Crime & Punishment Flashcards
Why do people commit crimes?
self-defence poverty influence anger protection
Crimes committed due to poverty/upbringing
stealing drug abuse GBH vandalism sexual harassment
Crimes committed due to mental health/addiction
drug abuse theft GBH sexual harassment man slaughter
Crimes committed due to greed/hate
murder theft GBH sexual crimes genocide/hate crime
How do we punish people who commit crimes?
imprisonment mental health unit community service fines parole
Why do we punish people?
protection duty to the law justice/equality deterrent revenge
Different aims of punishments
deterrence protection reformation reparation vindication retribution
Christian attitudes on reformation
not always their fault
forgiveness
learn from mistakes
God can help people to change
Christian attitudes on hope
there’s more to life than prison - see beyond prison
give a sense of hope for a new life
spreading Christian message offers future hope
Christian attitudes on justice
restorative justice - helps to right the wrong
God can forgive and offers justice
belief that people should be punished but not excessively
God is fair so punishments should be
Christian attitudes on love
God loves everyone unconditionally
Christians should reflect this in their actions
Jesus seen as a symbol of love & hope
Is it acceptable to break the law if it helps to change a bad law? (Christian View)
Christians believe in defending the weak and oppressed
Show Agape Love - treat everyone with respect
Commanded by Jesus to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart” - (Luke 10:27)
These beliefs conclude that it’s acceptable to break the law to change a bad law as long as the change is in line with teachings in the Bible
Is it acceptable to break the law if it helps to change a bad law? (Christian View)
Many Christians are pacifists and follow Jesus’ teachings that “all who live by the sword, die by the sword” - (Matthew 26:52)
They’re likely to claim any opposition to law should be done without violence
However some follow a school of thought called “Liberation Theology” which claims Christians have a duty to overcome justice even if it means using violence
In this case it’s only acceptable to break the law if it helps to change a bad law
Is it acceptable to break the law if it helps to change a bad law? (Buddhist View)
Buddhism is a pacifist religion
The Noble Eightfold Path contains instructions about not harming people - Ahimsa (the principle of non-harm)
They might support opposition to bad laws but would oppose any violence deliberately causing harm to others
Any opposition to injustice must be done peacefully
Reasons to oppose capital punishment
death is final - may make a mistake in conviction
murderers deserve to suffer - easy way out
all life is sacred
against the 10 commandments - “Do not murder”
Reasons to oppose corporal & capital punishment
hypocritical response
everyone deserves a second chance
2 wrongs don’t make a right
violence is never the answer
Exodus 21:23-25
“But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise”
Conservative View - context is a response to an unlawful society without clear laws, aims to establish fairness
For capital punishment
if court are 100% sure then they deserve to die
gives family/friends sense of relief to move on
guilty people should pay - prison isn’t enough
we shouldn’t let people who murder have a right to life
Against capital punishment
you could kill an innocent person
being in prison for life is a better punishment as your human rights are taken from you
only God has the right to take life
What is forgiveness
moving on
letting go of blame
acceptance
not necessarily forgetting
Christian attitudes to forgiveness
JESUS TELLS US TO FORGIVE OTHERS
Jesus forgives criminals
forgiveness is not a one time thing - it’s an everyday process
the bible says “70 x 7” - forgiveness is unlimited
Reasons to oppose corporal punishment
Hypocritical response
Can lead to bitterness and anger - leads to further crimes
Limits opportunities for reform
Prevents full potential being reached
Forgiveness: a trade or a gift?
TRADE - both parties benefit; closure or financial/social benefit for victim; two way attitude/action
GIFT - given freely by victim; nothing is expected in return
What is the principle of unity?
The right action is one which creates the greatest happiness or pleasure for the most amount of people
