Penal Polulism

Question 1

Define penal populism

Answer 1

Government effort to introduce laws that punish offenders in ways that apeal to public opinion

Question 2

What was the origin of penal populism

Answer 2

Policy emerged after 1993 James Bulgar case were public concern over violent crimes rose

Question 3

How did the media influence penal populism

Answer 3

It fulled public fear leading to political consensus that government should be tougher on crime

Question 4

What was the impact of penal populism

Answer 4

Significant increase in prison population with uk having more life sentence then most of Europe

Question 5

Example of 2 key events that were influenced by penal populism

Answer 5

Tony Blair’s pledge
Putative law

Question 6

What did Tony Blair pledge

Answer 6

As shadow Home Secretary in 1993 he pledged to be tougher on crime and in the casuse of crime

Question 7

Define punitive law

Answer 7

Laws that intend to punish offenders

Question 8

How do putative laws work

Answer 8

Introduce by successive government including automatic life sentences for repeat offenders
Based on three strike system were convictions for serious crime e.g class a drug trafficking can result in mandatory sentences