Unit 2 Crime

Question 1

Ways courts can punish offenders Structure

Answer 1

Sheriff Courts can punish offenders by giving them a sentence of up to 5 years in prison, whilst High Courts can
give out life sentences depending on the seriousness of the crime - use notes on punishing offenders from ‘aims
of prison’.
Sheriff Courts and High Courts can give out non-custodial sentences - use notes from ‘alternatives to prison’

Question 2

Ways the government have tried to reduce crime

Answer 2

The Scottish Government has placed a minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol. This has increased the price
of most alcoholic drinks which has caused an 8% fall in alcohol sales in shops since in was introduced in 2018.
This has helped to lower the rate of alcohol-related crime.
The Scottish Government have expanded the Violence Reduction Unit from initially being used only in Glasgow
to now the whole of Scotland - use notes on VRU from the ‘role of the police’.
The Scottish Government have encouraged judges to use more non-custodial sentences instead of short-term
sentences, particularly for 16 to 25-year-olds, in an attempt to reduce re-offending - use notes from
‘alternatives to prison’.

Question 3

Ways the childrens hearings system helps young people

Answer 3

The CHS helps children by treating offending as a welfare concern. Panel members will discuss root causes of
the child’s behaviour rather than simply focusing on punishment. Following a hearing a child may be given help
and support from school, social workers and the police to change their behaviour.
The CHS helps children by keeping them out of the adult court system. A children’s panel is less intimidating
than going to an adult court, and provides young people with the opportunity to discuss their offending
behaviour and other issues in their life. It tries to reduce their chances of ending up in the adult courts system
when they are older by trying to intervene at an early stage to stop their offending behaviour.