4.1 Assess the use of criminological theories in informing policy development

Question 1

Biological theories informing policy development:

Answer 1

Neurochemicals, Eugenics, Death Penalty

CCTV, Restorative Justice, Multi Agency Approach

Question 2

What is is Restorative Justice and does it work?

Answer 2

The voluntary process where the victim and the offender meet in a controlled environment to talk about the situation

An independent report by the Ministry of Justice found that majority of victims chose to participate in face to face meetings with the offender when offered, majority of the victims said they were satisfied with the process, and that it reduced the frequency of reoffending

Question 3

What is the Neurochemical theory in policy development?

Answer 3

Research shows that a healthy diet can have a positive impact on aggressive behaviour, which may result crime rates.

Study in 1997- Some violent offenders had a lower serotonin turnover- treatable with a diet of foods that contain serotonin.
Study in 1982- suggests that a reduced sugar diet reduced the anti-social behaviour by 48%

Question 4

What is the Eugenics theory on policy development?

Answer 4

Eugenics is the study on how to arrange reproduction within a population to increase the occurrence of ‘desirable’ characteristics

Claimed that:
Inheritance of genes explains the presence of both simple and complex characteristic
Reinforces ideas of biological determinism, claims that biology contributed to the social problems of the late 19th century.

seen in Nazi Germany policies- very unlikely to be widespread. 2015- UK judge gave an order to allow a mother of six with learning disabilities to be sterilised

Question 5

What are the individual theories that inform policy development?

Answer 5

Psychoanalysis, Behaviour Modification, Social skills and Anger Management

Question 6

What is the Death Penalty?

Answer 6

Statistics from the USA show that the murder rate is lower in states that do not have the death penalty than in those that do, suggesting it is not a deterrent.

Often people kill in the heat of the moment, either under heavy influence of substances or extreme mental illness. These people are unlikely to make rational decisions based on future consequence such as the death sentence.

Question 7

What is the Psychoanalysis theory on policy development?

Answer 7

A treatment where a patient verbalises their thoughts- aims to access their unconscious repressed thoughts which are believed to lead to criminality.

This therapy least favourable in contemporary approaches