Sociological Theories in informing policy development Flashcards
[Strain/Subculture strain theories informing policy development]
What are the three examples?
- Policies to tackle poverty
- Equal opportunities in school
- Education in prisons
[Strain/Subculture strain theories informing policy development]
Explain Policies to tackle poverty
Allows everyone a more qual chance of achieving success by legal means rather than utilitarian crime
[Strain/Subculture strain theories informing policy development]
Give 3 examples of policies to tackle poverty
- Food banks
- Free school meals in school holidays
-Adjusting tax systems (more tax for higher earners)
[Strain/Subculture strain theories informing policy development]
Explain Equal opportunities in school
treating working class students equally would reduce their failure - making them less likely to suffer status frustration and join delinquent subcultures
[Strain/Subculture strain theories informing policy development]
Give 3 examples of policies the government bought in to tackle inequality
- Bus passes
- Bursary
- No discrimination (gender, trans gender, pregnancy’s, etc)
[Strain/Subculture strain theories informing policy development]
Explain education in prisons
Education in prisons would help inmates increase their numeracy and literacy skills which would enable them to get a better job and ‘go straight’.
[Strain/Subculture strain theories informing policy development]
Give examples of different types of education available in prisons
Finland & Norwegian prisons:
Degree level
life skills
computer skills
literacy and numeracy
(In Finland, 1 in 3 prisons are sent back to prison after their release. In USA 2 in 3 prisons are sent back to prison after being released for 5 years)
[Strain/Subculture strain theories informing policy development]
Explain how education in prisons is beneficial
Focuses on rehabilitation and supporting criminals rather than revenge and punishments for their crimes
[Labelling theories informing policy development]
What are the two control policies for Labelling theory
- Decriminalisation
- Diversion policies (Informal and formal)
[Labelling theories informing policy development]
Explain decriminalisation as a policy
decriminalising minor offences (e.g: possession of cannabis-
Meaning fewer young people would be labelled as criminal)
Criminal records prevent people from getting jobs as it becomes their ‘master status’ and could lead to further offending
[Labelling theories informing policy development]
Give another example of a minor offence that could be decriminalised
Poverty theft - giving them a warning/caution and support (for 1st time offenders)
If repeated they are issued a more serious sanction
[Surveillance theories inform policy development to reduce crime]
What are the two major crime control policies of Surveillance
- CCTV
- Profiling
[Surveillance theories inform policy development to reduce crime]
Explain what this theory is
Monitoring people to control crime
[Surveillance theories inform policy development to reduce crime]
Explain the aim of these Surveillance policies
observe people’s behaviour to gather data about it and by using the data hope to regulate, manage or correct their behaviour
[Surveillance theories inform policy development to reduce crime]
Give 3 examples of where CCTV can be found
- Outside people’s homes
- Schools
-Airports and banks
[Surveillance theories inform policy development to reduce crime]
Give 3 examples of surveillance techniques
- Automatic number plate recognition
- Electronic tagging
- Cookies (on the web)
[Surveillance theories inform policy development to reduce crime]
Explain the effectiveness of CCTV
- can act as a compelling device and deterrent
- Can identify criminals, leading to their arrest
- Reassures public to make them feel safe
HOWEVER,
- CCTV wont always catch the criminal act
- it is deemed to be highly intrusive
- operators may use racist stereotypes and single out black youths
[Surveillance theories inform policy development to reduce crime]
Explain profiling
using data to draw up a statistical picture of likely offenders, often using crime stats to do so
Individuals can be profiled on specific characteristics to decide what degree of risk they pose
[Surveillance theories inform policy development to reduce crime]
Explain the use of profiling in airport security screen checks
Based offender’s off risk factors
Passengers are given risk score based off characteristics
Whoever is deemed a higher risk can be stopped, questioned and searched
[Surveillance theories inform policy development to reduce crime]
Explain if profiling is effective
- Can be discriminatory
- can lead to certain groups being labelled which can create self-fulfilling prophecies
- Leads to more ‘stop and search’
[Left Realist theories informing policy development]
What are the three main policies to reduce crime?
- Policies to reduce inequality
2.Democratic (fair & involved) policing
- Multi-agency approaches
[Left Realist theories informing policy development]
Explain Democratic policing
Aimed to win back public support for police as they are losing public support, especially in poorer areas due to mistrust
[Left Realist theories informing policy development]
What does Democratic policing policies include to gain the support of the police for the police
Domestic violence are made higher priorities
Cannabis possession is a low priority crime
Introduction of neighbourhood policing and police community support officers have enabled a better relationship with local communities
[Left Realist theories informing policy development]
Explain Policies to reduce inequality
Providing funding to provide good housing and jobs to tackle relative deprivation
Focused on housing developments, employment and skills training to avoid the NEET group
