Social Issue - Crime and the Law Flashcards
Explain and give an example of how education is a social cause of crime.
- Lack of education means limited life choices and opportunities, which may lead to poverty and criminal activity.
- The areas of Glasgow with the highest crime rates are also the areas with the lowest number of people educated past NAT5 level.
Explain and give an example of how social exclusion is a social cause of crime.
- This can lead to crime as people may want to feel like they’re part of something, and so they join a gang.
- In London, 3/4 of the boroughs with the highest levels of violent offending are also in the top 10 most deprived.
Explain and give an example of how a lack of positive role models is a social cause of crime.
- Negative influences from criminals can lead to that individual also learning criminal behaviour.
- The Clerkenwell Crime Syndicate is a London crime family that has been active since the 80s, and thus the children have had no positive role models growing up.
Explain and give an example of how alcohol and drug misuse is a social cause of crime.
- People will commit crimes to fund their addictions e.g. theft and prostitution.
- Between midnight and 6am, 84% of crime is alcohol related.
Explain and give an example of how greed is an economic cause of crime.
- Some people are money-hungry, and so commit crime to fuel that.
- For example, a former MSP was jailed in 2022 after stealing £25K from pro-independence groups.
Explain and give an example of how poverty is an economic cause of crime.
- People may commit crimes to be able to afford basic necessities.
- For example, these people may steal food so they do not die of starvation.
Explain and give an example of how unemployment is an economic cause of crime.
- People may need to commit crime in order to be able to support their family if they do not make income.
- The Telegraph reports that 22% of people who get unemployment benefits have convictions in the last 12 years.
Explain and give an example of how MAOA gene is a biological cause of crime.
- People with this gene have been found to have links to increased aggression.
- A study shows that those with the gene are 13x more likely to have a history of violence.
Explain and give an example of how gender is a biological cause of crime.
- Men are more likely to commit crime than women.
- Men have way more testosterone than women, which has been shown to provoke angrier responses linked to crime.
Explain and give an example of how people living in more deprived communities are more likely to be impacted by crime.
- People in deprived areas may commit crime to survive as they do not have enough income.
- People living in deprived areas are 2.5x more likely to be burgled.
Give 3 examples of the impact of crime on individuals.
- Sleepless nights.
- Recurring thoughts about the events.
- Mental illness.
- 65% of victims had an emotional response.
- 50% of people were reported as angry after violent crimes.
Give a social way a victim may react after crime
- Taking extra preventative measures in future
Give a social way a perpetrator may react after crime
- Divorce/family seperation
Give an economic way a victim may react after crime
- Loss of income
Give an economic way a perpetrator may react after crime
- Travel restrictions
Give a physical way a victim may react after crime.
- Self harm
Give a physical way a perpetrator may react after crime.
- Suicide
Give 2 examples of consequences of crime on families
- Financial difficulty
- PTSD
- Divorce/sepreration
Give one example of alcohol related crime stats.
- 40% of prisoners were drunk at the time of their offence.
- 1/3 of UK prisoners agreed they would not be in jail if they had not been drinking.
What was a success of No Knives, Better Lives
- Between 2008-2018, people caught with offensive weapons has decreased by 60%.
What was a criticism of No Knives, Better Lives
- Stats show that there was a 10% increase of use of offensive weapons to commit other offences.
What are the roles of the police?
- Prevent crime.
- Manage traffic and road safety.
- Protect the public and their property.
- Keep public order.
- Arrest suspects and take them to court.
- Investigate incidents.
- Deal with emergencies.
Give 2 ways police prevent and protect against crime.
- Visit schools to give talks about drugs, knife crime ect.
- Presence on streets and roads.
- Helping to set up neighbourhood watch schemes.
- Stop and searches.
Give 2 ways that police detect crime.
- Carry out investigations.
- Interviewing witnesses.
- Gathering evidence.
What is the structure of the police?
- Uniformed
- CID
- Traffic
- Specialist Departments
What is community policing?
- Police officers on bike/foot- promotes public safety.
What is traffic policing?
- Reduction of road deaths and maintaining road safety.
What is solemn procedure?
When the case is tried with a judge and a jury (15 people.)
What is summary procedure?
This is where the case us tried before a judge, without a jury.
What are the three courts in Scotland? (lowest to highest)
Justice of the Peace Court
Sheriff Court
High Court
What type of cases are heard in Justice of the Peace Courts?
- Traffic
- Drunk & Disorderly
- Assaulting Police
What type of cases are heard in Sheriff Courts?
- Civil & Criminal
- Theft
- Assault
- Soliciting
- Possession of Drugs
What type of cases are heard in High Courts?
- ONLY SOLEMN
- Rape
- Murder
- Drug Trafficking
- Serious Sexual Offences
Who hears in Justice of the Peace?
Justice of the Peace
Who hears in Sheriff Court?
Lawyer with 10+ years experience
Who hears in High Court?
Senior Judge and Jury (15 people)
What is the max sentence in Justice of the Peace Court?
- 60 days in prison
- £2500 charge
What is the max sentence in Sheriff Court?
Summary (no jury):
- Jail up until 10mths
Solemn:
- Jail up to 5yrs
- Unlimited fines
What is the max sentence in High Court?
No limit
What is the Children’s Panel?
- Under 16s
- Almost like a court for children, but you are not found not guilty/guilty of an offence.
- The panel is genuinely interested in you, and your welfare.
How many children go through the Children’s Panel annually?
- About 7000.
Why are children referred to the Children’s Panel?
- Being out of parental control.
- Falling into bad company/moral danger.
- Being a victim of abuse.
- Failing to regularly attend school without a viable excuse.
- Committing an offence.
- Involved with drugs and alcohol.
What action can a Children’s Hearing take?
- Supervision requirement: Child lives at home, supervised by a social worker.
- Someone in the child’s home should move out.
- Child placed into care; children’s home, foster care or a residential school.
How are the police effective?
- Declining level of overall crime in Scotland.
- Most people believe they are effective.
- Provide justice to victims.
- Keep the public safe.
- Since 2008, crime levels have decreased by 35%, a huge improvement in comparison to previous years.
- The 16 year old who murdered and raped Alesha MacPhail has been sentenced to a minimum of 27 years.
How are the police ineffective?
- Recent rise in violent crime.
- Serious gang related incidents in Glasgow.
- Many unsolved murders.
- Some guilty people get away with crime.
- Police only get enough evidence to take 50% of cases to court.
- Over 1000 unsolved murders since 1960 that police have failed to bring perpetrators to justice.
What are the UK alternative punishments?
- Fines
- House arrest
- Community payback order
- DTTO
- Electronic tagging
- Fixed penalty order
What is a community payback order?
- Offenders can be ordered to do up to 300hrs of community service - paying back the community they may have damaged.
- Ex: Painting underpasses/park fences or helping the elderly.
What is a fine/compensation?
- Offenders can sometimes be ordered to pay the court a fine or the victim compensation for their crime - is dependent on their income.
- Ex: Justice of the Peace court can fine people up to £2500.
What is a DTTO (Drug Treatment Testing Order)?
- A rehabilitation programme where offenders will be randomly tested for drugs (which contributed to their crime.)
- Ex: This is usually ordered to be 2-3 times a week up to 3yrs.
What is a Restriction of Liberty Order?
- Better known as electronic tagging, restricts the movement of offenders and an ankle bracelet must be worn.
- It is cost effective, but many argue that it’s a “soft” option and many have committed crimes while wearing one and some have even removed them.
What is a HDC (Home Detention Curfew)?
- A form of early release on license - certain conditions.
- Offenders will face a curfew condition - they have to stay within a specific address for around 12 hours every night.
- Curfew maintained through electronic tag.
- The offender continues to serve their sentence and can be recalled to prison if they break the conditions.
What is a Fixed Penalty Notice?
- Instead of wasting police time by having to arrest someone, process them at the station ect. police can now issue fixed penalty notices of up to £70.
- These are usually for petty crimes such as littering or urinating in the street.
What are some arguments FOR alternative punishments?
- Prison isn’t effective, especially for shorter sentences.
- Community sentences are more effective in reducing reoffending.
- Prisons are overcrowded and expensive.
What are some arguments AGAINST alternative punishments?
- Programmes of rehabilitation in prison can be effective.
- 71% of those who are electronically tagged re-offend.
