Punishment c1900-present

Question 1

Homicide Act of 1957 and impacts:

Answer 1

1. In the early 1950s, 15 people are year were executed
2. But the act restricted the death penalty to only capital murders
3. After 1957, average of 4 executions a year

Question 2

What was considered capital murder?

Answer 2

1. Committing two murders of different occasions
2. Murder whilst committing theft
3. Killing someone by shooting or explosion
4. Killing a police or prison officer
5. Killing someone whilst resisting arrest

Question 3

Murder Act:

Answer 3

1. In 1965, Murder Act suspended the death penalty for 5 years for MURDER
2. Made permanent in 1969
3. Some crimes still had the death penalty like arson in royal dockyards and espionage

Question 4

When was the death penalty abolished for all crimes?

Answer 4

1998

Question 5

Role of the government:

Answer 5

1. Very divisive issue
2. House of Commons passed bills abolishing the DP but blocked by the Lords in 1948 and 56
3. Home Secretary Roy Jenkins-1965- had strong views about ending the death penalty
4. Seen as influential

Question 6

How were children shown more lenience in the law?

Answer 6

1. 1908 Children’s Act meant that under 16s could no longer be executed
2. Young Person’s Act 1933 raised that limit to 18
3. Same act raised criminal responsibility to 8 raised to 10 in 1963

Question 7

Infanticide Act:

Answer 7

1. 1922
2. Women would not be executed for killing their baby shortly after birth
3. Understanding of women’s mental health post partum

Question 8

Controversial Executions: Timothy Evans

Answer 8

1. 1950
2. Murdering wife and baby
3. Later evidence showed that it was a serial killer not Evans
4. Huge public outcry

Question 9

Controversial Executions: Derek Bentley

Answer 9

1. 1953
2. Murder of a police officer
3. Learning difficulties
4. He did not fire the gun, joint enterprise

Question 10

Controversial Executions: Ruth Ellis

Answer 10

1. 1955
2. Murder of abusive boyfriend
3. He attacked her causing to miscarry- also had a daughter that was orphaned
4. A petition with 50,000 signatures was ignored by home secretary

Question 11

Changing attitudes in prisons:

Answer 11

1. Current cost of prison per person per year is £40,000
2. Reoffending rates are very high
3. Questions about prison continued to be asked

Question 12

Changes in prison:

Answer 12

1. 1896-mentally ill prisoners treated separately- Broadmoor Hospital opened
2. 1902, hard labour ended, no more treadwheels
3. 1907, alternatives to prison used, probation officers employed to check on offenders out of prison
4. 1922, prisoner welfare, separate system ended, educational opportunities improved
5. 1933, life after sentence, open prison opened New Hall, Wakefield, more relaxed can go out work in the day

Question 13

Borstals:

Answer 13

1. First one set up in Kent in 1902
2. Boys only
3. Separate from older criminals
4. Prevention of Crime Act 1908, focused on education as opposed to punishment and learning practical skills
5. Reoffending rates were 30% in the 1930s but 60% now
6. 1982, borstals abolished and replaced with youth custody centres

Question 14

Criminal Justice Act:

Answer 14

1. 1948
2. Graduated system of crime depending on the severity of the crime
3. Detention centres-more relaxed regimes that borstals

Question 15

New punishments:

Answer 15

1. ASBO- anti social behaviour order, restrictions on what a person can do
2. Community service- improve community
3. Electronic tagging
4. Drug and alcohol treatment programmes
5. Restorative justice