alternatives to prison, including electronic tagging, probation, fines and community service and the debate about prison reform

•electronic tagging: •much cheaper than prison

                               •allows freedom

                               •technology can track actions etc. since it is monitored 

•probation: •suspended sentences mean if they get into trouble again, they will go to prison

                  •the criminal has to report to the probation officer on a regular basis 

                  •the officer gives advice and helps the offender 

                  •allows the offender to live a regular life, whilst reforming them

•fines: •used widely, reflecting the seriousness of the event 

           

•community service: •combines punishment with changing behaviour e.g cleaning etc.  

                                 •higher success rate, cheaper and less criminal contact 

•for prison reform

                  •Christians have a history for campaigning it e.g the Anglican Church calling an end

                  •organisations like the Howard League are working to improve living conditions

                  •concerned with overcrowded conditions, and think conditions are too harsh for most

                  •most prisoners are reoffending 

                  •it goes against human rights 

                  

•against prison reform

                  •prisons will become just like holiday camps

                  •will no longer be a deterrent to crime 

the appropriateness of different forms of punishment in achieving the aims of punishment

•young offenders 

          •minor offences don’t go to court

          •age of criminal responsibility is 10 years old

          •most punishments are fines or reparation orders

          •serious ones won’t go to prison, but to a secure training centre 

          •they focus on education and rehabilitation as well as social and educational needs etc. 

          •many question the effectiveness of custody as they are far away from their families

          •religious people like them as they are loving 

•causes of imprisonment 

          •protect society from dangerous criminals

          •isolate those who deserve punishment 

          •stop reoffenders

          •deterrent towards others 

          •offers a chance for reflection

•effects of imprisonment 

          •prisoners can educate others about criminal methods

          •breed resentment towards society

          •most reoffend on release 

          •prison records make it hard to get a job

          •offenders’ families suffer through no fault of their own

          •relationships break down

•implications of life imprisonment 

          •many get released before 

          •prospect of release gives hope - a long term sentence has negative psychological impact

          •victims’ family won’t be pleased as they want it as harsh as possible 

•issues of parole and early release 

          •cases may be reviewed

          •application success depends on behaviour / nature of the offence

          •family members may not be happy

          •doesn’t teach them their lesson properly 

          •may cause people to reoffend as they felt their imprisonment was unfair

          •it gives them a second chance to reform 

•for capital punishment 

          •costs thousands of taxpayers money to keep murderers alive 

          •it deters other people 

          •it completely protects society

          •retribution allows them to get their own back 

          •it shows love for the victims

          •a second chance is not deserved as the victim doesn't get one

          •families may never recover - and they are also innocent 

•against capital punishment 

          •may be innocent 

          •two wrongs don't make a right

          •alternatives e.g prison protect society just as much

          •life imprisonment is just as much of a deterrent 

          •reformed criminals could be a massive influence 

          •only God has the right to end one’s life

          •it doesn't show love for one’s neighbour or enemies 

          •Jesus promoted forgiveness

          •the offender has no chance to reform and become a useful citizen

the aims of punishment, defined as protection, retribution, deterrence, reformation, vindication and reparation

•protection: •keeping the public safe from criminals e.g prison

•retribution: •an aim of punishment to get ones own back e.g the death penalty

•deterrence: •an aim of punishment to put other people off committing crimes e.g hand chopping

•reformation: •an aim of punishment ti change someone’s behaviour for the better e.g therapy

•vindication: •an aim of punishment to show that the law must be respected and is right e.g punish

•reparation: •an aim of punishment where the convicted puts something back into society e.g community service

the different types of crimes, including against the person, property and the state and religious offences

•crime against the person

          •wrongdoing that directly harms a person e.g assault 

•crime against a property

          •damaging items that belong to someone else e.g burglary 

•crime against the state

          •an offence aimed at damaging the government or a country e.g terrorism 

•religious offence 

          •a crime attacking a religion which is religiously motivated e.g blasphemy

the debate about the causes of crime including social, environmental and psychological explanations

•social: •excluded from school, means no qualifications 

             •they break the law in order to fit in with a gang

             •they want to show off to their peers

             •no purpose in life, therefore need to acquire possessions

             •makes them feel as though they have achieved something

             •abusive / violent parents provide bad role models

             •criminal activity is exciting

             •isolation / rejection makes them feel the need to get back at society

             •drug / gambling may be financed through shoplifting 

•environmental: •unemployment causes a rise in crime, since they need money

                          •gang rivalry may cause the accumulation of weapons 

                          •home backgrounds have an influence

                          •uncared for environment encourages messy behaviour 

                          •bad childhood experiences may trigger extreme activities 

•psychological: •most have mental illnesses

                         •some say that nature is naturally selfish, and do anything for wealth and power, where adverts promote this approach 

                         •violence on television may cause some to emulate

concepts of right and wrong, conscience, duty and responsibility

•right and wrong

          •citizens have a duty and a responsibility to be law-abiding, or there would be chaos, as people would be selfish 

•conscience: •constantly seeing unlawful activity may blunt a person’s conscience 

                     •a conscience is God’s inner voice, informing a person of the right / wrongness of an action before it is carried out

                     •this is an alternative to God directly controlling us - we feel guilt

              

                     •non-believers argue that a person’s consciences an inner sense of morality

                     •without being taught, the voice of conscience may not bother a person if they commit a crime

                     •religious believers follow the rules and morals of their religion 

an understanding of the religious beliefs about law and order

          •all major religions recognise the importance of law and order

          •without law and order, there would be chaos and fear in the world

          •humans have an inbuilt sense of morality - conscience 

          •“rules given authority by God” - Romans

          •law to be obeyed unless it’s against God’s law

          

          •anything written in the Holy Book is regarded as a law e.g the Ten Commandments

          •Christians don't believe in karma but have something similar ‘A man reaps what he sows’

          •in the Old Testament, God is seen as the God of Justice - “an eye for an eye”

          •Jesus taught us forgiveness e.g The Lord’s Prayer

          •reform control - Jesus always gave a second chance

          •unconditional forgiveness - Jesus on the Cross

          •reparation and vindication is important - offenders need to know what they’ve done

          •protection of society is important

          •retribution can become revenge - eye for an eye replaced by Jesus with the love of enemy 

          •deterrent can be a weapon of fear and exploitation

          •many work with offenders and ex-offenders  

key quotes

• “whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed” - Genesis
• “forgive them - they do not know what they do” - Jesus
• “rules given authority by God” - Romans
• “every Saint has a past, every Sinner has a future” - Luke
• “an eye for an eye ends up making the whole world blind” - Gandhi 
• “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” - Exodus 
• “love you neighbour” - Jesus