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AC1.2 Flashcards

1
Q

What defines actions as illegal in society?

A

Actions are defined as illegal by society, and this definition changes over time, with technology, norms, values and ideas about crime.

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2
Q

What does social construction mean in the context of crime?

A

Social construction means that what is considered criminal is defined by society, varying between cultures.

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3
Q

How have laws regarding homosexuality changed in the UK?

A

Homosexuality was previously a criminal offense in the UK but has since been decriminalised and legalised.

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4
Q

In what countries is homosexuality legal?

A

UK, USA, Netherlands and Germany.

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5
Q

In what countries is homosexuality illegal?

A

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Iran.

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6
Q

What historical report influenced the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK?

A

The Wolfenden report recommended that homosexual acts between consenting adults should no longer be considered a criminal offence.

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7
Q

What are some reasons why homosexuality remains illegal in certain countries?

A

Reasons include colonial legacies, religious views, and cultural factors.

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8
Q

What punishments exist for homosexuality in countries where it is illegal?

A

Punishments can include beatings, imprisonment, fines, or even death in countries like Saudi Arabia, Uganda, and Yemen.

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9
Q

What is the legal status of drug possession in the UK?

A

It is illegal to possess, supply, and produce controlled drugs in the UK.

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10
Q

How are controlled drugs categorized in the UK?

A

Controlled drugs are categorized into three classes: A.B, and C, based on their danger and harmfulness.

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11
Q

What significant change occurred in Portugal regarding drug laws in 2001?

A

Portugal decriminalised the personal use and possession of all illicit drugs.

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12
Q

What happens in Portugal for possession of up to a ten days’ supply of illicit drugs?

A

Cases are referred to an administrative panel that recommends treatment, fines, warnings, or other penalties.

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13
Q

What remains a criminal offence in Portugal regarding drugs?

A

Trafficking, cultivation of illicit substances, and possession exceeding a ten days’ supply remain criminal offences.

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14
Q

How do drug laws vary across different states in America?

A

Federal law makes cannabis a controlled substance, but states have different laws regarding its legality.

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15
Q

Which states in the USA have legal recreational use of cannabis?

A

States like California and Michigan have legal recreational use of cannabis.

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16
Q

What is the general status of firearm ownership in the UK?

A

The ownership of firearms is generally prohibited in England and Wales, with a near complete ban on handguns.

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17
Q

What is required for civilians to own firearms in the UK?

A

Civilians can own some firearms and shotguns if they obtain a license approved by the police.

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18
Q

What is a notable feature of gun laws in the USA?

A

In the USA, citizens are able to own firearms for personal protection.

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19
Q

How do societal norms influence the definition of crime?

A

Societal norms and values change over time, affecting what is considered a crime.

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20
Q

What is an example of how drug laws can reflect a public health approach?

A

Portugal’s decriminalisation of drug possession reflects a public health approach rather than a criminal one.

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21
Q

What are the potential penalties for drug offences in the UK?

A

Penalties vary by drug class, with Class A drugs leading to more severe sentences.

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22
Q

What does the second amendment in the US constitution protect?

A

The right to bear arms, allowing civilians to own firearms.

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23
Q

What is required for concealed carry in some states like Colorado?

A

A permit.

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24
Q

Which state does not require a permit for concealed carry?

A

Arizona.

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25
What is polygamy?
Having more than one husband or wife at the same time.
26
What is adultery?
A sexual relationship between someone married and another who is not their spouse.
27
In how many countries is polygamy legal?
76 countries, including some areas of Africa, Asia, and Utah.
28
Where is adultery legal?
In the UK and India (which repealed its adultery laws in 2018).
29
Where is polygamy illegal?
Most of Europe, America, and Australia.
30
What is the term for marrying someone while already married in the UK?
Bigamy.
31
In how many American states is adultery illegal?
21 states.
32
Which countries have laws against adultery based on Sharia law?
Iran, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Somalia.
33
What religious reasons contribute to the prevalence of polygamy?
The Qur'an permits Muslim men to have up to four wives.
34
How do economic factors influence polygamy laws?
More developed countries have less reason for multiple partners in relationships.
35
What societal factors influence the legality of adultery?
Religious beliefs and the social position of women.
36
How do different religions affect laws regarding homosexuality?
Countries with strong religious influence are more likely to criminalize homosexuality.
37
What is the relationship between public opinion and laws?
High public support or disagreement can influence changes in laws.
38
What does the Pew Research Center indicate about attitudes towards homosexuality?
Higher levels of support for bans on homosexuality in some countries, influences by religion.
39
How do traditions affect the existence of laws?
Traditions vary across cultures and can take a long time to change, as seen with gun laws.
40
What is the impact of societal norms on drug laws, particularly cannabis?
Differences in norms and values reflect varying attitudes towards drug use.
41
How does sexism influence laws regarding homosexuality?
Male homosexuality is more criminalized than lesbianism, possibly due to sexist assumptions.
42
What is one reason laws change between cultures and places?
Difference norms, values, and attitudes in societies.
43
What is one viewpoint lawmakers have regarding cannabis use?
Some lawmakers believe that a tough stance with severe penalties for possession is the best way to deter drug use.
44
When were homosexual acts between men legalised in England and Wales?
In 1967.
45
What significant report influenced the change in homosexuality laws in the UK?
The Woolfenden Report, published in 1957, recommended legalizing homosexual acts in private between consenting adults.
46
What organisation campaigned for the legalization of gay sex in 1967?
The Homosexual Law Reform Society.
47
What did the Human Rights Act state regarding private lives?
Under the Human Rights Act, the state has no right to control citizens' private lives.
48
What was the date the smoking ban came into effect in the UK?
1st July 2007.
49
What was one reason for the introduction of the smoking ban in the UK?
Studies in the 1950s demonstrated the link between smoking and lung cancer.
50
What legalization was introduced to protect children from secondhand smoke in cars?
It became illegal to smoke in cars with children under 18.
51
What was the purpose of the Firearms Act 1968?
To consolidate all existing firearms legalization into a single statute.
52
What requirements were set for applicants seeking a Firearms certificate under the Firearms Act 1968?
Applicants had to be of good character, show good reason for possessing a firearm, and store weapons securely.
53
What significant restrictions were introduced by the Firearms Amendment Act 1988?
It prohibited pump-action and self-loading rifles and controlled military weapons firing explosive ammunition.
54
What event prompted the introduction of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997?
The Dunblane tragedy.
55
What was the outcome of the Firearms (Amendment)(No 2) Act 1997?
It banned the civilian ownership of handguns almost completely, with some exceptions.
56
What was the maximum sentence for homosexual acts between men in the UK before 1967?
Life imprisonment.
57
When was the age of consent for homosexual acts equalized with heterosexuals in the UK?
In 2000.
58
What campaign led to the equalization of the age of consent for homosexuals in the UK?
Further campaigns by Stonewall and the Campaign for Homosexual Equality.
59
What is one of the main reasons laws change over time?
Public campaigns and changing societal attitudes.
60
What type of spaces did the smoking ban apply to?
All enclosed work spaces, including pubs, nightclubs, work vehicles, and most workplaces.
61
What health requirement was mandated on tobacco packaging after the smoking laws changed?
Tobacco packaging must include prominent graphic health warnings.
62
What was the main focus of the campaigns that led to the smoking ban?
Demonstrating the health risks associated with smoking.
63
What does the Firearms Amendment Act 1997 specifically restrict?
It confined handguns to clubs and prohibited larger calibre handguns.
64
What are some reasons laws change over time?
Changing norms and values, public opinion, scientific advances, safety concerns, and triggering events.
65
How can changing norms and values affect laws?
As society progresses, what was once acceptable may become outdated requiring legal reforms to reflect new values.
66
Give an example of how public opinion can change laws.
Issues like homosexuality, abortion, and civil rights have evolved in public perception, leading to legal reforms.
67
What role do scientific advances play in changing laws?
New research can inform laws, such as smoking laws being reformed due to research on its dangers.
68
What is the purpose of laws related to safety?
Laws are established to keep the public safe and prevent harmful or dangerous acts, such as the Dangerous Dogs Act.
69
What can trigger a change in law?
Tragic events can prompt public outcry and lead to legal reforms to prevent similar occurrences, such as the Dunblane shooting.
70
What is the age of criminal responsibility?
It is the age below which a child is deemed incapable of committing a crime; in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, it is 10 years.
71
How does criminal history impact sentencing?
A history of previous convictions can act as an aggravating factor, leading to more severe sentences, while no prior offences can be a mitigating factor.
72
What are aggravating factors in sentencing?
Factors that increase the severity of a crime, such as offences motivated by protected characteristics or a pattern of repeated offences.
73
What are mitigating factors in sentencing?
Factors that make a crime less severe, such as mental illness, disability, or having dependents to care for.
74
What is diminished responsibility?
A special defence where a defendant's mental condition significantly reduces their ability to understand their actions, potentially reducing murder to manslaughter.
75
What is an example of diminished responsibility?
A defendant with schizophrenia or psychosis may plead diminished responsibility.
76
What is loss of control in legal terms?
A partial defence where a defendant loses self-control due to provocation, leading to a manslaughter conviction instead of murder.
77
What is an example of loss of control?
A defendant provoked by fear of serious violence may claim loss of control.
78
What is automatism?
The involuntary performance of an action without conscious decision, which can be used as a defence in court.
79
What is an example of automatism?
An epileptic seizure or heart attack may be cited as a cause of automatism.
80
What is battered woman syndrome?
A pattern of signs and symptoms displayed by someone, typically a woman, who has suffered persistent intimate partner violence, linked to PTSD.
81
What is a notable case related to battered woman syndrome?
Sally Challen killed her husband after years of controlling behaviour; her murder conviction was converted to manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility.
82
What was the outcome of Sally Challen's case?
Her conviction for murder was converted to manslaughter in February 2019, and she was sentenced to 9 years, time served.
83
What does the Homicide Act 1957 include regarding special defences?
It includes diminished responsibility, loss of control, and automatism as defences for murder.
84
Why is the age of criminal responsibility different in Scotland compared to England and Wales?
In Scotland, the age of criminal responsibility is 12, while in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, it is 10.
85
What is the significance of public outcry in legal reforms?
Public outcry can lead to changes in laws to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

Criminology (8 decks)

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