Unit 2: AC4.1 - Assess use of criminological theories in informing policy development

Question 1

What is formal policy making

Answer 1

Formal policy is linked to official ideas to prevent crime eg prison sentences or community orders

Question 2

What is informal policy making?

Answer 2

Informal policy is linked to non-official ideas to prevent crime. This could be family rules eg grounding or withholding of pocket money

Question 3

What is a eugenic policy (linked to genetic theories eg Jacobs XYY) (2)

Answer 3

This assumes that there is an inherited criminal gene. This was the idea that the poor should be stopped from breeding, and therefore stopped from passing on inferior genes.
- Inferior genes that could lead to crime included low intelligence, insanity and poverty. The solution was the compulsory sterilisation of ‘defectives’ such as criminals

Question 4

What is a eugenic policy (linked to genetic theories eg Jacobs XYY) (2)

Answer 4

This assumes that there is an inherited criminal gene. This was the idea that the poor should be stopped from breeding, and therefore stopped from passing on inferior genes.
- Inferior genes that could lead to crime included low intelligence, insanity and poverty. The solution was the compulsory sterilisation of ‘defectives’ such as criminals

Question 5

Does eugenics work? (2)

Answer 5

Eugenics is seen as very unethical eg used by nazis
- Osborn and West found evidence to support Eugenic policies: 40% of boys whose fathers had criminal records, had one themselves, compared to 12% of boys whose fathers did not have a criminal record

Question 6

Neurochemicals - Influencing the brain’s chemistry by diet (4)

Answer 6

Gesch et al.

• 231 (young male adult prisoner) agreed to receive either a daily vitamin mineral and essential fatty acid supplementation or a placebo drug.
• The results showed the average number of ‘disciplinary incident per 1,000 days’ dropped from 16 to 10.4 in the group that took the supplement.
• The placebo group only dropped by 6.7%.
• Especially violent incidents in the active group dropped by 37% and the placebo group only 10.1%

Question 7

What is the death penality policy? (biological)

Answer 7

The killing of a criminal, considered to be the most extreme biologically driven policy. The death penalty was abolished for murder in Britain in 1969.

Question 8

Does the death penalty work?

Answer 8

It gives closure to the victims’ families and is the ultimate deterrent, however studies have shown in the USA, the murder rate was 25% higher in the US states where the death penalty was still legal compared to non-death penalty states, ie doesn’t not actually act as a deterrent

Question 9

What is psychoanalysis (freud) (3)

Answer 9

Therapy in which patients verbalise their thoughts.

• The aim is to access the unconscious mind, when repressed traumas are causing ‘criminal’ behaviour.
• The goal of the therapist is to bring that trauma into the patients conscious experience where it can be dealt with directly

Question 10

Is psychoanalysis suitable for all criminals?

Answer 10

Some criminals may not have underlying negative memories being repressed that affect them. They may commit crime for other reasons eg socio-economic reasons. You need to want to engage in this therapy, otherwise it most likely will not work.

Question 11

What is behaviour modification (linked to learning theories eg Bandura)

Answer 11

Reinforces positive behaviour, moreover they punish criminal behaviour in order to weaken the thought process leading to illegal behaviour. so criminals are taught what right behaviour looks like.

Question 12

Does token economy work? (Behaviour modification)

Answer 12

Token economy is one aspect of behaviour modification. Where prisoners are given rewards for good behaviour and desired actions. Prisoners are given incentives and privileges such as more family visits or more money to spend each week. Furthermore the prisoners are rewarded for good behaviour and punished for bad.

Question 13

What is CBT? (Cognitive behavioural therapy) (links to Bandura’s SLT)

Answer 13

using modelling, role-playing, feedback and transfer of training to teach criminals how to deal with situations

Question 14

Does CBT work in reducing crime?

Answer 14

This training can be used to challenge criminals attitudes and confronting them with moral dilemmas to consider. Evaluations show lower re-conviction rates for those that have undergone CBT.
although may be less useful in non-violent criminals e.g white collar crime

Question 15

What is penal populism?

Answer 15

governments attempts at proposing new laws to punish offender that will be popular with general public for example longer prisons sentences.

Question 16

What theory does penal populism link to?

Answer 16

Right realists argue that criminals make a rational choice to offend by weighing up the costs and benefits. Thus, higher costs such as tougher prison sentences should deter criminals.

Question 17

What is the zero tolerance policy? (links to right realism)

Answer 17

This is the idea that the police must proactively tackle even the slightest sign of disorder to prevent more serious crimes. stems from right realism; originated from NYC and is linked to Kelling and Wilson’s broken window theory. used in London.

Question 18

What is restorative justice?

Answer 18

a voluntary process involving the person who has suffered harm and the person who has caused harm.

Question 19

Does restorative justice work?

Answer 19

Allows a victim a voice in the criminal justice system and make offenders accountable and can reduce PTSD for the victims.
argued it’s not a harsh punishment and offender may not be willing to take part

Question 19

Does restorative justice work?

Answer 19

Allows a victim a voice in the criminal justice system and make offenders accountable and can reduce PTSD for the victims.
argued it’s not a harsh punishment and offender may not be willing to take part

Question 20

how is cctv used as a policing policy?

Answer 20

CCTV is one of the first requests made by police during an investigation. It allows the police to identify a suspect and acts as a deterrent to crime. CCTV depends on criminals believing they are being watched and being deterred from committing crime as a result.

Question 21

does cctv work in reducing crime?

Answer 21

CCTV provides compelling evidence of crimes helping to identify suspects. As a deterrent, according to the college of Policing’s (2013) briefing it can make a small but statistically significant reduction in crime.