Theories affecting policy

Question 1

Penal Populism

Answer 1

Right realists believe that criminals make a rational choice to offend weighing up the cost and benefits of reoffending. High costs and tougher penalities should therefore deter criminals.
In the right realists view, prison has two functions; incapacitation that prevents criminals from harming the public and deterrence that they believe make criminals think twice about reoffending when they see tough punishments handed out

Question 2

Is penal populism effective?

Answer 2

However, during incapacitation, it could be argued that although they are kept away to prevent the offenders from committing crimes against the public, it doesn’t prevent criminals from offending against fellow inmates and staff.
In addition, several studies have shown that the risk of imprisonment does not deter offenders enough to effect the overall crime rates.

Question 3

Behavioural Modification

Answer 3

This policy is based on Skinner’s operant conditioning that suggests if criminal behaviour is rewarded then it will continue to be pursued. However, if the criminal behaviour is punished then they will stop pursuing those criminal acts.
Behaviour modification is based on the token economy system where essentially a token is given as a reward to encourage it. This is used in prisons where they can exchange their tokens for ‘treats’ such as more visitation hours, better food and conjugal visits

Question 4

Is behavioural modification effective?

Answer 4

Fo & O’Donnel found that a buddy system in which adult volunteers reinforce socially accepted behaviour to a young offender works well.
However, Allyon and Millan found evidence suggesting token economies work in the short term and their good behaviour does not last once the prisoner is let out

Question 5

Psychoanalysis

Answer 5

This policy is developed by Sigmund Freud to make the unconscious mind, conscious to enable the person to deal with abnormal behaviour.
Psychoanalysis is a therapy in which the patients verbalise their thoughts. The aim is to unlock repressed trauma that causes ‘criminal’ behaviour.

Question 6

Is psychoanalysis effective?

Answer 6

It was found that 44% of patients treated for neurosis showed improvement compared to 72% treated by general practitioners.

Question 7

Restorative Justice

Answer 7

It is based on the theory of Left Realism and is a voluntary process involving the person who has suffered harm and the person who caused it. Trained facilitators work with them to discuss what happened, who was affected and how and what can be done to repair the harm

Question 8

Is restorative justice effective?

Answer 8

it was recorded that 85% of the victims were satisfied with the process and the policy decreased the reoffending rates by 14%..

Question 9

Zero Tolerance

Answer 9

It originates from right realism and is based on the ‘broken window’ theory which states that areas with usual signs of decay and public disinterest increases further crime.

Question 10

Is zero tolerance effective?

Answer 10

Ray Mullon a police officer who used the zero-tolerance policy cut down crime by 20% in 18 months.
However in areas where zero tolerance was not introduced crime has dropped.

Question 11

Eugenics

Answer 11

This policy was based on Lombroso’s theory of atavism and twin study that showed crime can be found in genetics and an individual’s physical features.
Eugenics is a policy used to prevent certain people from breeding and passing on their genes. This is done through sterilisation of criminals to eliminate reproductive opportunities in order to reduce crime.

Question 12

Is eugenics effective?

Answer 12

It can be argued that it stops born criminals. Osborne and West found that 40% of boys with criminal fathers had criminal records themselves, compared to only 20% with no criminal father

Question 13

Death Penalty

Answer 13

This policy is based on Lombroso’s theory of Atavism, XXY syndrome, and Brain Structure which all show unaltered genetics such as inherited tumours, characteristics, and chromosomes that can cause criminality.
The death penalty is a policy that is used when these genetics cannot be changed by sterilisation and chemical castration and is used as a last resort to prevent crime.

Question 14

Is the death penalty effective?

Answer 14

It could be argued that it is counterproductive as it creates sympathy for the criminal despite their heinous crimes and there is evidence that there are high rates of crime in states that have the death penalty compared to low crime rates in states that don’t have the death penalty.

Question 15

Neurochemical

Answer 15

This policy is based on Diet/neurochemistry that suggests levels of serotonin and increase testosterone caused by steroids can cause antisocial or criminal behaviour.
Chemical castration is a treatment with a birth control called ‘Depro-provera’ that when given to men acts on the brain to inhibit hormones that stimulate the testicles to produce testosterone. The progesterone in the drug counteracts the biological tendencies that lead men to rape. By lowering testosterone it reduces the sex drive.

Question 16

Is Neurochemical effective?

Answer 16

From 1993 to 2006 it was recorded a decrease of 47% in child sex offences due to chemical castration.
In addition, Scandinavian research suggests that chemical castration has reduced reoffending rates from 40% to 5%.