ASSIGNMENT

Question 1

Research Methods (Aim 1)

Answer 1

• In order to research aim 1, “AIM 1”,I used a government document from the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology titled: “Non-custodial sentences” (2020)
• Found useful as it mostly supported aims and provided a myriad of statistical data needed for my aim
• Appearance and layout was user friendly. Had a multi page bibliography of all its sources which grants us an insight into where they received there information
• POST is a parliamentary and government resource meaning and it’s author Robert Mann has done many other reports it’s reliable
• However, a disadvantage of the layout is that it is very word heavy, with few pictures to ease the reading. Large amount takes ages to digest its information
• Although POST is reliable and reputable, it needs to be completely factual and unbiased - making it difficult to pick out selected quotations to help my aim
• Finally, the statistics and evidence provided have a lack of comparable to other sentencing options - meaning difficulties in trying proving non custodial sentences effectiveness
• If I were to use again I would try compare it with relevant statistics from other types of sentencing. If I were to research aim 1 again I would find a source which offered more comparable evidence as to why…

Question 2

Research Methods (Aim 2)

Answer 2

• In order to research aim 2, ”AIM 2” I used a newspaper article by YouGov named: “John Humphrys - Does Prison Work?” (October 2023)
• I found this article useful as it showed clear support for my hypothesis and provided a lot of qualitative statistics for my aim
• The appearance and layout was user friendly with links to other prison related articles, large amount of information separated by appropriate paragraphing, and links political articles down below
• YouGov newspaper is rather reputable and the author John Humphry has published many other articles: I believe the statistics are reliable
• The information was extremely up to date (October 2023), concise and compared to older and opposite beliefs. Argues a clear point which supports my hypothesis whilst expanding on my aim
• A disadvantage appearance to the layout and appearance of the article was how hard it was to maintain focus with the boring black text on white background therefore seeming bleak
• Although YouGov is well known, it has been found to be selective in the poll data they use
• Even though the facts and statistics were useful for my aim, they did not list where they found their information anywhere
• If I was to use to this article again
  I would try compare negative prison statistics with more recent opinions against it. If I were to research aim 1 again, I would try to find an article that offered better presented statistics as to the effectiveness of prisons

Question 3

Research Findings (Aim 1)

Answer 3

• In order to research Aim 1 “AIM 1” I used a government document named “Non-custodial sentences” by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (January 2020)

I found out that:

• A 2007 review of over 100 studies globally indicates that non-custodial sentences are associated with lower reoffending rates
• Using community orders instead of short custodial sentences could reduce the high turnover of people in the prison system
• Non-custodial sentences may provide benefits, especially comped to short custodial sentences (less than 12 months). This includes reoffending rates and disruption to the convict

Question 4

Research Findings (Aim 2)

Answer 4

• In order to research Aim 2 “AIM 2” I used a newspaper article named “John Humphrys - Does Prison Work?” by YouGov (October 2023)

I found out that:

• Old Home Secretary Michael Howard stayed that prisons work in 2003: “It ensures we are protected from murderers, muggers and rapists - and it makes many tempted to commit crime think twice.”
• More than 65 per cent of those incarcerated for less than a year reoffend
• The Norwegians have an extremely low reoffending rate of 20 per cent as they treat even the most dangerous inmates with homely conditions for rehabilitation

Question 5

Research Findings (Aim 3)

Answer 5

• In order to research Aim 3 “AIM 3” I used a survey titled: “Custodial and Non-custodial sentencing - which is more effective?” which I made myself.

I found out that:

• Out of the 25 responses, 76% of the public believe that custodial sentencing is more effective
• One custodial sentencing voter stated: “Prison can teach criminals a lesson and it keeps dangerous people off the streets”
• A non-custodial voter stated:”[the convicts] time could be better spent learning from mistakes [rather] than being punished in most cases.”

Question 6

Conclusions

Answer 6

• From my research into Aim 1: “AIM 1” I can conclude that non-custodial sentencing is more effective than custodial sentencing as it proved that non-custodial sentencing are seen to have lower reoffending rates and are also more effective against short custodial sentences.
• From my research into Aim 2: “AIM 2” I can conclude that the UK’s prison system isn’t effective when looking at reoffending rates, however it was once thought to be.
• From my research into Aim 3: “AIM 3” I can conclude that the average teenager believes that custodial sentencing is better as it keeps dangerous people schooled from main society.
• Overall, I conclude that my hypothesis, HYPOTHESIS is correct as most of my evidence from my aims support it - especially the 100 studies - however a high percentage of teenagers the public think otherwise.