3.4 (Evaluate the effectiveness of agencies in achieving social control)

Question 1

What are strengths of the Police?

Answer 1

• Huge volume of cases brought to
  trial every year
• Police use powers to issue fixed penalty notices, cautions and reprimands
• Specialist departments: Counter-Terrorism, British Transport Police, Civil Nuclear Constabulary

Question 2

What are limitations of the Police?

Answer 2

• Institutionally racist (Stephen
  Lawrence & Macpherson Report)
• ONS: 48% of Offences with no
  suspect identified however
  criticised by MP’s for poor quality
  data
• Home Office: 10% increase in
  crime. However, it may be easier
  to report crime, rather than police
  are less effective

Question 3

What are strengths of the CPS?

Answer 3

• They are independent from the police, allowing fair and effective prosecutions
• Expertise- they have a team of experienced and trained prosecutors who understand the complex matter in the CJS and can affectively navigate legal processes

Question 4

What are limitations of the CPS?

Answer 4

• Budget cuts- inefficient and slow in proceeding with cases
• Handling of rape cases, accused of dropping supposedly ‘weak’ cases in order to improve rate of successful
  prosecution

Question 5

What are strengths of the Judiciary?

Answer 5

• Ensure trials are fair and human rights
  compliant (uses a system of precedent to
  ensure consistency and fairness)
• Experienced and highly qualified
  lawyers

Question 6

What are limitations of the Judiciary?

Answer 6

• Can be biased, either too lenient or harsh (based on their preference)
• 71% male (gender bias)
• More than 50% over 50 years old (may be too harsh towards younger crowd)

Question 7

What are strengths of Prisons?

Answer 7

• Rehabilitate offenders for a crime free life on release

Question 8

What are limitations of Prisons?

Answer 8

• Staff cuts- between 2010-18
  no of prison officers fell by
  15% as a result of budget cuts
• More experienced officers more likely to leave
• 1/3 had less than 2 years
  experience (therefore harder to maintain control over inmates)
• Overcrowding- prison
  population has almost doubled since 1993 (leads to rule-breaking)

Question 9

What are strengths of the Probation Service?

Answer 9

• As a result of problems with privatisation, it was announced in 2018 that the govt would terminate contracts with CRCs

Question 10

What are limitations of the Probation Service?

Answer 10

• Part privatisation in 2014 (21 community rehabilitation companies set up)
  -Bias- conservatives in favour of privatisation
• Evidence from official reports states failure by CRCs in achieving social control (undermining objective of keeping community safe) e.g. domestic abusers returned to public without adequate supervision

Question 11

What are strengths of charities/pressure groups?

Answer 11

• Strong commitment- specialist knowledge and commitment to people’s needs
• Strongly motivated to help and may go extra mile

Question 12

What are limitations of charities/pressure groups?

Answer 12

• Gaps in provision- voluntary staff so they only exist when people are concerned about a particular issue/group
• Funding- Without funding, they would be unable to provide services to offenders which allow them to achieve social control