How Laws Change Over Time Flashcards
What is capital punishment?
The practice of executing someone as punishment for a specific crime after due process,going through the correct legal proceedings, or a legal trial.
Capital punishment would then lead to some cases of miscarriages of justice.
What is a miscarriage of justice?
The convention and punishment of a person for crime that they had not committed.
What is the law against double jeopardy?
It has changed over time. As a result of, Ann Mings campaign, the law that prevented a person being tried again for the same offence was abolished for serious offences.
Why was the change in law against double jeopardy necessary ?
The law at the time was inadequate to bring justice.
Also technologies and medical knowledge became more advanced and allowed for certainty of evidence.
EG: Stephen Lawrence
What are the laws concerning prostitution?
It is legal but many of the connected activities are illegal.
This includes soliciting in a public place, kerb crawling or owning a brothel.
How has society changed its view?
It is due to a decline in people believing in religion and an increased moral tolerance.
In addition, the status of women changed and, with increased equality, more occupations and training opportunities became available
What is vagrancy? And is it legal ?
It relates to having no visible means of support and travelling from place to place. Often termed sleeping rough and begging.
It is illegal under the vagrancy act 1824.
Originally, the law was passed in order to clear the streets of beggars and prevent further crime from being committed.
How has society’s opinion changed on vagrancy?
They have changed since the 19th century and no longer is it looked upon with disapproval.
