criminological theories informing policy development

Question 1

what is the death penalty

Answer 1

a state authorised execution of a convicted criminal through various different methods e.g. electric chair, hanging, lethal injection etc

Question 2

how does the deathpenalty link to biological theories

Answer 2

criminals are biologically abnormal and genetically predisposed to crime so using the death penalty for punishment perminently prevents criminals to re-offend. it also helps remove the biological abnormality from the gene pool and is less likely to be passed down to the next generation which should reduce crime

Question 3

arguments for the death penalty

Answer 3

-100% success raste
-its a deterrent to stop others for commiting crime
-stops criminal genes from being passed on

Question 4

arguments against the death penalty

Answer 4

-murder rate is 25% higher in states taht have the death penalty
-doesnt act as a deterrent as most violent crimes are spur of the moment and most offenders arent thinking rationally

Question 5

what is chemical castration

Answer 5

an injection or pill mainly given to sex offenders that lowers testosterone levels in men and women to get rid of sexual desires and libido

Question 6

how does chemical castration link to biological theories

Answer 6

criminals are biologically abnormal- irregualr hormone levels. and it tries to cure the abnormality so when the treatment is done it should reduce crime

Question 7

argument for chemical castration

Answer 7

• trialled in many countries and re-offending rates dropped from 40% to 5%
  -reduces motivation and sexual desire to commit sex crimes
• criminal can be in public rather than instituted

Question 8

arguments against chemical castration

Answer 8

• only small number of offenders will benefit
• only lasts between 3-5 years
  -isnt affective after discontinuation
  -random negative side affects

Question 9

what are eugenics

Answer 9

where the government get to choose who does and who doesnt have children, selective parenthood. so they gradually remove people with disorders and disabilities etc to give future generations strong genes

Question 10

how does eugenics link to biological theories

Answer 10

criminals are biologically abormal so removing the gene from the gene pool should reduce crime because criminals wont be able to pass the crimnal gene down as the wont be selected to have children

Question 11

arguments for eugenics

Answer 11

-osborn and west- 40% of boys who had a criminal record also had fathers who had criminal records- eugenics can reduce that number
-helps vunerable individuals as it can be dangerous to have kids whilst having a disability etc

Question 12

arguments against eugenics

Answer 12

-counterproductive- it will reduce genetic diversity which in the long term will generate more genetic abnormalities so would increase criminal behaviour

Question 13

what is token economy

Answer 13

its a behaviour modification where we use operant conditioning (positive and negative reinforcement) to direct behaviour

Question 14

how does token economy link to individualistic theories?

Answer 14

offender learn undesired behaviour such as criminality through models (bandura). token economies use rewards ot encourage desirable behaviour and punishment to discourage undesirable behaviour
unlearn desirable behaviour = reduction in cirme

Question 15

arguments for token economy

Answer 15

-cost effectve(cheaper than prisons)
-increases positive behviour in prisoners

Question 16

arguments against token economy

Answer 16

-not universally effective
-only works short term
-only effective in institutions-behviours wont carry on when prisoner gets released

Question 17

what is psychoanalysis treatment

Answer 17

(therapy)patient talks their thoughts through to reach unconscious and respressed thoughts to try and find what lead them to criminality

Question 18

how does psychoanalysis treatment link to individualistic theories

Answer 18

criminals have an abnormal psyche which was made through childhood trauma and bad experiences. therapy tries to bring them to the surface tot ry and find the root of the problem (frueds theory of the psyche)

Question 19

arguments for psychoanalysis treatment

Answer 19

-bergin- found out of 10,000 patients 80% benefited from psychoanalysis treatment
-more research- longer the treatment, the more effective the treatment

Question 20

arguments against psychoanalysis treatment

Answer 20

-time consuming and wont provide quick answers so isnt favoured when putting methods into practice
-blackburn- very positive evaluations of psychoanalysis
-may worsen patients mental health
-better methods of therapy e.g. CBT

Question 21

what is anger management

Answer 21

its a congnitive therapy that encourages people to think rationallly about there decisions and try and identify why they are getting angry and the follow through with congitive and physiological responses to reduce there anger

Question 22

how does anger management link to individualistic theories

Answer 22

anger management is a form of social skills training, this links to eysencks criminal personality theory as criminals find it hard to regulate their emotions so they have high levels of neuroticism. anger management uses cognitive therapy techniques to try and regain control of emotions and reduce criminality

Question 23

argument for anger management

Answer 23

-ireland-50 prisoners uses anger management and found there was a 92% decrease in anger reactions
- its more likely to lead to perminent change as it focuses on bothe thinking and behaving

Question 24

arguments against anger management

Answer 24

-not all crimes are based on anger
-roleplaying fake scenarios is alot different to real life dangerous situations
-short-term
-expensive and time consuming
- the prisoners must want to change for it to actually work

Question 25

what is the zero-tolerance policy

Answer 25

where really strict punishments are put in place to act as a deterrrent even for the smallest crimes

Question 26

how does zero-tolerance link to sociologicla theories

Answer 26

links to right realism- if the criminals weigh up the pros and cons of commiting a crimes, they should consider the harsh punishments from zero-tolerance and decide that commiting the cirme isnt worth the harsh punishment so it acts as a derrerent

Question 27

arguments for zero-tolerance

Answer 27

-since 1993, major crimes have dropped by 39% and murder has fallen by 49% in NYC due to the zero-tolerance policy
-was launched in merseyside in 2005-violent crime fallen by 38% and robberies down 23%

Question 28

arguments against zero-tolerance

Answer 28

• doesnt deter crime it displaces it
• the aproach increases labelling which leads to discrimination
  -doesnt work in small populated areas or highly racial areas

Question 29

what is CCTV

Answer 29

a formal method of surviellance within society that uses cameras to moniter people in public

Question 30

how does CCTV link to sociological theories

Answer 30

right realism- where the criminal weighs out the pros and cons of commiting a crime and the CCTV acts as a deterrent and con so it stops the criminal form commiting an offence

Question 31

arguments for CCTV

Answer 31

• college of policing “effects of CCTV on crime”-CCTV made a small but statistically significant reduction in crime
  -effective deterrent against planned crimes

Question 32

arguments against CCTV

Answer 32

-less effective in violent crime becuas eit doesnt act as a deterrent as the crimes are impulsive
- quick crimes can dodge CCTV
-CCTV is being reduced so patrols can be funded

Question 33

what is penal populism

Answer 33

where the government punishes the criminal based on what the public want

Question 34

how does penal populism link to sociological theories

Answer 34

functionalism- it reinforces social values and collectively bring people together

right realism- acts as a deterrent because the severity of the punishment is higher so criminalchooses not to commit crime becaus eof the harsh punishment

Question 35

arguments for penal populism

Answer 35

-effective in the US, when using this in the “tough on crime” period, crime declined dramaticallly
-increases prison populationso dangerous criminals cant commit more crime

Question 36

arguments against penal populism

Answer 36

• doesnt address the cause of the criminals actions but just punishes them
  -public opinion can be wrong where as normal prosecution is factual/evidence based