Unit 4- AC2.3

Question 1

What are the 4 types of punishments?

Answer 1

• Sentences
• Community sentence
• Fines
• Discharge

Question 2

What are the three types of sentences?

Answer 2

Determinate
Indeterminate/life sentence
Suspended

Question 3

Describe indeterminate/life sentence

Answer 3

Minimum time set before consideration for release by parole board. If released, conditions must be followed and supervised by probation service. Remains on licence permanently.

Question 4

What percentage of the prison population served an indeterminate sentence?

Answer 4

14%

Question 5

Describe determinate sentences

Answer 5

65-70,000 given in 2021
Maximum time set.

Question 6

What happens if the offender is sentenced with less than 2 years?

Answer 6

released on licence half way. return to court if conditions breached

Question 7

What happens if the offender is sentenced to more than two years?

Answer 7

Half the time is spent in prison. Released on licence under stricter supervision. Back to prison if conditions breached.

Question 8

What happens if the offender sentenced to more than 7 years?

Answer 8

2/3rds spent in prison. Return to prison if breached.

Question 9

Describe suspended sentence

Answer 9

Given determinate but don’t go to prison. Equal or less than 12 months.
Offenders must reach requirements and will serve original sentence if they offend.

Question 10

In 2019, what percentage of those convicted of a serious offence had a suspended sentence?

Answer 10

15%

Question 11

Does imprisonment meet the aim of retribution?

Answer 11

Yes
- Takes away from freedom so they suffer. This is ‘pay back’.
- Meets proportionality
No
- Society disagrees with what sentences are proportional or a ‘just desert’.

Question 12

Does imprisonment meet the aim of deterrence?

Answer 12

No
- High re-offending rate (30% reoffend)
- Only works if offenders act rationally. Offenders mentally ill or drunk do not consider risks

Question 13

Does imprisonment meet the aim of public protection?

Answer 13

Yes
- Strongest form of incapacitation
- Indeterminate sentences mean they are released when safe
- Recalled if re offend
No
- Acts as a ‘school of crime’
- Suspended sentence means they are still a danger
- Costly. Money could be used to protect the public

Question 14

Does imprisonment meet the aim of reparation?

Answer 14

Yes
- Prisoners earning act,2001, prisoners pay a proportion of their job earnings to victim support.
- Restorative justice programmes
No
- Resources mean prisons don’t have this opportunity

Question 15

Does imprisonment meet the aim of rehabilitation?

Answer 15

No
- Prisoners reoffend (30%)
- Resources for education and training are rarely provided(0.5%)
1/2 of prisoners have the literacy skills of age 11

Question 16

What is a community sentence?

Answer 16

Given by the court, supervised by the probation service. Sent back to prison if requirements are not followed.
- Supervision by probation worker
- 40-300hrs unpaid work
- Curfew/exclusion order
- Residency requirement
- Group programme

Question 17

Does community sentence meet the aim of retribution?

Answer 17

Yes
- Offenders suffer as freedom is removed
- Unpaid work and hi-vis act as ‘community payback’

Question 18

Does community sentence meet the aim of deterrence?

Answer 18

Yes
- Should deter
-High vis deters the pubic
Yes and no
- Reoffend but less than prison

Question 19

Does community sentence meet the aim of public protection?

Answer 19

Yes
- Breaches lead to prison
- Protects public during curfews
No
- Offenders are in the public

Question 20

Does community sentence meet the aim of reparation?

Answer 20

Yes
- Repairs material damage
- Unpaid community work for the community

Question 21

Does community sentence meet the aim of rehabilitation?

Answer 21

Yes
- Helps those with complex needs such as drug addiction
- More effective than prison rehabilitation
64% reoffend from prison, 34% community sentence (ministry of justice survey)