3.1 Roles of Agencies in social control

Question 1

Describe the role of the police, its aims and objectives, Funding and working practises?

Answer 1

• Aims + objectives – help keep peace + order, protect life and property, detect and investigate crime, bring offenders to justice – include stop and search - the police and criminal evidence act 1984
• Funding – 2/3 from central government, local council tax, small amount from fundraising, between 2010-18 funding fell by 19%, lost 20,000 officers
• Working practises – 39 offices in England and 4 in Wales, 1 in both Scotland + NI.

Question 2

Explain the role, funding and philosophy of the CPS?

Answer 2

• Aspects – advise the police on ev to collect, assess evidence collected (Full Code + Thresold Tests), decides charges, prepares and presents the prosecution
• Philosophy – independence/impartial behave professionally,
• Funding – mainly from central gov, between 2011-2020 they’ve lost 30%
• 14 offices in England + Wales + CPS direct = online virtual service offering 24/7 support – led by the director of public prosecution, currently Stephson Parkinson and was previously Kier Starmer

Question 3

Explain the role and philosophy of the judiciary?

Answer 3

• Philosophy = impartiality + equality, swear an oath of loyalty + judicial oath
• Role in the crown court is to manage the trial, explain to the jury + sum up, sentence – appeal courts = use judicial precedent to change decisions in future
• The chief of justice in England + Wales earn £300,000+ wheras a district judge = 134,000

Question 4

Explain the role, funding and aims of the Prison Service

Answer 4

• Aims – public protection, rehab, hold offender securely
• Funding – mainly from government, 5.5billion 2024
• Before 2020 1/3 of officers left service in 3yrs due to 15% budget cuts
• 2024 – 24 prisons + 85,000 prisoners – 4 categories, A being the highest risk – those that attempt escape are put on escape list + wear banana suits
• Cristised for having high reoffending rate – 48% within 1 year re-offend

Question 5

Explain the aims, responsability and funding of the NPS?

Answer 5

• Aims = main priority is to protect public through rehabilitation
• Responsible for preparing sentence reports, assessing release, supervise community sentences
• Offenders serving community sentences = up to 300hrs unpaid work, curfew + group programmes,
• Funded by the central government, 2024 = 7million operating expenditure

Question 6

Explain the role in which Charities and Pressure Groups have?

Answer 6

• Independent from governmental control, charities are voluntary, pressure groups are organisations that campaign to achieve change
• Nacro: - in 2018 over 3,000 tenants in its properties, 5,000 studied in their educational services, they provide advice and run outreach programmes
• Involved in the ban the box campaign to help those with previous convictions get better employment
• Budgets vary as come from donations