responses to crime

Question 1

whats a custodial sentence?

Answer 1

offenders locked up for a period of time dependent on severity etc

Question 2

non custodial sentences

Answer 2

tagging
fines
community payback order

Question 3

custodial sentence benefits

Answer 3

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

Question 4

custodial sentence drawbacks

Answer 4

expensive - 2013/14 scottish government spent £264 million on prisons
school of crime
effect on families - taking away the breadwinner

Question 5

benefit of tagging

Answer 5

cheaper than prison -£2000 a year
makes prison less busy
some can track within 2 meters of location which is good for sex offenders

Question 6

what is tagging?

Answer 6

offender has electronic tag attached to ankle enforcing physical boundary and curfew

Question 7

drawback of tagging

Answer 7

criminals can still offend within curfew and physical boundary
no evidence it has reduced crime - harry fletcher
doesn’t stop violence

Question 8

what are fines?

Answer 8

amount of money offender has to pay based on income and ability to pay for low level crimes

Question 9

benefits of fines

Answer 9

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

Question 10

drawbacks of fines

Answer 10

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

Question 11

what is community payback order?

Answer 11

offender given hours of unpaid work
30% of time can be used for vocational learning or therapy

Question 12

benefits of community payback orders

Answer 12

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

Question 13

drawbacks of community payback orders

Answer 13

should we shame people as deterrence?
if you know a crime will lead to good you wont not do it
less protection to society

Question 14

crime prevention

Answer 14

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

Question 15

moral issues of punishment

Answer 15

punishment is inconsistent
discrimination
victims don’t feel justice was given
innocent people might be punished
doesn’t always reform, could worsen