictions,.
Explain three alternatives to prison that are effective
One alternative to prison is Drug Treatment and Testing orders[DTO]. DTO is when someone’s offending is due to drug misuse and therefore needs treatment to help stop them re offending.
For example, 74% of drug users and 83% of alcoholics are clean two years after completing the course.”
Another alternative to prison is Community Payback or CPO. CPO is when the offender does the requirement decided by the court and these requirement are based on the nature of the crime to help stop them re offending. For example, “From those who were given a prison sentence, 49% had re offended within the first year where as 29% of those given a community sentence had re offended.
Explain how the government responses have been effective and ineffective
Arguably the government responses have been ineffective because knife crime continues in Scotland. Despite some success, there continues to be example of knives being used in to commit horrible crimes. This suggests the No Knives Better Lives isn’t doing enough. For example Knife crime continues in Scotland like the case of James Wright who had previous knife convictions had gone on to stab a father of 3 in Paisley.
Arguably the government has been effective in tackling crime because they have now treated violent crime like a public health problem. The Scottish government had introduced changes like the violent reduction unit and this is when they try to deal with the cause of the crime rather than wait for it to happen. For example, Murder rates have dropped around 60 % in the last ten years.
Government responses have been ineffective because of the minimum unit pricing
Although minimum unit pricing is set to pay higher amounts for bigger units, people will still pay any price for alcohol. For example “2/3rd of violent crimes in Scotland are linked to the consumption of alchohol”.
Explain 2 economic causes of crime
One economic cause of crime is poverty. Poverty is when you can’t afford the basics in life for yourself or your family and this may lead you turning to crime.
For example “ Around 25% of all crimes of dishonesty are when people steal from shops to get items such as food and clothing.”
Another economic cause of crime is Greed. Greed is when someone wants more and more of something [often money] and this may be out of jealousy. For example “The former SNP MP, Natalie McGarry was jailed for embeeding more than £25,000 including donations intended for a foodbank.
Explain 2 social causes of crime
One social cause of crime in Scotland is lack of education. Not getting enough education may lead to unemployment or no further education which will lead to people choosing crime for an option. For example
“More than half [52.5%] of young adults who received custodial sentences had been persistently absent during school.
One social cause of crime is Neighbourhood. If you live in a bad neighbourhood, there may be be people who can’t afford a lot or can’t afford or live in a good neighbourhood and need money so therefore they turn to crime. For example “People living in the 15% most deprived areas were more likely than those living elsewhere in Scotland to experience violent crime”.
Explain 2 biological cause of crime
One biological cause of crime is Mental Health Issues.
Mental Health affects the way we think feel and act and if someone had a mental health issue, they could possibly cause harm to others. For example “Between 1993-2019 there were 1540 cases of people being killed by people with mental health conditions.”
One biological cause of crime is brain maturity. It could be the case that some young people’s brains haven’t developed and they don’t quite know the consequences of crime. For example “ From 2022,judges are required to consider rehab instead of jail as evidence proves that young people’s brain isn’t matured enough to be treated like an adult.”
Explain 2 biological cause of crime
One biological cause of crime is Mental Health Issues.
Mental Health affects the way we think feel and act and if someone had a mental health issue, they could possibly cause harm to others. For example “Between 1993-2019 there were 1540 cases of people being killed by people with mental health conditions.”
One biological cause of crime is brain maturity. It could be the case that some young people’s brains haven’t developed and they don’t quite know the consequences of crime. For example “ From 2022,judges are required to consider rehab instead of jail as evidence proves that young people’s brain isn’t matured enough to be treated like an adult.”
