Sociological policies

Question 1

What is a policy

Answer 1

A course or principle of action adopted or ptoposed by an organization or individual

Question 2

What is a zero tolerance policy

Answer 2

Demands all crimes are acted on no matter how trivial they are

Question 3

What theory is zero tolerance based on

Answer 3

Right realist

Question 4

How does zero tolerance work

Answer 4

Crime hotspots are cracked down on and introducing a new approach

Question 5

What is an example of zero tolerance policy

Answer 5

London 2012 Olympics (Operation Trafalgar) had 400 police officers on street crime, (pickpocketing)

Question 6

Evidence of zero tolerance being successful

Answer 6

It has a measured impact
-New York major crime reduced by 39% in 1993

Question 7

Zero tolerance causing displacement

Answer 7

Criminals will simply move to areas that aren’t being overly-policed and are under-staffed, allowing them to offend.

Question 8

Zero tolerance wasting resources

Answer 8

Wastes police time and staff by arresting for petty crimes instead of serious issues, can also be argues to waste taxpayers money.

Question 9

Zero tolerance giving records

Answer 9

Give criminal records to individuals for small offences (man being sentenced to 6 months in prison for stealing a £3.50 case of water during the London riots 2011)

Question 10

Zero tolerance encouraging abuse

Answer 10

Impacts minority communities and young people, leading to accusations of institutional racism and profiling

Question 11

What is broken window theory

Answer 11

A run down area attracts more crime as it is more ‘tolerated’

Question 12

What is a broken window theory policy

Answer 12

If an area is made to look nice it will deter crime from happening.

Question 13

What is a weakness of broken window theory

Answer 13

It has to rely on other policies to maintain reduced crime

Question 14

What is a strength of broken window theory

Answer 14

It makes an area more ‘socially attractive’

Question 15

What is target hardening

Answer 15

A target that can be made more crime resistant, making it harder for crime to occur.

Question 16

What does CCTV do

Answer 16

Records and monitors deterring people from crime

Question 17

CCTV causing displacement

Answer 17

Criminals will simply offend where there is not a camera

Question 18

CCTV ethical issues

Answer 18

Surveillance is seen as an intrusion to everyday life, known as the ‘Big Brother society’

Question 19

CCTV only working when rational

Answer 19

Those who are intoxicated of have a passion cannot make a rational decision and ignore it (aren’t deterred).

Question 20

CCTV helping court

Answer 20

Provides vital concrete evidence in court to identify suspects, gather evidence and solve crimes efficiently.
FM- saves police time and money.

Question 21

CCTV damage

Answer 21

They can be damaged, covered, deleted, not watched, have blind spots

Question 22

What is penal populism

Answer 22

Politicians are trying to get votes by pushing for harder and longer sentences in prison that the public want.

Question 23

What is an example of penal populism

Answer 23

Drink driving (from zero years, to 5, to 14, to life)
Harper’s Law (life imprisonment if you kill a first responder)

Question 24

Media’s influence in penal populism

Answer 24

The media exaggerate certain crimes causing moral panics, of which politicians demand tougher sentences to reduce.

Question 25

Penal populism filling prisons

Answer 25

More criminals are arrested and prisons are filled, which is costly to make new ones and provide for the prisoners, and leads to the early release of some prisoners, such as sex offenders.

Question 26

Penal populism being expensive

Answer 26

Sentencing prisoners is costly to taxpayers as they must provide for the cost of prisons.

Question 27

Penal populism protecting public

Answer 27

The criminals that society are most scared of are removed from society and will no longer harm them.

Question 28

Penal populism proportions

Answer 28

Punishments can be disproportionate to the actual crime itself, leading to unfair punishment and a loss of faith in the justice system.

Question 29

What is a custodial sentence

Answer 29

A sentence of imprisonment imposed by a court for a criminal offense. It is the most severe sentence available to the courts, typically used for serious offenses where a fine or community sentence is deemed insufficient.

Question 30

Custodial sentence protecting society

Answer 30

The criminal is removed from society and can no longer harm people

Question 31

Custodial sentence high recidivism rates

Answer 31

Many reoffend after release, such as in England and Wales, around 48% reoffend within a year.

Question 32

Custodial sentence costs

Answer 32

It is expensive for the government and taxpayers to run due to buildings, water, food, staffing. Many argue money should be spent elsewhere

Question 33

Custodial sentence subcultures

Answer 33

Prison worsens behaviour by socialising criminals into criminal subcultures that teach them how to commit more crime, does not rehabilitate as it intends.

Question 34

Custodial sentence health issues

Answer 34

Can worsen mental health as isolation, violence and poor conditions have led to high suicide rates.

Question 35

Custodial sentence ignoring root cause

Answer 35

Only tackles symptoms (crime) rather than the causes like poverty, unemployment and inequality.