Roles of agencies in social control

Question 1

What are the aims and objectives of the police?

Answer 1

• their aim is to reduce crime and maintain law and order which involves the protection of life and property and prevention and detection of criminal offences

Question 2

What are the statutory powers of the police?

Answer 2

arrest
detention
search
interview

Question 3

How are the police funded?

Answer 3

their main source of income is a central government grant but some of their income is also raised through council tax

Question 4

What are the main aspects of philosophy the police are to act with?

Answer 4

• honesty and integrity
• authority, respect and courtesy
• equality and diversity

Question 5

What are the working practices of the police?

Answer 5

• they respond to emergency and non-emergency calls from the public
• they deal with both violent and non-violent offenders

Question 6

Who are police community support officers (PCSOs)?

Answer 6

they support the police and work on the frontline which provides a visible and reassuring presence on the streets

Question 7

Who are the police and crime commissioners?

Answer 7

they are the ‘voice’ of the people and hold the police to the account with an aim to cut crime and deliver an effective and efficient police service

Question 8

What are the aims and objectives of the crown prosecution service (CPS)?

Answer 8

• they decide which cases should be prosecuted, keeping them under continuous review
• they determine the appropriate charges in more serious cases and advise the police
• they prepare cases and present them in court using a range of advocates such as in-house advocates or agents

Question 9

How are the CPS funded?

Answer 9

they are government funded and they also recover criminal assets through its confiscation, restraint and enforcement activities

Question 10

What are the CPS’ working practices?

Answer 10

• there is a code of practice that is used to help decide if a prosecution should take place, it consists of two parts (evidential test and public interest test) and both must be satisfied for a prosecution to take place

Question 11

What are the aims and objectives of the judiciary?

Answer 11

• the judge makes decisions about the law including its interpretation and application
• the judge must explain the procedure and legal issues to the jury and at the end of a case they will sum up the evidence to the jury and pass a sentence if it is appropriate
• judges in the Supreme Court may have to interpret the law if it is unclear and set precedent for other courts to follow

Question 12

How is the judiciary funded?

Answer 12

• judicial salaries are decided following the recommendations of the senior salaries review body
• judicial salaries are higher than the average wage for England and Wales, a successful solicitor or barrister can earn more than a senior judge

Question 13

What is the philosophy for the judiciary?

Answer 13

• the judge must be loyal to the monarch as they are figurehead of the legal system
• they must apply the law fairly to everyone

Question 14

What are the working practices of the judiciary?

Answer 14

• judges take two oaths, the first oath is an allegiance and the second is a judicial oath
• the judiciary is independent and that is why it is important for them to make decisions solely on the law, evidence and facts without improper influence.

Question 15

What are the aims and objectives of the prison service?

Answer 15

• they must provide some sort of punishment which involves the deprivation of liberty
• rehabilitation should be attempted for the individual, so when they are released they can return to society as law abiding citizens

Question 16

How is the prison service funded?

Answer 16

• most prisons are government funded with the finances being raised through taxation

Question 17

What is the philosophy of the prison service?

Answer 17

• the prison service serves the public by keeping in custody
  those committed by the courts.
• their duty is to look after prisoners with humanity and help them lead law abiding and useful lives while in custody and after release

Question 18

What are the working practices of the prison service?

Answer 18

• prisons are divided into different categories (A, B, C, D)
• privileges available to prisoners depend on behaviour, with levels set at basic standard and enhanced and each level gives certain rights and activities

Question 19

What are the different categories of prisons?

Answer 19

• A = high risk / maximum security
• B = high risk to others
• C = lower risk but not trusted to be in open conditions
• D = very low risk to others and are due for release soon, known as open prisons

Question 20

What are the aims of the national probation service?

Answer 20

• they are a statutory criminal justice service that supervise high risk offenders when they are released into the community
• they work in partnership with 21 community rehabilitation companies, the courts, the police, and with private and voluntary sector partners in order to manage offenders safely and effectively

Question 21

What might offenders have to do while on probation?

Answer 21

• do unpaid work
• complete and education or training course
• get treatment for addictions, such as drugs or alcohol
• have regular meetings with an ‘offender manager’

Question 22

What is the philosophy of the national probation service?

Answer 22

They aim to:
- believe in the ability of people who have offended to change for the better and become responsible members of society
- be committed to promoting social justice, social inclusion, equality and diversity
- be committed to acting with professional integrity

Question 23

How are the national probation service funded?

Answer 23

they are funded by the national offender management service through taxation however the community rehabilitation companies are businesses and are self-funding

Question 24

What are the working practices of the national probation service?