unit 2 social construction of criminality: circumstances of the act

Question 1

what is a moral panic?

Answer 1

minor offences committed during london riots of 2011 more likely to receive custodial sentences. - feeling of fear spread among many people that some evil threatens the well being of society

Question 2

typifications: chambliss

Answer 2

police enforced the law more leniently against middle class ‘saints’ and more harshly towards working class ‘roughnecks’

Question 3

typifications: cicourel

Answer 3

police more likely to regard working class with suspicion resulting in more arrests for this group

Question 4

typifications: piliavan and briar

Answer 4

situational factors including class, age, ethnicity, attitude towards the officer, time and place play a large partnin decisions to stop or arrest

Question 5

what is the age for criminal responsibility?

Answer 5

10 years in england, northern ireland and wales. 12 in scotland.

Question 6

what is youth courts?

Answer 6

most countries have separate courts to deal with offenders below a certain age. in england and wales this goes up 10 17. they are less formal than adult courts.

Question 7

what is prison for children?

Answer 7

youth courts can no send anyone to prison. they can send them to detention centres or impose training orders to be carried out in a secure centre.

Question 8

what is the homicide act 1957?

Answer 8

contains three special defences for murder when the defendant can plead not guilty despite having killed someone

Question 9

what is diminished responsibility?

Answer 9

mental condition substantially reduces ability to understand what they were doing or form a rational judgement - reduces conviction to manslaughter

Question 10

what is loss of control?

Answer 10

a partial defence that may reduce the conviction to manslaughter

Question 11

what is automatism?

Answer 11

if the defendant can prove the act was involuntary, they can plead the defence of automatism