3.2 Describe the contributions of agencies to achieving social control

Environment design 

• (CPTED)Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design suggests that crime is influenced by the environment. Therefore, by changing the surroundings crime can be reduced.  

• Gated Lanes: gates placed at entrances of alleys to deter burglars from using them to access buildings. 

• CCTV surveillance usually used by police to help criminal investigations. This can be used admissible evidence to prosecute a suspect ensuring imprisonment and can act as a deterrent by preventing ppl from committing crime; having the fear they may get caught. 

environmental design limitations

can prevent certain crimes e.g burglary but increase others e.g cyber crime- displacement   high cost of cctv may limit its widespread effectiveness  

Prision Design  

Panopticon shape is a traditional prison design which allows the observer to view all prisons without the prisoners being aware when they are being watched. The design means prisoners can be seen but cannot communicate with others or prison staff .

Supermax jail design separate prisoners based on the severity of their crime and their risk level to society. 

Behavioural tactics 

(CBO) Criminal behaviour orders are issued by the court after a person has been convicted for a crime. The order means a person who has been convicted is banned from certain areas or places and would have help to correct their behaviour e.g going to a drug treatment programme. These orders are aimed towards serious and consistent offenders. A breach of orders can lead up to a prison sentence. 

Criticism: Statistics show that it’s ineffective as there is a high level of breaches 

Probation orders can be issued by court which aims to change an offenders behaviour with the possibility for a prison sentence if they continue to reoffend. The probation order would endure that an offender manager monitors the offender. The offender may also have to do unpaid work in the community and attend a prevention programme.   

Token economy scheme can be used to change an offenders behaviour. It consists of rewarding positive behaviour and punishing negative behaviour. In the programme the institutional management make a list of desirable behaviours they want to promote and when the offender conforms there rewarded. For example the incentives and earned privileges scheme in prisons  

Criticism: However, this doesn’t mean criminals will adjust to the behaviours expected. 

Institutional Tactics 

Institutions like prisons have their own ways of controlling undesirable behaviour through rules and then punishments if the rules are broken.  e. extra time in cell.

Criticism:

Gaps in state provision  

• Unreported crime: if crimes aren't reported social control agencies cannot prevent it from occurring again which leads to the dark figure of crime where some criminal activities remain unrecorded. 

• Police Budget cuts: police financial cuts might reduce their effectiveness which leads to less convictions and inadequate police handling cases.