Custodial sentence - dealing with offending behaviour

Question 1

name the 5 aims

Answer 1

retribution, incapacitate, deter, punish, rehabilitate

Question 2

explain retribution

Answer 2

society acting in revenge for the crime by making the offender suffer. level of suffering should be proportionate to the crime seriousness. victim seeks justice

Question 3

explain incapacitate

Answer 3

offender is taken out of society to prevent reoffending and protect the public

Question 4

explain deterrence

Answer 4

unpleasant experience is designed to put society off offending and the offenders off reoffending

Question 5

explain rehabilitate

Answer 5

aim to reform through therapy, skill acquisition and eduction so they can return to society. change behaviour

Question 6

explain punishment

Answer 6

decreases likelihood of reoffending

Question 7

evidence for self-harm

Answer 7

the howard league for prison justice reported 10,000 incidents of self harm in 2008

Question 8

evidence for suicide and what is the greatest risk group

Answer 8

the ministry of justice figures says 119 people killed themselves in england and wales in 2016, greatest risk group is single, young men in their first 24 hours in prison

Question 9

evidence for depression/psychosis

Answer 9

Prison reform trust found 25% women and 15% men show psychosis

Question 10

where was de-individuation demonstrated

Answer 10

stand ford prison experiment, prisoners and guards wore uniforms causing loss of identity

Question 11

evidence for overcrowding (2) +study showing effect of over crowding

Answer 11

• 25% of prisoners live in overcrowded accommodation
• the growing prison population is not matched by the number of prisons
• Calhaun - study with rats with no space showed overcrowding led to aggression, hyper sexuality, stress and illness

Question 12

what effects does it have on family

Answer 12

children with imprisoned parents are affected financially and psychologically. the parents may suffer from guilt and separation anxiety

Question 13

explain institutionalisation as an effect

Answer 13

prison becomes a way of life so can’t function in society

Question 14

explain prisionisation as an effect

Answer 14

behaviours that were unacceptable in society become a way of survival. may affect relationships at home

Question 15

E-effectiveness. what suggests for 50% of prison pop. punishment doesn’t work? what do behaviourists suggest? why does this make it ineffective?

Answer 15

high recidivism rates suggest for 50% of the prison population punishment doesn’t work. behaviourists suggest punishment is only effective if behaviour is sanctioned immediately. for custodial sentences prisoners experience a delay due to court so punishment seems to be for court not the offence and they only learn not to be caught

Question 16

E-prison as a training ground for crime. what may prison increase? what does Sutherland suggest? what did Latessa and Lowenkamp conclude?

Answer 16

prison may increase the likelihood of offending. Sutherland suggests this is a result of association with people of pro-criminal attitudes so they learn attitudes and techniques from each other. Latessa and Lowenkamp concluded that placing low and high-risk offenders together makes it more likely for low-risk individuals to reoffend

Question 17

E-individual differences. what did Walker et al find about the length of sentences? what does recidivism vary with? what does age say? what crime is 2 times more likely to offend than which crimes? what does this mean in terms of practical application?

Answer 17

Walker et al found the length of sentence made no difference to habitual offenders, it didn’t affect if they would reoffend. recidivism varies with age and type of crime. younger people are more likely to reoffend. theft criminals are 2 times more likely to reoffend that drug/sex offenders. so we should target sentences in different ways

Question 18

E-benefits of custodial sentencing (3)

Answer 18

incapacitation, rehabilitation, retribution

Question 19

E-benefits of non-custodial sentencing. why may alternatives be preferred? 2 example alternatives. what did Klein et al suggest about cautions?

Answer 19

cost of prison care and problems associated with it may mean alternatives are preferred e.g. community service/fines. Klein et al suggests cautions are more effective deterrents than arrests. Home office and community rehab reduces reoffending