Crime law and justice Flashcards
(22 cards)
Explain how some of the government responses to tackling crime have been ineffective
Knife crime continues to be a problem in Scotland for example the case with James Wright who had previous naive convictions and went on to stab a father of three
Following the new alcohol laws although the number of people cut over the legal driving limit increased the actual road traffic accidents had not decreased and in recent years 2/3 of serious assaults were still committed whilst under the influence of alcohol
Between 20 1819 and 20 1920 violent crime increased 16%
Explain how government responses to tackling crimes have been effective
Between 2011 and 2016 no one under the age of 20 died in a knife incident in Glasgow as a result of the new knives better lives campaign
The taking stock of violence in Scotland report found by 2019 the number of offenders had decreased in violent crimes since 2008 nine
Murder rates in Glasgow dropped 60% in 10 years during the violence reduction unit. At the same time violent crimes were down 20% in 10 years and London police are visiting Glasgow to learn both about the violence reduction unit and the tackling nice crime through no knives better lives campaign
Describe some government responses to crime in Scotland
The new knives better lives campaign aimed to get children off the streets of Conor school and involved in other activities
The change in alcohol laws increase the price of alcohol and reduce the amount that people can have before driving
In Glasgow there was the introduction of the violence reduction unit which ran team and used projects social food projects and mentoring schemes
What are the disadvantages of prisons
Prisons are expensive to run for example the annual cost of prisoner in Scotland is £36000i
Prison is detrimental to families as they can suffer financially and children can be influenced 2/3 of family say their debt has only increased
Prison doesn’t work prisoners don’t rehabilitate and people stay criminals after leaving 68% of kids are re-convicted within a year of their release
What are the disadvantages to prison alternatives
Tags can be broken James Wright murdered on and HDC
Community payback orders can leave people free to commit crimes for example Mark McLean committed a racist assault whilst on a CPO
ASBOS aren’t tough enough Michael O’Rourke ended up jailed
What are the advantages to alternative punishments
It can help the reoffending rate it is cheaper than prison and it prevents overcrowding in prison
Describe alternative punishments to prison sentences
Community payback is designed so offenders put something back into the community usually as part of a team and monitored by a supervisor such as environmental work
Fines financial payment made to the court for less serious crimes such as speeding for the first time
Tagging and curfews tagging is a control device fitted to restrict movement between certain hours usually 7 pm to 7 am and it is linked to the telephone at a fixed address it is a cheaper alternative to prison
Drug treatment and testing designed to achieve positive lifestyle changes and reduce offences that rely on substance abuse weekly drugs tests and rehabilitation meetingsProbation the flexibility to allow the court to impose a wide range of condition requirements such as curfew residency or attendance at programs
Compensation offenders must pay compensation to victims to cover damages of the offence
Describe the purpose of prison sentences in Scotland
However, today’s prisons focus more on education and rehabilitation. Modern prisons allow outside visitors and encourage offenders to educate themselves. For example, there are creative writing classes and writers can come in to help offenders to develop their talents.
The hope is that, upon release, offenders will have the knowledge and skills to enable them to find work outside and therefore increase the chances of them not re-offending.
Describe the government responses to young offending crime in Scotland
When a young male in Scotland aged between 16 and 21 is sentenced to a period of imprisonment or is remanded by the court, he will generally be detained in Scotland’s only male Young Offenders Institution at Polmont.
Polmont is the national holding facility for those in the 16 to 21 age group. It holds a maximum of 830 prisoners, making it arguably the biggest young offenders institution (YOI) in the UK. Sentences range from six months to life with the average sentence between two and four years.
Female young offenders
When a young Scottish female receives a custodial sentence or is remanded by the court, she will be usually be held within a separate facility for young offenders within Scotland’s only female unit, HM Prison and Young Offenders Institution Cornton Vale.
Violent crime has enormous consequences for individuals and communities.People have to deal with the physical consequences of violent crime and the financial cost of theft. Even if you are insured for burglary you need to pay an excess (usually the first £100 of the cost of replacing stolen goods) for the cost of stolen goods and the premium (the amount you pay for insurance) will go up.
43% of all crime is committed by young people under the age of 21
Under-15s commit around one third of youth crime
87% of youth crime is committed by males
What are the two types of criminal justice procedure
Solemn procedure is for the most serious cases and requires a judge and jury
A summary procedure is less serious does not require a jury and the sheriff decides the sentence
Describe the structure and the power of criminal courts
The justice of the peace court deals with minor crimes always using a summary procedure usually the justice of the peace sits alone a solicitor advises the Justice of the peace but they need to make the decision the maximum sentence is a fine of 2 1/2 thousand pounds
The sheriff court uses the solemn procedure the maximum sentence they can give is five years in prison or an unlimited fine and cases can be sent to the High Court
The high court is only for serious crimes and prison sentences are common they can also issue unlimited fines and unlimited prison sentences
When might an appeal happen
Firstly there is no automatic right to appeal but it might happen if.
The verdict was unfairly handled.
The sentence is unusually severe for the offence.
The procurator fiscal can appeal if a sentence is too lenient.
Appeals don’t involve jurys
What are the two types of law? And give examples
Criminal law for example theft or assault generally serious location-based crimes which can be solemn or summary court depending on the seriousness.
Civil law can deal with appeals which could be solemn or summary procedure
What is the role of the police
The police have a role to prevent crime from happening in the first place for example the get help or get caught program which was aiming to get help for people thinking about committing sexual offences.
A second way the police have to tackle crime is by protection this means the police are trying to stop people from being victims of crime for example at a Scottish rugby game in case of a fight. And finally they have a roll of investigation if a crime has been committed for example police divers and forensics get information
What are the powers of the police
The power to detain and arrest to seize goods to enter a premises and to stop and search
Biological factors that can cause crime
Brain - pre frontal cortex and amygdala Control strong feelings such as fear anger may be cause
DNA - genetics such as warrior gene can lead to person being aggressive and erratic
Economic issues that might cause crime
Poverty eg unemployed - lack of money and too much time
Sociological factors affecting crime
Poverty leading to shoplifting and theft Greed - stealing Labelling leads to behaviour patterns Racism Jack of education no quals or job Geography - some areas eg city centres Social exclusion - can lead to mental health issues addiction and loneliness Boredom
consequences of crime on the perpetrator
Non custodial sentences - community payback
Tagging and curfew
Drug treatment and testing to achieving positive lifestyle choices, rehab
Probation
Compensation to victims
Custodial sentences
Mental health issues due to isolation in prison
University of crime - learn more
Consequences of crime on victim
Death
Mental health issues feel unsafe in community
Hurt emotionally, physically and financially
Consequences of crime on community
Lack of trust in police
Propertyprices affected and might be difficult to sell
New businesses might avoid the area or existing ones might shut down
Cybercrime huge financial and or privacy issues
Consequence of crime on wider society
Cost of policing in. Scotland 19/20 was 1.2 billion pounds.
To pay for this, government must increase taxes or use money from other sources such as education and healthcare.
Theft from shops and businesses means prices go up
