Crime and law Flashcards
Social causes of crime
Alcohol and drugs:
↳ Alcohol reduces inhibitions and increases the likelihood of impulsive crimes
↳ 17% of violent crime occurs near a pub or club
↳ 54% of violent crime is committed by someone under the influence of alcohol
Adverse Childhood Experiences:
↳ Physical, emotional, sexual abuse
↳ 45% of adult prisoners in scotland said they were physically abused at home as a child
↳ Witnessed domestic abuse
↳ Neglect, emotional neglect
↳ Parents separated or divorced
↳ Lived with someone with mental health problems
↳ Household member in prison
↳ Lived with a drug or alcohol misuser
Gangs/family structure:
↳ Single parent families can have a lack of role models for children, pushing them to join gangs
↳ Gangs are often linked to crime
↳ In glasgow there are 3500 young people aged 11-23 in gangs
Economic causes of crime
Poverty:
↳ Lack of money can increase the likelihood of theft
↳ Areas of deprivation have poor services which pushes children into crimes out of boredom
↳ Areas of deprivation have higher school dropout rates
↳ Broken window theory
↳ The SJCS for 2019/20 stated that those in the 15% most deprived areas were more likely to experience crime than other parts of the country
↳ On average 2/3 of prisoners are unemployed at the point of imprisonment
White collar crime:
↳ Purely out of greed
↳ Crimes such as fraud and embezzlement
↳ Perpetrators are usually middle-aged, white males with positions high up in companies
Biological causes of crime
Genetic makeup:
↳ The MAOA gene/’warrior gene’ increases the likelihood of violence
↳ Can make people more impulsive
↳ Can need a ‘trigger’ such as an ACE
Undiagnosed ADHD:
↳ Linked to impulsive behaviour especially if undiagnosed
↳ Many perpetrators are only diagnosed once they enter a prison
↳ 1/3 of England’s prison population have ADHD
↳ Only 5% of England’s general population have ADHD
Mental health conditions:
↳ PTSD, schizophrenia
↳ Can increase impulsive behaviour on non-conscious actions
↳ Linked to violent behaviour
Impact on the victim
Physical harm:
↳ Can lead to financial difficulty due to paying for medical supplies or being unable to work
↳ In 2019/20, 1% of Scotland’s population experienced 2 or more violent crimes, these equated for 2/3 of Scotland’s violent crime
Emotional harm:
↳ PTSD
↳ Spend money on therapy
↳ Have to leave a job or area due to fear
↳ Sexual crimes can be very deeply impacting
Impact on the perpetrator
Prison sentence:
↳ Excluded from society for an extended period of time
↳ Liberties taken away
↳ Contact with family members very limited
↳ For example, Aaron Thomas Campbell was sentenced for life with a minimum 27 year punishment part, for the murder, abduction and rape of a 6 year old girl
Criminal record: ↳ Hugely damaged reputation ↳ Difficulty finding employment ↳ Employers avoid employing ex-convicts ↳ For example, many people who participated in the London riots are now unable to find employment due to their record
Impact on families of victim or perpetrator
Family of the victim:
↳ If a family member is physically harmed there can be a lack of income
↳ There is a significant emotional impact when a family member is physically harmed
↳ Increased spending on security
↳ Moving house/area due to fear may occur
Family of the perpetrator:
↳ People become guilty by association
↳ They may experience isolation from a community
Impact of having a family member in prison:
↳ children with a parent in prison are 3x more likely to develop mental health problems/illness
↳ Around 20,000 children in scotland have a parent in prison on any given day
↳ More children experience having a parent in prison than parental divorce
Impact on the community
Perceived as bad or dangerous:
↳ The area gets a bad reputation
↳ Lowered housing prices as a result
↳ Housing in Torry is cheaper than Rosemount
Fear of crime:
↳ People avoid the area due to fear
↳ People avoid using services
↳ Facilities in Easterhouse, Glasgow are hardly used due to a fear of crime
Impact on wider society
Increase taxes:
↳ A high crime rate leads to more government spending on justice
↳ By the time a case has come to a verdict it has cost on average £95,000
Increased insurance prices:
↳ Insurance goes up as crime is more likely to happen
↳ Areas of deprivation will have some of the highest insurance prices
Fear:
↳ Areas that become more known for crime have less tourism as people fear going to the area
↳ Cities like Dundee have lower tourism as they are infamous for crime
Children’s hearing system
- A child is referred to the children’s reporter by someone who is worried about them.
- The children’s reporter decides if a hearing is necessary
- A children’s panel communes and decides on a plan of action for the child
- The child could be removed from their home and placed in an alternative place such as with a foster parent or a relative.
Strengths and weaknesses of CHS
Strengths:
- Action is taken to deal with the root of the problem
↳ This can reduce the likelihood of the child becoming an offender
- It is child centred
↳ The process ensures that the child understands everything that is happening
Weaknesses: - The system is overworked ↳ Children can 'slip through he cracks' - The process is lengthy ↳ Hearings can take months to arrange ↳ Nothing is being done to help the child during this time - If parents refuse to accept the terms the case must go to a judge ↳ This takes time and money
Structure of criminal courts
Justice of the peace: ↳ Low level crime ↳ Speeding, driving without insurance, breach of the peace ↳ Summary - No jury ↳ Max. 60 day prison sentence ↳ Max. £2500 fine
Sherriff court: ↳ Majority of crime - mid level crime ↳ Criminal or civil court proceedings ↳ Can deal with any crime except murder, rape and treason ↳ Summary or solemn ↳ Max. 12 months prison sentence (summary) ↳ Max. £5000 fine (summary) ↳ Max 5 years prison sentence (solemn) ↳ Unlimited fine (solemn)
High court: ↳ Most heinous crimes ↳ Murder, rape, serious sexual offences - especially involving children ↳ Solemn ↳ Unlimited sentencing powers
Effectiveness of courts
SEE NON-CUSTODIAL SENTENCES PRINTOUT
ASBOs can be used to prevent young people performing anti-social behaviour
- They involve a list of things a person cannot do or places they cannot go
Government responses to crime
Minimum Unit Pricing (2018):
↳ Minimum Price of 50p Per unit
↳ Aims to reduce alcohol related crime
↳ Uncertain if it was effective, covid skewed statistics.
Lowered drink drive limit (2017):
↳ Down to 50mg per 100ml (0.05%)
↳ Road deaths fell by 17% in the first year
↳ Aimed to make roads Safer
Fewer Short Term Prison sentences (2019):
↳ More community based sentences
↳ Short term sentences use fallen by 15%
↳ Community sentences risen by 19%
↳ No direct link to fall in crime but can be linked to reoffending rates
Violence reduction unit (2005): ↳ Aims to reduce violent crime ↳ Treats, crime like a disease ↳ 2010-2020: 35% reduction in homicides ↳ Glasgow accounted for 41% of the fall ↳ However the likelihood of violent crime was unaffected in the poorest areas
Role and structure of the police
Established on 1 April 2013
↳ brought together 8 forces
↳ second largest police force in the uk
↳ 13 divisions
They have 4 main roles ↳ Maintain law and order ↳ Detect criminals ↳ Protect the public ↳ Prevent crime
They have many powers ↳ Stop and search ↳ Detain a suspect for 24 hours ↳ Arrest a suspect/perpetrator ↳ Use reasonable force ↳ Issue fixed issue fines
Police responses to crime
Police verification Checks:
↳ Aim to prevent police violence
↳ Aim to make the public feel safer
↳ Makes a police officer confirm they are on duty
↳ “Your police” 2020/21 Survey: 84% Said they felt safe
Don’t tolerate hate:
↳ Increase the reporting of hate crimes
↳ Reporting of hate crimes increased between 2016/17 & 2020/21
Get help or get Caught:
↳ Aimed to reduce grooming + Sexual crimes
↳ Sexual crimes in Scotland increased by 13% in the last year.
Officers on the beat:
↳ Have police officers ground bars at weekends.
↳ 2002/3 - 2019/20 = 42% reduction in violent crime
↳ In England & wales 44% of violent crime occurs at the weekend.
