responses to crime Flashcards
whats a custodial sentence?
offenders locked up for a period of time dependent on severity etc
non custodial sentences
tagging
fines
community payback order
custodial sentence benefits
every prison in scotland has a reform program eg education improving prisoners lives
criminals removed from society making it safer
children see prion as a deterrence
custodial sentence drawbacks
expensive - 2013/14 scottish government spent £264 million on prisons
school of crime
effect on families - taking away the breadwinner
benefit of tagging
cheaper than prison -£2000 a year
makes prison less busy
some can track within 2 meters of location which is good for sex offenders
what is tagging?
offender has electronic tag attached to ankle enforcing physical boundary and curfew
drawback of tagging
criminals can still offend within curfew and physical boundary
no evidence it has reduced crime - harry fletcher
doesn’t stop violence
what are fines?
amount of money offender has to pay based on income and ability to pay for low level crimes
benefits of fines
keeps people out of prisons- keeping costs down
acts as deterrent- people cant afford fines
able to be tailored to equally impact offender, richer pays more then poor
drawbacks of fines
fixed penalty fines charge the same no matter what financial position you’re in
high reoffending rates for minor crimes eg speeding
not everyone knows the ins and outs of the law - accidentally commits crimes
what is community payback order?
offender given hours of unpaid work
30% of time can be used for vocational learning or therapy
benefits of community payback orders
cuts prison costs but has similar effects
only £3000 is needed to send someone a year of community service, prison for a year is 12 times the price
help offenders rehabilitate better than prisons as they give back to society
drawbacks of community payback orders
should we shame people as deterrence?
if you know a crime will lead to good you wont not do it
less protection to society
crime prevention
crime falls when opportunity is reduced
cctv to deter shoplifters
work with police on weapon sales
working with those in system to prevent reoffending
increased police presence at night
drug/ alcohol treatments
moral issues of punishment
punishment is inconsistent
discrimination
victims don’t feel justice was given
innocent people might be punished
doesn’t always reform, could worsen