Social Issue - Crime and the Law Flashcards
Explain and give an example of how education is a social cause of crime.
- Lack of education means limited life choices and opportunities, which may lead to poverty and criminal activity.
- The areas of Glasgow with the highest crime rates are also the areas with the lowest number of people educated past NAT5 level.
Explain and give an example of how social exclusion is a social cause of crime.
- This can lead to crime as people may want to feel like they’re part of something, and so they join a gang.
- In London, 3/4 of the boroughs with the highest levels of violent offending are also in the top 10 most deprived.
Explain and give an example of how a lack of positive role models is a social cause of crime.
- Negative influences from criminals can lead to that individual also learning criminal behaviour.
- The Clerkenwell Crime Syndicate is a London crime family that has been active since the 80s, and thus the children have had no positive role models growing up.
Explain and give an example of how alcohol and drug misuse is a social cause of crime.
- People will commit crimes to fund their addictions e.g. theft and prostitution.
- Between midnight and 6am, 84% of crime is alcohol related.
Explain and give an example of how greed is an economic cause of crime.
- Some people are money-hungry, and so commit crime to fuel that.
- For example, a former MSP was jailed in 2022 after stealing £25K from pro-independence groups.
Explain and give an example of how poverty is an economic cause of crime.
- People may commit crimes to be able to afford basic necessities.
- For example, these people may steal food so they do not die of starvation.
Explain and give an example of how unemployment is an economic cause of crime.
- People may need to commit crime in order to be able to support their family if they do not make income.
- The Telegraph reports that 22% of people who get unemployment benefits have convictions in the last 12 years.
Explain and give an example of how MAOA gene is a biological cause of crime.
- People with this gene have been found to have links to increased aggression.
- A study shows that those with the gene are 13x more likely to have a history of violence.
Explain and give an example of how gender is a biological cause of crime.
- Men are more likely to commit crime than women.
- Men have way more testosterone than women, which has been shown to provoke angrier responses linked to crime.
Explain and give an example of how people living in more deprived communities are more likely to be impacted by crime.
- People in deprived areas may commit crime to survive as they do not have enough income.
- People living in deprived areas are 2.5x more likely to be burgled.
Give 3 examples of the impact of crime on individuals.
- Sleepless nights.
- Recurring thoughts about the events.
- Mental illness.
- 65% of victims had an emotional response.
- 50% of people were reported as angry after violent crimes.
Give a social way a victim may react after crime
- Taking extra preventative measures in future
Give a social way a perpetrator may react after crime
- Divorce/family seperation
Give an economic way a victim may react after crime
- Loss of income
Give an economic way a perpetrator may react after crime
- Travel restrictions
Give a physical way a victim may react after crime.
- Self harm
Give a physical way a perpetrator may react after crime.
- Suicide
Give 2 examples of consequences of crime on families
- Financial difficulty
- PTSD
- Divorce/sepreration
Give one example of alcohol related crime stats.
- 40% of prisoners were drunk at the time of their offence.
- 1/3 of UK prisoners agreed they would not be in jail if they had not been drinking.
What was a success of No Knives, Better Lives
- Between 2008-2018, people caught with offensive weapons has decreased by 60%.
What was a criticism of No Knives, Better Lives
- Stats show that there was a 10% increase of use of offensive weapons to commit other offences.
