Topic 12: General Limitations Flashcards
Explain recidivism as a general limitation of agencies in achieving social control
P: a limitation of agencies in achieving social control is that recidivism
E: for example, offenders serving a sentences of atleast 2 days must now spend 12 months under supervision, increasing recall rates, with 48% of adults reoffending within a year
E: this is a limitation as recidivism costs £18.1 billion per annum and suggests that agencies aren’t effective in achieving social control
Evaluate access to resources and support as a general limitation of agencies
P: a limitation of agencies in achieving social control is that there is limited access to resources and support for prisoners rehabilitation
E: for example, overcrowding is an issue as 80 out of 121 exceed maximum capacity whilst officer shortages confine prisoners to cells
E: this is a limitation as the Bromley briefings reveal a 12% drop in prisoner education with 62% having literacy skills of an 11 year old which means that rehabilitation is stunted as education is seen as an essential part of rehabilitation in prisoners
Evaluate finance as a limitation of agencies
P: a limitation of agencies is funding cuts
E: for example, agencies receive general and local funding via taxation and in recent years this has undergone cuts. Such as the police funding has dropped by 19%, CPS by 30%, prison finance by 25% and probation by 40%. Furthermore, charities are independent and rely heavily on voluntary donations and government grants which have been cut by £3.8 billion over the last decade
E: this is a limitation as reduced funding means agencies can’t be as effective in achieving social control
Evaluate moral imperative as a general limitation of agencies of social control
P: a limitation of agencies in achieving social control is moral imperative
E: this refers to a deeply held principle that compels individuals to act, even if it means breaking the law and often people believe their actions are justified
E: this limits social control as laws can’t act as a deterrent to those who see their crimes as morally necessary.
L: this was seen in the case of Kay Gilderdale who administered drugs to end her daughters life, believing it was morally right and an act of compassion
Evaluate local and national policies as a general limitation of agencies in achieving social control
P: a limitation of agencies in achieving social control is that local and national policies shape police priorities
E: for example, police in the UK were directed by the government to tackle knife, gun and Ganesh crime, while this addressed violent crime it potentially diverted resources away from other offences
E: this is a limitation as agencies prioritising specific crimes can mean that it is difficult to achieve social control as a whole as crimes go neglected
Evaluate environment as a general limitation of agencies in achieving social control
P: a limitation of agencies in achieving social control is that the environment limits social control by influencing recidivism rates
E: for example, many released offenders return to the same social circles involving crime and drug use, with limited employment opportunities. Furthermore the Bromley fact file suggests that prisoners who recieve family visits are 39% less likely to re offend yet only 19% recieve weekly visits.
E: this is a limitation because the environment significantly influences recidivism rates and thus social control
