RA to Crime and Punishment

Question 1

Define crime.

Answer 1

An offence that is punishable by law

Question 2

Define duty.

Answer 2

A moral or legal obligation

Question 3

Define responsibility.

Answer 3

A duty to care for or having control over someone or something

Question 4

Define conscience.

Answer 4

The inner feeling of doing right or wrong

Question 5

Define crime against the person.

Answer 5

Wrongdoing that directly harms a person

Question 6

Define crime against property.

Answer 6

Damaging items that belong to somebody else

Question 7

Define crime against the state.

Answer 7

An offence aimed at damaging the government or country

Question 8

Define religious offence.

Answer 8

An offence against religion (e.g. blasphemy, adultery)

Question 9

Define punishment.

Answer 9

Something done to a person because they have broken the law

Question 10

Define protection.

Answer 10

Keeping the public safe from being harmed, threatened or injured by criminals

Question 11

Define retribution.

Answer 11

An aim of punishment - to get your own back: ‘An eye for an eye’

Question 12

Define deterrence

Answer 12

An aim of punishment - to put people off committing crimes

Question 13

Define reform.

Answer 13

An aim of punishment - to change someone’s behaviour for the better

Question 14

Define vindication.

Answer 14

An aim of punishment that means offenders must be punished to show that the law must be respected and is right

Question 15

Define reparation.

Answer 15

An aim of punishment designed to help an offender to put something back into society

Question 16

Define forgiveness.

Answer 16

Showing grace and mercy and pardoning someone for what they have done wrong

Question 17

Define repentance.

Answer 17

Being truly sorry and trying to change one’s behaviour so as not to do the same again

Question 18

Define young offender.

Answer 18

A person under 18 who has broken the law

Question 19

Define prison reform.

Answer 19

A movement that tries to ensure offenders are treated humanely in prison

Question 20

Define death penalty.

Answer 20

Capital punishment; form of punishment in which a prisoner is put to death for crimes committed

Question 21

Define community service.

Answer 21

Unpaid work that an offender performs for the benefit of the local community rather than going to prison.

Question 22

Define electronic tagging.

Answer 22

An offender has to wear an electronic device which tracks their movement to ensure restrictions of movement are observed

Question 23

Define fine.

Answer 23

Money paid as punishment for a crime or other offence

Question 24

Define probation.

Answer 24

An alternative top prison where an offender has to meet regularly with a probation officer to ensure they do not reoffend. Movement may be restricted.

Question 25

Define parole.

Answer 25

When a prisoner is released without completing their sentence, because they have behaved well and accepted their guilt. The prisoner is monitored to try and ensure they do not re-offend.

Question 26

Define life imprisonment.

Answer 26

A prison sentence that theoretically keeps a person in prison until they die.

Question 27

Define early release.

Answer 27

When a prisoner is allowed out of prison even though they have not completed their sentence, or fulfilled the criteria for getting parole

Question 28

Give the main quote to tell Christians to obey the law.

Answer 28

“…give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” – Matthew 22:21

Question 29

Give the quote used to encourage Christiians to challenge unfair laws and an exammple of where this Liberation Theoogy has been used.

Answer 29

“He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.” – Luke 4:18

Martin Luther King used this to challenge black oppresion.

Question 30

Give the 3 main aims of punishmens for Christians.

Answer 30

1. Reform
2. Repentance
3. Forgiveness

Question 31

Give the quote to show that forgiveness is important to Christianity.

Answer 31

Christians must forgive criminals and give them a second chance. As Jesus said: “But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.” – Matthew 5:39

Question 32

Why s repentace so important to Christians?

Answer 32

On the cross, Jesus said to the criminal who repented that “today you will join me in paradise”.

Question 33

What is the law enforced by Islam?

Answer 33

Shari’ah Law.

Question 34

What are the 3 main causes of crime?

Answer 34

Social, environmental and economical factors.

Question 35

Give the detailed sub-factors of social reasons for crime.

Answer 35

• Young offenders turn to crime when they believe society has nothing to offer them;
• A materialistic society makes people steal things that they cannot afford;
• A poor upbringing (parents unemployeed; abuse/neglected childhood; poor education etc.) is a major factor;
• Boredom can be a factor, as if there is nothing for young people to do, they may turn to crime purely for excitement;
• People who take drugs or gamble will probably end up in debt, causing them to steal and turn to crime to pay for their addictions.

Question 36

Give the detailed sub-factors of environmental reasons for crime.

Answer 36

• High unemployment rates leave people with little money and lots of time - they may turn to crime for money and excitement;
• Gang culture and peer pressure, as well as competiton between gangs can lead to high crime rates;
• Inadequate housing and overcrowding seems also to correlate with high crime. It is possible that living in environments which are not looked after does not encourage people to behave responsibly;

Question 37

Give the detailed sub-factors of psychological reasons for crime.

Answer 37

• Some blame the media for setting a bad example and letting everyone look like criminals;
• The majority of people in prison have some sort of mental illness;
• Some say that human beings are naturally greedy and sellfish so we will disobey the law to achieve what we want.

Question 38

In the UK, what are the 2 types of law?

Answer 38

1. Civil law - where nobody has commited a criminal offence but is a disagreement between people (e.g. Suing). Most of these will not make it to a courtroom.
2. Criminal law - where the law is broken and the Crown Prosecution Service decides whether there is enough evidence to prosecute and whether it is in public interest to do so. The trials will sometimes be held in a crown court, where a Jury (12 men/women) and a Judge will decide the fate of the criminal.

Question 39

What 2 offences can criminal law be split into?

Answer 39

• Indictable offences – are more serious offences, such as murder, GBH or rape, in which an offender will be brought to court. Often these offences will result in a custodial sentence (prison).
• Non-indictable offences – less serious criminal offences, such as going slightly over the speed limit or drinking in a public place. These might result in an ‘on-the-spot’ fine but you are unlikely to appear in court or go to prison.

Question 40

What forms of punishment does a prison sentence support?

Answer 40

• Protection - the criminal is locked up away from society;
• Vindication - the law is upheld;
• Deterrence - prison isn’t a nice place to be so will put others off.

Question 41

What aims of punishment does capital punishment support?

Answer 41

• Deterrence - death is the ultimate punishment so will deter others from commiting that crime;
• Protection - dead people can’t hurt anyone;
• Vindication - killing criminals shows that the law is upheld.