Crime Important Concepts

Question 0

Sufficient understanding & intelligence to understand fully what is proposed and accept the consequences

Answer 0

Gillick competence / Gillick principle

Autonomy- children under 16 right to seek medical treatment without parents consent- judged on individual case basis- often overridden by care principle “best interests of the child”

Question 1

Guilty knowledge

Answer 1

Doli Incapax

-get out clause, children lack rationality of adults, undeveloped sense of guilt, not successfully socialised, developing.

Do children really know what they have done (evidence) and that their actions are wrong

Question 2

How does the law define childhood and children

Answer 2

Juridical power (language of rights)
Regulatory/normalising power (normal/abnormal)
The care principle (care for/best interests of the child)

Question 3

Areas of Reaction to the James Bulger case

Answer 3

Media
Political
Evil Child
Environment
Wider Social Context
Out of place

Question 4

How was the court made child friendly for Venables and Thompson?

Answer 4

Dock raised so boys could see
Court sessions short
Trial procedure explained

Held responsible for adult crimes, waived right to anonymity, adult courts