Topic 6 Flashcards
Explain punishment as a response to criminal behaviour
What are non-custodial punishments?
punishments that don’t include a prison sentence
What are the different types of non-custodial punishments?
- Fines= given for minor offences (i.e. violating traffic laws).
- Community sentences= unpaid work in your community
- Probation= giving an offender freedom during good behaviour under the supervision of a probation officer
What are custodial sentences?
Prison sentences
Only given to serious offences
Examples of custodial sentences?
- Special secure hospitals= provide accommodation, treatment and support for people with severe mental health problems who pose a risk to the public.
- Residential centres= for young offenders
what are the reasons for prison as a form of punishment?
- protect the public
- retribution- criminals get what they deserve
- deterrence- fear of ending up in prison
- reform/rehabilitation- prisoners change their behaviour
Effects of imprisonment?
- overcrowding
- boredom
- fear of violence from other prisoners
- mental health problems- depression anxiety, depression and psychosis
- suicide
Is prison effective ?
Yes:
- prevents serious offenders from committing further crimes
- provides offenders with an opportunity to learn new skills or change behaviour
No:
- reoffending rates in uk are 47%
Limitations of punishment and reform
The experience of imprisonment
What is th key research
Haney et al
Background
- individual explanation: prisons are full of sadistic guards and lawless/impulsive prisoners
- situational: the situation they’re places in causes them to behave a certain way
Aim
To investigate the psychological effects on ‘prisoners’ or ‘prison guards’
What’s the research method
- lab
- independent measures
- IV: role of prisoner or guard
- DV: behaviour of prisoners or guards (measured by audio and video recordings and direct observation)
Sample
- self selected (newspaper article)
- all male
- college students, middle class, strangers to each other
- 75 picked originally. 25 picked for the study
- 10 prisoners, 11 guards