3.4 - Evaluate effectiveness of agencies in achieving social control (FINISHED)

Question 1

Strengths of the police

Answer 1

+ Out of court disposals (enact penalties, cautions, reprimands [PACE] & zero-tolerance policies which all are swift visible punishments -> deterrence)
+ Main agency for prevention (solely focus on crime & special training)

Question 2

Weaknesses of the police

Answer 2

• Funding (lacking budget -> £15bn allocated to last over 3 year span)
• Bias (disproportionate treatment of genders/race -> MacPherson report, Stop & Search, Sarah Everard)
• Make mistakes (negative impacts on lives -> Puppy farm murders, inappropriate searches -> lack trust & safety)

Question 3

Strengths of the CPS

Answer 3

+ Expertise (knowledgeable about the law in detail as they’ve all been trained barristers & lawyers)
+ Independence (separated from police in Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 -> reduces bias)

Question 4

Weaknesses of the CPS

Answer 4

• Slow (take longer to decide on prosecutions as they lost 1/3 of staff after 25-30% budget cuts)
• Human error (overlook thorough analysis of evidence -> Abu Hamza & Damilola Taylor)
• Social sensitivity (cause harm to victims of rape as over 50% of charges were dropped as ‘too weak’ to prosecute)

Question 5

Strengths of judiciary

Answer 5

+ Expertise (high level law degrees & years of experience as lawyer first -> accurate sentencing)
+ Ensure fairness (system of precedent = standardisation so Human Rights are followed)

Question 6

Weaknesses of judiciary

Answer 6

• Bias (74% have private education so are biased towards upper class/well educated -> Lavinia Woodward)
• Inconsistent (sentencing differences -> ULS scheme had 70% cases overturned & increased when sent to CofA)

Question 7

Strengths of prison service

Answer 7

+ Rehabilitation (provide help such as substance abuse therapies & education programmes i.e. HMP Altcourse & engineering)
+ Encourage stability (routines within prison provide purpose & reason whilst within prison & prepares for life once reformed)

Question 8

Weaknesses of prison service

Answer 8

• Recidivism (do not truly rehabilitate offenders as 56.9% of short-sentences re-offend on release)
• Overcrowding (leads to assaults & riots i.e. Birmingham riots saw prisoners take over 4 wings of the prison)
• Does not work (2024 - 88k in the prison system compared to 43k in 1993)

Question 9

Strengths of probation service

Answer 9

+ Monitor offenders (ensure they are obeying the law and doing their community service through tags)
+ Expertise (receive specialist training so are able to give proper guidance)

Question 10

Weaknesses of probation service

Answer 10

• Poor judgements (incorrect decisions such as releasing prisoners without housing plans or too early)
• Funding (overworked due to fewer probation officers and dealing with 238,646 caseload)
• Partial privatisation (prioritise some cases i.e. ones who won’t re-offend to hit their target goals)

Question 11

Strengths of charities/pressure groups

Answer 11

+ Passion (drive to promote cause is strong i.e. NACRO’s promotions publicly & constantly to End Friday Releases)
+ Independent (prevents bias & still allows them to work with services i.e. Howard League of Penal Reform working alongside the police)

Question 12

Limitations of charities/pressure groups

Answer 12

• Passion (aggressive & illegal acts performed to enact justice leads to a lack of public support & issues in getting government funding)
• Cannot help some offenders (moral imperatives do not believe they did anything wrong so will refuse help)