Evaluation - 4.1 Flashcards
(22 cards)
1
Q
BIOLOGICAL THEORIES INFORMING POLICY DEVELOPMENT
- eugenics
Strengths
A
It’s main ‘value’ today lies in critical criminology - as a cautionary example of how misuse of science can lead to authorisation social control
2
Q
Limitations
A
- historically linked to state abuse, eg sterilising thousands in the USA without consent and the eugenics ideology under-pinning the Holocaust
- often used to justify racist and classist policies, eg targeting ethnic minorities, those with disabilities, or those in poverty - reinforcing structural inequalities
3
Q
- biochemical and diet
Strengths
A
- non invasive, low cost and adaptive across secure settings - a useful part of holistic rehabilitation
4
Q
Limitations
A
- changes may be temporary or superficial- if diet improves in custody but not sustained post-release, benefits are lost
- may not address deeper psychological or environmental causes of crime (eg trauma, abuse)
5
Q
Biological explanations to policies
Strengths
A
- proven success rates eg diet
- relies on scientific evidence
- reliable methods have been developed such as drug treatment
6
Q
Limitations
A
- side effects
- ethical issues (eugenics, surgery)
- doesn’t take into account individual differences
7
Q
Death penalty
Strengths
A
- removed the risk of reoffending by ensuring dangerous individuals are permanently incapacitated
- can provide emotional closure or a sense of justice for victims’ families, particularly in extreme or high profile cases
8
Q
Limitations
A
- disproportionately applied to ethnic minorities and the poor - suggesting systematic bias
- seen by many as morally and legally unacceptable- violated the right to life and contradicts rehab - focused justice systems
9
Q
Psychoanalysis
Strengths
A
- aims for long term emotional change rather than just behavioural control when successful, it may help offenders understand and resist their urges mire effectively than surface interventions
- targets deep psychological causes of crime, not just surface - level behaviour. Particularly valuable for complex cases, such as violent or sexually deviant offenders where trauma may be a root cause
10
Q
Limitations
A
- may be inaccessible for offenders with low literacy, learning difficulties, or low emotional awareness
- limited scientific credibility - based on theories that are hard to rest of falsify (eg unconscious drives), making it controversial in psychology today
11
Q
- operant learning - behaviour modification
Strengths
A
- works well as part of daily behavioural management rather than depose psychological change
- cost effective and early to implement across institutions. Clear goals and rules make to a wide range of offenders
- this improved behaviour of serious offenders, but it’s impact on offenders of less serious offences was mixed 3
12
Q
Limitations
A
- less effective for serious or compulsive offences, where deeper psychological change is needed
- doesn’t tackle root causes of crime eg trauma,poverty,mental illness. It manages symptoms, not sources
- improvements tend not to generalise beyond institution in the longer term
13
Q
- aversion therapy - Eysenck
Strengths
A
- can produce rapid short-term, particularly in clinical trials or highly structured programmes where the offender is closely supervised and motivated to change
- still used in specialist programmes with high risk offenders, especially where traditional therapy has failed. Can support risk reduction when combined with CBT or long term monitoring
14
Q
Limitations
A
- risk of psychological harm- may increase shame, secrecy, or emotional instability rather encouraging reform
- largely replaced by cognitive - behavioural therapy in modern practice, which is considered more ethical and effective long term
- often criticises for ethical reasons - pairing behaviour with physical discomfort can be distressing or traumatic, especially for vulnerable individuals
15
Q
Prisons
- strengths
A
- prisons can offer rehabilitation in the form of treatment programmes and education
- prisoners are temporarily incapacitated so can’t commit crimes against the public when they are in jail
- the risk of jail deters would be criminals who make a rational choice about offending
16
Q
Limitations
A
- serious assaults in prison have more than doubled in the last 3 years
- 46% of adult prisoners reconvicted within one year of release
- the prison population in England and wales nearly doubled between 1993 and 2015
17
Q
Restorative justice
- strengths
A
- victims often feel more satisfied than in formal court proceedings
- helps offenders develop empathy, take responsibility and reducing future offending
- encourages reintegration, rather than exclusion, promoting long term social learning
18
Q
Limitations
A
- limited availability - not yet mainstream in all areas
- public may see it as too lenient, especially for serious offences
- requires remorse and cooperation - not suitable for all offenders of victims
- requires skilled facilitators and careful case management to avoid re-traumatisation
19
Q
ZTP
- strengths
A
- creates visible boundaries around acceptable behaviour
- deters repeat offending through swift consequences
- can lead to short term crime reduction and improve public confidence in the police
20
Q
Limitations
A
- may criminalise minor behaviour or target vulnerable groups
- doesn’t address root causes of crime (eg inequality, trauma, social exclusion)
- may damage police - community relationships, especially where trust is already low
21
Q
CCTV
- strengths
A
- helps solve crimes faster using visual evidence
- improves public perception of safety in monitored areas
- effective at deterring opportunistic and property crimes
22
Q
Weaknesses
A
- footage is only useful if monitored or acted upon
- raises concerns about surveillance privacy and civil liberties
- less effective for impulsive or violent crimes, which aren’t planned
