Agencies of social control unit 4 Flashcards
What are the strengths of the police in achieving social control?
Fear of punishment - police arrest people for crime so people will not commit crime out of fear of being punished.
coercion
deterrent - their presence can cause people to conform to the laws of society.
What are the weaknesses of the police in achieving social control?
Internal social control is not achieved,
cannot severely punish,
funding and staff shortages.
According to statistics, in march 2017 police forces closed 48% of cases with no suspect identified.
What are the strengths of prisons in achieving social control?
Fear of punishment,
deterrence - prisoners are always watched which increases the likelihood that they will get caught if they reoffend.
rehabilitation,
retribution - freedom is taken away.
change internal social control.
What are the weaknesses of prisons in achieving social control?
Recidivism - high recidivism rates with 44% of adults reoffending within 1 year of release.
lack of resources,
overcrowding,
The no. of violent attacks on both prisoners and officers are increasing with 19 happening per day.
riots - For example, riot in HMP Birmingham December 2016. Riot lasted for 15 hours, officers were attacked and 500 prisoners released from their cells.
What are the strengths of the CPS in achieving social control?
Independent agency so reduce police bias
prosecute offenders,
public protection - decides if a case is in the interest of the public to prosecute.
What are the weaknesses of the CPS in achieving social control?
Funding shortages,
failure to produce successful prosecution at times,
tests to prosecute can be hard to follow at times.
The Damiola Taylor case is an example of an inappropriate application of the full code test resulting in a failed prosecution.
What are strengths of the probation service in achieving social control?
Rehabilitation - Ex-prisoners have a mentor to help them with their transition back into society. Also may be required to attend drug or alcohol treatment which helps to reform them.
reparation - Unpaid work may be required to be carried out.
rules to follow so they’re monitored.
What are the weaknesses of the probation service in achieving social control?
Hard to maintain and control offenders,
Difficult to change internalisation of social rules and morality.
reports have found that staff are more focued on paperwork and meeting their targets than the offenders.
What are the strengths of the judiciary in achieving social control?
Retribution - have the power of imposing a sentence on someone.
Fear of punishment,
Public protection - send dangerous offenders to prison.
Independent and free from political control.
What are the weaknesses of the judiciary in achieving social control?
Increasing number of appeals,
ineffective at achieving social control,
can be seen as out of touch with society.
What are the strengths of charities/pressure groups?
Help people in need,
rehabilitation,
can change someones internalisation of social rules and morality.
What are the weaknesses of charities/pressure groups?
Funding shortages,
hard to get recognised at times.
What does recidivism mean?
To re offend - become deviant again.
