Punishment in modern Britain

Question 1

Abolition of death penalty
- When was it last used ? and then abolished ?
- Why ?

Answer 1

1964, 1998
- ideas about punishment continued to change , reformation and retribution were now considered more important
- Controversial cases in 1950s led people to question the use of capital punishment

Question 2

Controversial cases

Answer 2

1950 ) Timothy Evans hanged for murdering his wife and baby, evidence later proved he didn’t do it

1953 ) Derek Bentley hanged for murdering a police officer even though he had serious learning disabilities and not fired the gun

1955 ) Ruth Ellis hanged for murdering her Bf after he violently abused her for years

Question 3

Changes to prisons after 1900s

Answer 3

• Different prisons cater diff types of criminals: For example difference between open prisons and high security prisons
• Since 1907, prisoners released on probation w probation officers and reoffend = go back
• In 1948 hard labour and corporal punishment in prisons were abolished
• Separate prisons for young people. Borstals set up in early 1900s, used work and education to try to reduce reoffending rates, todays young offenders institutions have high reoffending rates
• Recent rise in female prisoner although it is just 6%
• Women, men prisons differ

Question 4

What the prisons in early 1800 used for ?
How do prisons now try to decrease re-offending rates ?

Attitude towards prisons

Answer 4

punish criminals to discourage them from re-offending on release

Through education and giving prisoners work that teaches them new skills.

General public don’t always support what can be portrayed as holiday camp prisons.