Unit 2 Crime Example Answers Flashcards
Economic causes of crime Ans
Many people commit crime due to a lack of money. Some people with a lower income turn to theft in order to
obtain basic necessities or more expensive material goods which they would otherwise struggle to afford. E.B.
someone who has recently been made unemployed may turn to shoplifting in order to feed their family.
Young people from deprived areas are more likely to lack opportunities and positive career prospects. If they
lack leisure or sport activities due to poverty, they may be more likely to get involved in crimes such as
vandalism or gang violence to entertain them. If they do not have the qualifications to get a job then they might
get involved in crime as a source of income.
Some crimes of dishonesty are committed by middle-class people who may be motivated by greed. These
people may use their specific knowledge and skills in order to illegally make more money - known as ‘white-
collar crimes’. E.g. the main cause of crimes such as fraud and tax evasion is economic gain.
Social causes of crime Ans
Many people commit crime due to having had a troubled upbringing. A young person may be more prone to
commit crime if they were abused during their childhood or lacked happiness, attention and strong family
relationships. Furthermore many children lack positive role models and are brought up in a family where crime,
violence or substance misuse are common place and are at risk of repeating their parent’s behaviour.
Many young people commit crime due to peer pressure. They may break the law to gain or retain popularity
within their peer group, fearing that they may being ridiculed or excluded from the group if they do not
conform. E.g. peer pressure can be a cause of vandalism or shoplifting.
Alcohol use can make some people more aggressive or impulsive. This can often be a contributing factor in
sexual offences, crimes of vandalism and violent crime. E.g. in 60% of violent crimes recorded in Scotland the
offender was under the influence of alcohol in over.
Biological causes of crime ans
Psychologists believe that genetic factors can increase someone’s chances of committing crime. Studies have
found a link between a variant of the MAOA gene (the ‘warrior gene’) and violent behaviour. This is because
this variant can cause higher levels of aggression and lower levels of empathy.
Males have higher levels of testosterone which can lead to increased risk-taking and aggressive behaviour,
helping to explain why males are more likely to commit crime than females. E.g. men account for about 80% of
total crimes committed in the UK.
The brains of young people are often not fully developed until they are aged 25, and this can affect a young
person’s decision-making and impulsivity which are controlled by the frontal lobes of the brain.
Consequences of crime on victims Ans
Victims of crime can experience financial consequences. They can lose money if they are defrauded, may need
to replace stolen property, or spend money on security systems to reduce their chances of being a victim again.
They may lose wages if they need to take time off work due to injuries, mental health issues or to attend court.
Victims of crime can experience emotional consequences. These can include anger, fear or feeling that they
will not be believed. In many cases this can lead to mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and
PTSD. Some victims may turn to alcohol or drugs in an attempt to escape these emotional consequences.
Consequences on perpetrators Ans
Perpetrators of crime can experience financial consequences. They may lose their job as a result of their
offending, and struggle to find a well-paid job if they have a criminal record. Many perpetrators are removed
from school, college or university. E.g. a Swansea University student was suspended for racially abusing
footballer online. Many perpetrators who are sent to prison become trapped in the cycle of crime as when they
are released they often find they are poorer than before.
Perpetrators of crime can experience emotional consequences. These can include feeling guilty or embarrassed
about what they have done. They may also feel isolated if their friends and families disown them.
Consequences on families Ans
Families of victims can experience emotional consequences. They feel worried or anxious for their relative’s
wellbeing or feel guilty that they were unable to protect them. The families of murder or manslaughter victims
may feel anger and grief for their loss.
Families of perpetrators can experience emotional consequences. They may be embarrassed and feel guilty
that their family member has committed the crime. A child whose parent is given a prison sentence may lose
the emotional support of their parent, and it can be a very negative role model for them. In some cases they
will be placed into social care which can have significant emotional consequences for them.
Consequences on communities Ans
Communities with high crime rates can gain a negative reputation. This may lead to people being labelled and
stereotyped, which can cause low self-esteem, damage community spirit, and lead to further social problems.
E.g. there are many parts of the east end of Glasgow that are unfairly labelled in this way.
The economy in areas with high crime rates is negatively affected. This is because as house prices tend to be
lower as it is viewed as a less desirable place to live, and companies may leave or be deterred from investing in
an area which can result in higher unemployment. Furthermore tourism in an area can be negatively affected
due to crime which can further affect the local economy. E.g. Glasgow has lots to offer for tourists but has a
reputation for having high crime rates which could deter some people from visiting.
Consequences of crime on society Ans
Crime leads to financial costs for businesses. This includes higher insurance premiums and security costs such
as, alarm systems, CCTV, security guards and anti-theft tags. These additional costs can lead to higher prices
for customers and/or lower profits therefore less tax revenue for governments.
Crime leads to financial costs for the Scottish Govt. The govt. has to spend billions repairing the damage to
public property, policing, courts and the prison service, Governments have limited tax revenues therefore if
crime is higher and there may be less money to spend on other things such as education and the NHS.
Reasons why some are effected by crime more than others Ans
Young adults are more likely to be the victims of crime. This may be because they are more likely to be out late
at night where violent crimes often occur, and more likely to be in a gang. 26% of those aged 16-24 being a
victim of crime in the last year compared to 9% aged 60+.
People living in deprived areas are more likely to be the victims of crime compared to people living in affluent
areas. Most perpetrators live in deprived areas for a number of social and economic factors such as lack of
money and opportunities, and they tend to commit crime in their local areas. 21% of adults living in the most
deprived areas of Scotland were victims of crime in the last year compared to 17% in the rest of Scotland.
Men have slightly higher chance of being the victim of crime compared to women; however it depends on the
type of crime. Men are much more likely to be the victim of common assault and violent assault such as knife
crime, which can be partly explained by men being more likely to be gang members. However women are the
victims in about 80% of all sexual assault complaints and 90% of all domestic abuse complaints, which can be
partly explained by misogynistic attitudes and coercive behaviour of some men towards women.
The role of the police Ans
The police try to deter crime from taking place by being visible to the public in areas where law-braking may
occur. E.g. at concerts, football matches or major events like COP-26. The police can also prevent crime by using
their powers to stop and search someone if they believe they may have weapons or drugs in their possession
and they educate the public about the consequences of crimes such as drink driving or carry knives.
The police try to reduce violent crime through the Violence Reduction Unit. The VRU re-defined violence as a
public health issue and offers support to gang members from a range of public services to help them access
education, training and employment. Violent crime has significantly reduced in Scotland since the VR was
introduced with murders falling to their lowest ever level - 53 murders in 2021-22.
The police try to improve links with local areas through community policing. This includes having police officers
in schools. This allows the police to develop knowledge of the local area and its potential troublemakers. It also
helps to build trust and positive relationships between the police and the local community.
Aims of prison custodial sentences Ans
Prison punishes offenders by taking away some of their basic liberties. They are removed them from the public,
preventing them from seeing their family on a daily basis, and they are restricted where and when they can go
places within the prison. Prisoners also cannot vote in UK general elections. Many people see prison the
removal of basic liberties as serving justice to victims and families. The possibility of having some basic liberties
removed is also argued to deter crime as it may make some people think twice before breaking the law:
Prison provides opportunities to rehabilitate offenders so that when they are released they will be less likely to
re-offend. Many prisoners receive Throughcare’, which assesses their needs, and helps them access the
services like health and housing when they leave prison. 78% of prisoners who received Throughcare have not
returned to custody. Some prisoners have access to training and education programmes to help them gain skills
and find work when they are released.
Prison protects the public as they remove dangerous people from society. This means that people in society
feel reassured that they will be protected from the perpetrator. E.g. people who commit murders are given life
sentences and are often sent to high security prisons such as HMP Shotts in Lanarkshire.
Alternatives to prison (non custodial sentences) Ans
Community Payback Orders punish offenders by making them carry out hours of unpaid manual work in the
community such as clearing pathways of ice, repainting community facilities or cleaning parks and beaches.
This means offenders are repay communities for the damage caused by their crimes. It also allows offenders
the chance to stay at home with their family and often keep their job, which can make it easier to rehabilitate
someone, and is often beneficial for the children, especially of female offenders. Reoffending rates for COs in
Scotland is around 30%, roughly half of the rate for short-term prison. Furthermore it costs about £40,000/year
on average to keep a criminal in prison compared to around £3,000 for a CPO.
Restriction of Liberty Orders (tagging) punish offenders by making them wear an electronic device around their
ankle which is monitored by police. The offender must stay in a specific place, often their home, for up to 12
hours per day, and stay away from a specified place e.g. someone who has committed a crime whilst under the
influence of alcohol cannot go into the pubs. RLOs are increasingly being used as many of Scotland’s prisons
are over the capacity they were built to hold which is making rehabilitation more difficult. E.g. HMP Barlinnie
is currently at 140% of its capacity.
