Morality & Justice: Responses to Crime

Question 1

Drawbacks of Prison Sentence?

Answer 1

• Prisons are expensive to run – In 2013-
  2014 the Scottish Government reported
  that the Scottish prison service cost £264
  million
• School of crime – Criminals can learn tips and tricks from each other and even form gangs in prison – These gangs can then force others into taking, selling or buying drugs
• Effect on families – The imprisoned family member may have possessed the highest income with the household, which would leave the family with less or no money

Question 2

Benefits of Prison Sentence?

Answer 2

• Every prison in Scotland offers some sort of reform programme e.g. drug and alcohol rehabilitation, education, vocational training and therapy.
• Children who possess a fundamental understanding of the law and know prison is not a place for fun may avoid breaking the laws
• Criminals are removed from society to
  protect law-abiding citizens and assure a
  pattern of peace in the community

Question 3

Drawbacks of Tagging?

Answer 3

• If a criminal must be back inside their house by 7pm, it means that prolific offenders such as burglars and shoplifters can still go out and commit crimes during daylight hours without the authorities knowing where they are
• Doesn’t always stop violence e.g. Lewis Singleton, an 18 year old was brutally stabbed to death by a man who had a history of violence and had previously burgled a residence a few days before his curfew said he should have been at home
• Harry Fletcher, National Association of Probation Officers said “There’s still no evidence that it has reduced crime or prevented offenders from committing further offences”

Question 4

Benefits of Tagging?

Answer 4

• This is a much cheaper option than prison, costing around £2000 a year
• At any one time, 2000 people are tagged and completing their sentences at home or in a hostel, therefore removing more people from busy prisons.
• With some tags, offenders can be tracked within two metres of their location which is particularly vital for those convicted of sex offences.

Question 5

Drawbacks of Fines?

Answer 5

• When it comes to fines for speeding, illegal parking or littering, fixed penalty fines are used, meaning that a person would have to pay a certain amount regardless of their financial position
• High reoffending rates for minor crimes such as speeding or littering, showing fines don’t act as a deterrent
• As ordinary citizens, it isn’t likely that we know all the ins and outs of the law, which means we may commit a crime without even knowing it

Question 6

Benefits of Fines?

Answer 6

• Keeps people out of prison for minor
  offences, thus keeping costs down
• Acts as a deterrent – For some people
  even just the threat of receiving a fine is
  enough to put them off committing a crime
• Able to tailor the cost of fines to the specific individual – This means that a person’s income may be considered before a fine is given to them.

Question 7

Drawbacks of Community Paybacks?

Answer 7

• Is it right to shame these people and make an example of them in order to put others off?
• If you know that a crime will lead to a light sentence such as community service, then it won’t put you off doing it in the first place.
• Offers little protection to society, because the offender will remain in the community and so will still be able to carry out further crimes

Question 8

Benefits of Community Paybacks?

Answer 8

• Community service is one way to cut
  government cost on punishing offenders as
  it provides a less expensive approach with
  similar effect and helps in reducing the
  overcrowding problem in prison
• Community service offers help to the
  offenders to rehabilitate themselves more
  effectively than in prison because by
  community service the offenders are able
  to give something back to the community
  as proof that they have changed
• Only £3000 is needed to send a person to
  one year of community rehabilitation order
  – On average, sending a person to prison is
  12 times higher.