WJEC Criminology Unit 4 AC 3.3

Recidivism

A repetition of or return to criminal behavior

Impact of the prisoners must be supervised in community rule for 12 months

Since its introduction in 2015, 7186 people serving less than 12 months were recalled to prison

SLT and Recidivism

They watch other offenders get rewarded for crime. Delinquent friends is the best predictor of deliquent behaviour

Statistics on Reoffending

- 61% of adults are reconvicted within one year of release

- Odds of reconviction 36% higher when short prison sentences rather than community service

- Economic and social cost of reoffending annually is £18.1 Billion

Civil Liberties

Constitutional freedoms guaranteed to all citizens

DNA database ECHR

Keeping innocent DNA records on a criminal register breaches article eight of the ECHR

Marxism link to Civil Liberties

Laws such as the Protection of Freedom Act 2012 are necessary to protect the working class from the ruling elite making arbitrary judgement about them

Prison Reform Trust 2018

Chronic levels of overcrowding and declining standards of prisons

Statistics on Access to resources and support

- Prison population risen by 70% in the last 30 years

- Annual cost of a prison place in England and Wales is £44,640

- Between 2010-11 and 2014-15, its resource budget was reduced by 20 percent

Impact of the pandemic

- People confined to cells for 23 hours a day or longer

- In high security prisons, 30 minutes a day to shower or to excercise

- Record levels of self-harm in prisons

Limitations of education and vocational training in prison

Literacy levels amongst prison populations remain significantly lower than the general population. Decline in the number of people participating in learning whilst in prison. Engagement in education can significantly reduce reoffending.

Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL)

ROTL allows eligble prisoners to work, attend education or maintain family ties

Limitations of ROTL

Restrictions on ROTL in 2013 which saw a drop in use of 37 percent over 2 years. In 99.85 percent of cases ROTL is completed successfully.

Discharge Grants

One of payments given to prisoners on release

Limitations of Discharge Grants

It hasn't increased in a long time, often insufficient to cover essentials like food. Without funds many may face immediate hardships like homelessness.

Housing and Accomodation

Housing advisors for prisoners or link to external services

Limitations of housing and accomodation

1 in 5 prisoners are homeless immediately after they get out of prison. Stable housing is key to successful reintegration.

Cuts in the CPS

Budget cut by 1/4. Led to a 1/3 reduction in CPS staffing.

Cuts in the Prison Service

Resources reduced by 20 percent. Led to overcrowding.

Deaths and drugs in prison

1 in 3 are suffering from serious drug addiction

1 in 4 say its easy to get drugs in prison

1 in 6 men and 1 in 7 women serving a sentence in prison for drug related offences

Cuts in the Probation Service

9/13 CRC's inspected were negatively rated for their work (2016-18)

Service was split into 2 in 2013

Appointments with probation officers are 10-15 minutes long and have been described as a tick box

Moral Imperative

Strongly held principle that compels a person to act even if breaking the law

R v Owen (1992)

Defendants son killed by careless driver and sentenced to 12 months. Defendant was angry and wounded the careless driver with a shotgun. Defendant aquitted as jury shared his feelings of outrage.

Colston Four

Activists put on trial for criminal damage after the statue of slave owner Edward Colston was torn down in 2020 as a part of BLM protests. Cleared of criminal charges.