How Do Criminal Theories Influence Policy Development?

Question 1

What is informal policy making?

Answer 1

Policy making at a community level - it is independent on social ties and value consensus

Question 2

What are the two forms of formal policy making?

Answer 2

Crime control policies - laws, regulations and other governmental actions designed to reduce crime
State punishment policies - punishments put in place by the government after a crime is committed

Question 3

What biological crime control policies influence crime reduction?

Answer 3

Death Penalty
Eugenics
Diet

Question 4

What is a criticism of using the death penalty to remove ‘born criminals’?

Answer 4

We cannot determine if someone is criminal based on their genetics/ features - deterministic
Many people in the past who were put to death ended up being innocent

Question 5

What do biological theorists argue about the death penalty?

Answer 5

Death penalty should be used for those ‘born a criminal’ - using the death penalty removes criminals and have a better social order.

Question 6

What do biological theorists argue about eugenics?

Answer 6

To improve humanity and society those with negative traits that can be inherited should not be allowed to reproduce as they will be passed down - reduce risk of criminals being born.
There should be higher rates of sexual reproduction amongst those with desired traits

Question 7

What is a criticism of eugenics?

Answer 7

Seen as unethical
Cant determine If someone is born criminal
Need crime for society to function

Question 8

How does Diet help crime control

Answer 8

as you can make someone’s diet have more serotonin which is a neurotransmitter and chemical that impacts almost every part of your body and is seen as a ‘natural mood stabilizer’. This is because low levels of serotonin are linked to unprovoked aggressive behaviours

Question 9

What individualistic crime control policies influence crime reduction?

Answer 9

Psychoanalysis
Buddy system
Token economy

Question 10

Psychoanalysis (Dream analysis)

Answer 10

Freud believes that all dreams are significant and if analysed appropriately could gives us clues as to the contents of the unconscious mind, including repressed memories

Question 11

Psychoanalysis (Free association)

Answer 11

Patients are encouraged to lie comfortably on a couch and speak aloud any thoughts that come into their head. So repressed memories may slip out without thinking.

Question 12

What is a Token Economy

Answer 12

A token economy for offenders is a reward system used within prisons to encourage good behaviour from offenders, by giving them tokens, that they can then exchange for something they would like such as extra free time out of their cell, additional visits, food, money, other privileges

Question 13

What sociological theories influence crime reduction?

Answer 13

Custodial/Non Custodial Sentencing
Restorative Justice
CCTV
Multi-Agency Model
Zero Tolerance
Penal Populism

Question 14

How do custodial/non custodial sentences influence crime reduction?

Answer 14

Prison acts as a deterrence - discourages others from committing or reoffending
Helps with rehabilitation - reintegrates offenders back into society and changes behaviour

Question 15

What are some criticisms of custodial/non custodial sentences?

Answer 15

Not always effective - high reoffending rates

Short sentences aren’t really an effective punishment

Question 16

How does restorative justice influence crime reduction?

Answer 16

The offender takes responsibility for their actions

Offenders can feel remorse - reflect on their behaviour

Question 17

How is restorative justice criticised?

Answer 17

RJ relies on co-operation from both parties which doesn’t always happen - offender or victim may refuse

Question 18

How does CCTV influence crime reduction?

Answer 18

Designed to change the environment where crime occurs - deters criminality
Increases the threat of being identified and evidence being collected
Effective in reducing visible crime - theft/vandalism

Question 19

How is CCTV criticised?

Answer 19

Not very effective in reducing violent street crime

Not all crime can be tackled this way - domestic abuse

Question 20

How does the multi-agency approach influence crime reduction?

Answer 20

More communication between agencies in society allows early intervention to take place - schools, media, social services, police etc
No single agency can reduce crime - need support from each other

Question 21

How is the multi-agency approach criticised?

Answer 21

If the agencies involved do no share the same common goals, morals and ideas, it is highly likely that they will disagree on things - no conclusions made