Punishments Flashcards
(50 cards)
How did the media lead to the abolition of the death penalty in the 20th century?
The least woman to be hanged was Ruth Ellis in 1956 and was found guilty of shooting her lover David Blakely in a crime of passion and he often beat Ellis and was an abusive relationship. There was no doubt of her guilt but there was a tremendous public sympathy for the glamorous Ellis whose photo appeared in many newspapers and spread her story. This publicised the miscarriages of justice in the people opinions and pushed for abolition
How did a declining trend in executions lead to the abolition of the death penalty?
As less punishments became a capital crime it was harder to get executed so the number of executions gradually fell. Ultimately it was the government who were making these decisions and directly led to the abolition as they weren’t needed anymore with more effective alternatives
What is the difference between custodial and non custodial punishments?
Custodial: Being locked up
Non custodial: Alternative forms of punishment eg. Fines or electronic tagging
When were open prisons established?
They were established in 1933
Give an example of an open prison still in place today?
HM Prison Ford which had over 500 prisoners in 2023
A prison sentence shows the government is being harsh on crimes but there was a high rate of prisoners re offending. Why are custodial punishments not beneficial?
Younger prisoners can learn from older ones
Prison is hugely expensive to the government
Prison does not deal with the social or personal problem that caused them to commit the crime
Why were Borstals abolished in 1982?
Around sixty percentage of those released from Borstals re offended and there was also an increase in youth crime
What trend in executions was observed by the late 1700s?
A declining trend in executions
The Government’s decision to abolish the Bloody Code in the 1820/30s meant that only murder and treason were punishable by death.
What significant change occurred in 1868 regarding executions?
Public hanging was ended
After 1840, there were around 15 executions a year, all for murder.
What exceptions to the abolition of hanging for murder were made in 1957?
Hanging was abolished for all murders except:
* Murder of a police officer or prison officer
* Murder by shooting or explosion
* Murder while resisting arrest
* Murder while carrying out theft
* Murder of more than one person
As a result, executions in Britain fell to an average of only four a year.
How did the Second World War lead to the abolition of the death penalty?
Following the horrors of WW2 , there was a growing feeling that execution was un-Christian and barbaric, and one associated with hitlers nazis. This led to the introduction of the Declaration of human rights.
What did the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights state in 1948?
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person
It adds that ‘No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.’
What was notable about Ruth Ellis’s case?
She was the last woman to be hanged in Britain in 1956
There was tremendous public sympathy for her due to her abusive relationship with her lover.
When was the death penalty abolished for murder in Britain?
1965
In 1998, capital punishment was abolished for all remaining crimes, including treason.
Fill in the blank: The Human Rights Act was passed in _____ and included the right to life.
1998
It also included the right to freedom from torture and inhuman or degrading treatment.
What significant change occurred in prisons by 1902?
The use of pointless hard work such as the crank and the treadmill were abolished
This marked a shift away from the separate system of punishment.
What ended in prisons after 1922?
Solitary confinement was ended
Prisoners were allowed to associate with each other.
What were some improvements made to prisons before 1947?
Improvements included:
* Abolishing broad arrows on convict uniforms
* Ending the ‘convict crop’ hairstyle
* Improving diet, heating, and cell conditions
* Allowing more visits from friends and family
Why were teachers employed in prisons?
To help inmates prepare for ordinary life back in the community
This was part of a broader effort to rehabilitate prisoners.
What was the concept of open prisons?
Prisoners were allowed to leave during the daytime to work
This was intended to prepare them for reintegration into society.
What trend began after the 1940s regarding the prison population?
The prison population began to rise steeply
The number of people in prison doubled between 1993 and 2015.
What factors contributed to the increase in prison population after the 1940s?
Factors included:
* Increased fear of crime
* Public concerns about being soft on crime
* Longer average sentences
What has happened to the average length of sentences since the 1940s?
The average length of sentences has increased
Governments seek to be tough on crime.
What ongoing problem has affected prisons since 1994?
Prison overcrowding
This peaked in the 1980s and has continued every year since.
