Agencies Of Social Control

Question 1

What are the aims and objectives of the police?

Answer 1

Reduce crime, maintain law and order and ensuring the protection of life. Also have powers of arrest, detention, search and interviews.

Question 2

Where do police get their funding from?

Answer 2

Their main source of income is a central government grant but can also get their income through council tax.

Question 3

What are the working practices of the police?

Answer 3

Police forces have teams of officers who are responsible of dealing with different branches such as dog handlers, firearms, royal protection, anti-terrorism etc.

Question 4

What are the strengths of the police when ensuring social control?

Answer 4

Coercion - can use force and power to make arrests and take suspects into custody before they are charged for an offence.
They protect the public by interviewing and arresting offenders.
Create a fear of punishment as individuals do not want to be sanctioned for committing crimes and undergo a court trial so it deters crime and reduces criminal rates.

Question 5

What are the limitations of the police when ensuring social control?

Answer 5

Police cannot punish defendants because it is the CPS who prosecute defendants therefore limits retribution, reparation and public protection.
Police need warrants to find and gather evidence and they have time restraints as only hold offenders in custody for 24hrs.
Not effective with internal social control as don’t change how people think.

Question 6

What are the aims and objectives of the Crown Prosecution Service?

Answer 6

They decide which cases should be prosecuted. Determine the appropriate charges and advise police in early stages.
Prepare cases for court and are independent are fair.

Question 7

Where does the CPS get their funding?

Answer 7

Mainly funded by government as budget is decided from parliament but when costs are awarded by courts the CPS recover some costs from prosecuting offenders.

Question 8

What are the working practices of the CPS?

Answer 8

Provide the police with charging advice and prepare cases for court.
Also follow 2 stages of the full code test - evidential stage and public interest stage.

Question 9

What are the strengths of the CPS?

Answer 9

They ensure that offenders will be prosecuted and taken to court to undergo trials.
They ensure fear of punishment as they are the ones who prosecute individuals which can result in punishments.
Protect the public from dangerous offenders and reduce crime as criminals are removed from society if imprisonment occurs.

Question 10

What are the limitations of the CPS?

Answer 10

They receive inconsistent funding from the government meaning that there is a lack of money spent on finding evidence and a staff, result in cases being delayed. - reduction of resources.
Internal social control doesn’t change.
Need large amounts of evidence in order for a prosecution to occur and often crucial evidence is dismissed.

Question 11

What are the aims of objectives of the judiciary?

Answer 11

Ensure human rights are compliant and explain procedure and legal issues to jury.
Interpret law if unclear and set legal rules for other courts t follow.
Give appropriate sentences when necessary and follow sentencing guidelines to do so.

Question 12

Where do the judiciary get their funding?

Answer 12

Judicial salaries are decided by the recommendation of the Senior Salaries Review Body SSRB. They provide advice to the PM on the payment.

Question 13

What are the working practices of the judiciary?

Answer 13

They are independent and make decisions solely on the basis of law and evidence with no improper influence.
Have to take 2 oaths; oath off intelligence and judicial oath. Fair and consistent and their ultimate decision is based on freedom, safety of others and mitigating and aggravating factors.

Question 14

What are the strengths of the judiciary?

Answer 14

Implement external social control through fear of punishment. - General and specific deterrence as people won’t commit crimes as don’t want to receive criminal offence.
Enforce public protection through sentencing offenders which can remove freedom from offenders - retribution.
Sentencing guidelines ensure realistic punishment is given.

Question 15

What are the limitations of the judiciary?

Answer 15

Cannot control reoffending rates.
In serious cases the jury have the overall decision and these are people with no qualifications who could be influenced by improper factors such as media.
Different judges interpret laws differently meaning that some people can get away with the same crimes that others don’t - inconsistent sentences applied in different areas.

Question 16

What are the aims and objectives of the prison service?

Answer 16

To keep those sentenced to prison in custody, to help them lead law abiding lives when in prison and once released. To deprive prisoners from freedom as retribution.

Question 17

Where does the prison service get their funding?

Answer 17

Most prisons are gov’t funded with finances raised through taxation. Taxpayers in England and Wales pay more to run prisons than other major countries.

Question 18

What are the working practices of the prison service?

Answer 18

Privileges available to prisoners depend on behaviour - token economy. They have certain amounts of time to detain the criminals and prisons are divided into categories A-D; A being those at the highest risk.

Question 19

What are the strengths of the prison service?

Answer 19

Protect the public from offenders who cause harm to society and individuals by removing their freedom. They offer both external and internal forms of social control. Deter others from crime, make offenders pay for what they have done - reparation.

Question 20

What are the limitations of the prison service?

Answer 20

There is overcrowding and a shortage of staff meaning that coercion isn’t that effective as the prisoners won’t obey the laws as reduced force and power by staff. Lack of funding and cuts in finance means less money spent on rehab programmes so behaviours aren’t reformed. Lack fear of punishment as shorter sentences are increasing which means prisoners aren’t that affected and reoffending rates increase.

Question 21

What are the aims and objectives of the probation service?

Answer 21

They support the rehabilitation of offenders whilst protecting the public to ensure that offenders are reformed and can adjust back into society. Manage offenders throughout conviction by doing unpaid work, rehab programmes and training courses. Work with other agencies when managing safety.

Question 22

Where does the probation service get their funding?

Answer 22

The probation service is funder through taxation or by the National Offender Management Service. Rehab companies are self-funded.

Question 23

What are the working practices of the probation service?

Answer 23

They assess offenders as too when they can be released on licence whilst being under supervision. They communicate and prioritise the wellbeing of victims of sexual offences.

Question 24

What are the strengths of the probation service?

Answer 24

They offer fear of punishment and retribution as they can send those who have breached conditions back to prison. They offer reparation as offenders are giving back to society. they offer a lot of support and guidance to victims and offer rehab programmes to tackle the cause of crime.

Question 25

What are the limitations of the probation service?

Answer 25

The probation service is very inconsistent and national policies mean that there are staff shortages so some prisoners aren’t given opportunity to go out into society under supervision. Cannot control reoffending rates which are increasing meaning that the internal social control is ineffective and public protection is limited.

Question 26

What are the aims and objectives or charities and pressure groups?

Answer 26

Pressure groups aim to influence others who have the power to make decisions and they protest for change. Charities aim to help vulnerable people of society and raise awareness when addressing issues.

Question 27

Where do charities and pressure groups get their funding from?

Answer 27

They are not gov’t funded and get most of their funding through raising awareness, donations or by advertising their values.

Question 28

What are the working practices of charities and pressure groups?

Answer 28

Pressure groups get their voice through leaflets, protests, petitions or speaking to members of parliament. They campaign for change and support victims of crime. Charities gain resources through fundraisers or donations. The prison reform trust eg. want to help reform offenders behaviours and know the difference from right and wrong.

Question 29

What are the strengths of charities and pressure groups?

Answer 29

They can influence a change in laws through public discussions - green and white paper. they bring people together - moral solidarity. Public awareness and help with internal forms of social control. Support advice and guidance.

Question 30

What are the limitations of charities and pressure groups?

Answer 30

It can be difficult to get the platform they need to raise awareness.
Pressure groups who protest for change can result in violence.
Some people aren’t affected or influenced by charities or pressure groups movements or views so little impact occurs.