WJEC Criminology
Agencies - correct answer-Organisations or institutions that impose rules on us to make us
behave in particular ways.
May include parents, peer groups, teachers, who give us positive sanctions to those
conforming and negative ones to those who aren't.
Echos Skinner's operant learning theory, as punishments deter undesirable behaviour and
rewards encourage acceptable behaviour.
Coercion - correct answer-Use of threat or force in order to make someone do, or stop
doing, something.
May involve physical or psychological violence or the threat to do it.
Community sentences meeting the aim of public protection - correct answer-because
community sentences do not lock offenders up, they do not achieve the aim of
incapacitation. However, breaches of community sentences can lead to an offender being
sent to prison.
Community sentences meeting the aim of rehabilitation - correct answer-Offenders often
have complex needs, such as homelessness or drug misuse, which may account for their
offending. Community sentences address these needs as offenders can undergo treatments
or undertake an activity to improve job prospects. Ministry of justice found 34% reoffended
within 12 months of starting their community sentence, compared to 64% for prisons -
despite this, community sentences have declined from 14% in 2007 to 8% in 2017.
Community sentences meeting the aim of reparation - correct answer-can include doing
unpaid work to repair the damage they have caused to a victim's property. Equally, it may
involve paying back to the greater community through the unpaid work - such as the removal
of graffiti, clearing wasteland or decorating a public building such as a community centre.
Community Sentences meeting the aim of retribution - correct answer-Curfews and
exclusion orders restrict people's movements to certain times and places, making the
offender suffer limits on their freedoms. Likewise, doing unpaid work and having to wear
high-vis vests with 'Community Payback' written on them is a form of naming and shaming.
Criminal justice system - correct answer-Police have the power to stop and search, arrest,
detain and question.
CPS can charge a suspect and prosecute them in court.
Judges and magistrates have powers to bail the accused or remand them in custody, and
sentence the guilty.
Prison service can detain prisoners against their will for the duration of their sentence and
punish their misbehaviour.
Deterrence - correct answer-Put someone off committing crime due to the fear of being
caught and punished.
, Individual aims to convince people that it is not worth it, may be through the threat of prison
for example.
General aims to put the general public off breaking the law, may be through public execution,
flogging, etc.
Deterrence - criticisms - correct answer-Prison isn't effective as a deterrence, as half
offenders reoffend within a year of release.
How do we decide how severe a punishments need to be to deter?
Assumes all offenders act rationally, but some may be driven by emotion or without any
thought of punishment.
Deterrence - theory - correct answer-Right realism - rational choice theory. Sees offenders
as rational actors who weigh up the costs and benefits, so harsh punishments will deter.
Social learning theory - if would-be offenders see a model being punished for offending, they
will be less likely to imitate such behaviours themselves.
Discharges meeting their aim of deterrence - correct answer-Acts as a warning to the
individual's future conduct. Low rates of reoffending after a discharge, so simply the
experience of going to court is enough for offenders to mend their ways, so discharges do
meet the aim of deterrence.
External social control - correct answer-Agencies that aim to ensure we conform to its
expectations and keep to its rules.
Fear of punishment - correct answer-Form of coercion that makes people conform to laws. If
you commit a crime, you will be arrested, charged, convicted and even jailed against your
will.
Deterrence is the fear of being caught, makes people continue to obey the law. Fear of
punishment acts as a deterrent for committing crime.
Fines meeting their aim of deterrence - correct answer-May make an offender reluctant for
fear of further punishment. It is a way of disposing of first offenders, may be used as a signal
that worse is yet to come, if they continue to offend in the future.
Fines meeting their aim of retribution - correct answer-Hitting somebody in the pocket can be
a good way to make them suffer for the harm they had done.
Imprisonment meeting the aim of deterrence - correct answer-Risk of going to prison deters
would-be offenders from committing crimes and actual offenders from committing ones in the
future. However, high recidivism rates suggest prison may not work. Deterrence only works if
would-be offenders are capable of acting rationally, but much crime takes place under the
influence of alcohol/drugs.
Imprisonment meeting the aim of public protection - correct answer-Taking offenders out of
circulation protects the public. Prison works because it incapacitate individuals. Whole life
sentences can be given as long as they are deemed a danger to the public. Most prisoners
are released on licence and under supervision. However, prison may be a 'school of crime'
where they are able to acquire the necessary skills in order to offend on their release.
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