Evaluate the effectiveness of agencies in achieving social control Flashcards
What are the main responsibilities of the police in terms of social control?
Detection, prevention, and investigation of crime; issuing cautions, penalties, and handling minor cases outside court.
What are specialist police departments responsible for?
Handling serious and complex crimes like terrorism.
Which other agencies deal with specific types of crime?
HMRC (tax evasion), DWP (benefit fraud), Border Force (immigration), British Transport Police, Civil Nuclear Constabulary.
How has the police responded to public concern over domestic abuse?
Improved response and support, but criticism over lower arrest rates and delays due to staff shortages.
What trends highlight inefficiency in the police force?
Crime rates increasing, fewer crimes solved, knife and firearm crime rising (2014–2020), and clear-up rates falling from 15% to 7%.
How have budget cuts affected police effectiveness?
More cases dropped due to lack of funding, prioritisation of cases due to limited resources.
Why might crime statistics not reflect actual police performance?
Improved crime recording (esp. domestic abuse), CSEW shows falling crime but excludes some serious offences.
What criticisms have been made regarding racism and bias in the police?
Institutional racism (Macpherson Report), disproportionate stop and search and taser use on minorities.
How has media manipulation affected public perception of the police?
Police use media to portray themselves positively (e.g., Cliff Richard raid) and sometimes overreact to moral panics.
How many cases does the CPS prosecute in 3 months?
80,000 in Crown Court and 450,000 in Magistrates Court.
What percentage of defendants are prosecuted by the CPS?
Around 80%.
Why has the CPS been criticised in handling rape cases?
Dropping ‘weak’ cases to improve success rates; seen as denying justice to victims.
What does the Full Code Test involve?
An evidential test to predict the likelihood of conviction
How have budget cuts affected the CPS?
Loss of a third of staff, increased workloads from digital evidence (e.g., smartphones).
What was the issue in the Liam Allan case (2018)?
CPS failed to disclose key evidence, leading to the collapse of multiple trials.
What other criticisms have been made against the CPS?
Bureaucratic, inefficient, slow communication, sometimes too close to the police.
How are judges portrayed in the media?
As out-of-touch, old, upper-class white men, often seen as too lenient.
Why might judges be biased in their decisions?
Many come from privileged backgrounds and may relate more to similar individuals.
What percentage of judges are privately educated and white?
74% privately educated, 93% white.
What is an example of gender bias in court?
Ruben Vanstiphout received a suspended sentence for rape due to his ‘promising future’.
How does public perception conflict with judicial independence?
Some think judges are out of touch, but public influence may threaten impartial justice.
What is meant by unduly lenient or severe sentencing?
Some sentences (e.g., during 2011 riots) were overly harsh as a deterrent; others are too lenient and reviewed.
How did staff cuts affect prison control?
Loss of experienced officers, more inexperienced staff made inmate control harder.
How has overcrowding in prisons changed since 1993?
Prison population nearly doubled from 43,000 to 80,000 by 2021.
What are the effects of short sentences on rehabilitation?
Not enough time to address issues like mental health, education, or drug misuse.
What is the impact of NPS drugs like Spice in prisons?
Increased violence, aggression, psychosis, and deaths (117 deaths from 2013–2018).
Are prisons effective at maintaining security?
Few escapes, but major breaches due to smuggling (drones, sim cards, drugs).
How has prison safety deteriorated?
Assaults, suicides, and self-harm have risen significantly since 2010.
What happened at HMP Birmingham in 2016?
Major riot due to staff shortages, leading to a loss of control.
What is the reoffending rate for prisoners?
36% overall, 64% for short sentences, nearly 50% for those with 11+ previous offences.
What were CRCs and why were they introduced?
Privatised probation units aimed at reducing reoffending, but often failed to meet client needs.
What problems did CRCs face?
Lack of face-to-face supervision, poor protection for victims, inadequate housing support.
What are the criticisms of the National Probation Service (NPS)?
Officer shortages, high workloads, lack of secure premises, limited specialist services.
How do charities help with social control?
Provide targeted support (e.g., Nacro, Women in Prison), go beyond government efforts due to strong commitment.
What does Women in Prison (WIP) focus on?
Root causes of women’s offending like abuse, poverty, and mental illness.
What does WIP campaign for?
Fewer prisons for women, more investment in specialist community support.
What support does WIP offer women in prison?
Helplines, referrals, CARE programmes for women with histories of violence and mental health issues.
What is a key limitation of charities in social control?
They depend on public concern, so support for offenders (especially serious ones) may be lacking.
