Religion, Crime And Punishment Mock Revision

Question 1

The aims of punishment

Answer 1

. Retribution
. Reformation
. Protection

Question 2

People who commit a crime because of an addiction should be treated:

Answer 2

. Deserve to be punished and there needs to be a deterrent to protect society
. Victims of the crimes need to see that justice has been done
. Most religions recognise that addicts need help to overcome their addiction
. rehabilitation may be more helpful and appropriate than simply punishing offenders, addicts can reform their life
. The fifth moral precept teaches that Buddhists should abstain from taking drugs (as people under the influence of drugs lose their awareness so are more likely to commit crime
. Aim to avoid feeling hatred towards criminals, 3 poisons
. Some Christians have set up rehabilitation centres to help addicts reform
. Some believe that the punishment should be as severe as the crime committed

Question 3

Why are some people are against the death penalty?

Answer 3

. Buddhists oppose the death penalty as it breaks the first moral precept, abstain from killing
. Does not allow for the possibility of rehabilitation
. Dalai Lama “We should not seek revenge on those who have committed crimes against us, or reply to their crimes with other crimes”
. Motive is revenge which is unskilful
. Hatred one of three poisons
. Christians oppose the death penalty as they believe in the sanctity of life, only God has the right to take life
. Jesus taught that forgiveness is important and warned not to judge each other harshly
. Ten Commandments – ‘Do not kill’
. Punishments should help towards reforming an offender

Question 4

Should criminals be sent to prison? Intro

Answer 4

. Prison provides society with protection from those who have committed dangerous and serious crimes and ensures that the law is respected.
. Imprisonment punishes the family as well as the criminal.

Question 5

Should criminals be sent to prison? - paragraph 1

Answer 5

• A prison sentence gives offenders a chance to reflect on their actions and decide to reform.
• Prisons contain some troubled individuals who need social help, education, medical help, work and life skills and attempts to provide this can be found in the prison system.
• Prisoners can attend classes to improve their education and skills which prepares them for the outside world.
• One of the main aims of prison should be to give the criminals time and space to reflect on their actions and so rehabilitate themselves
• Recognise the suffering they have caused
• “Our duty to them, as to every being, is to help them to rise towards Nirvana, rather than let them sink to lower levels of rebirth” – The Dalai Lama
• Buddhist and Christian chaplains regularly visit inmates and help them to change
• Christians believe in medical programmes to help prisoners overcome drug and alcohol addiction
• Take inspiration from the Parable of the Sheep and Goats – Matthew 25:31–46
• Offenders should be helped to change their ways once the punishment is over so that they don’t reoffend

Question 6

Should criminals be sent to prison? - paragraph 2

Answer 6

.• Prison isolates those who deserve punishment from their families and friends (retribution) but doesn’t reform them.
• Being locked up often breeds resentment, bitterness and a determination to get back at society.
• Many prisons have problems such as over-crowding, little exercise, poor diet, boredom, violence and drug-abuse.
• There is a high rate of reoffending when criminals are let back out into society as they are often called ‘schools for crime’ as prisoners educate each other in criminal methods.
• A prison record makes it very difficult to get a job on release, which may lead back into crime
• Other forms of punishment may be more suitable when considering the offender and/or their offence, eg community service, etc.
• Death penalty, “eye for an eye”

Question 7

Should criminals be sent to prison? - conclusion

Answer 7

. Should
. Opportunities are given to talk through their problems and realise their mistakes and learn strategies for coping with life’s problems in a constructive way, etc.
. Christians support the idea of constructive work and education so that inmates can learn worthwhile skills in prison