Righ Realism - Penal Populism and Prison

What is meant by penology?

The study of punishment and prison systems

What is meant by populism?

Political approach that claims to represent what “ordinary” people want

What is penal populism?

“Tough on crime approach”

Government makes punishment harsher because that’s what the public want

Why might penal populism create a wider social problem?

Harsh prison sentences can lead to overcrowding and more crime with prison

What does penal populism believe?

They need to be tough on crime with punishment

What are the positives of putting more offenders in prison?

Less crime occurs, acts as a deterrent

Protects society, offenders are removed

Supports police in maintaining social order

What are the negatives of putting more offenders in prison?

Prisons can be overcrowded

Does not stop reoffending

Deterrence doesn’t work for all crimes

What is retribution?

Fair punishment for what they have done

Define deterrence

Afraid of consequences so they don’t commit crimes

Define public prevention

Keeping criminals off the street

Define rehabilitation

Changing behaviour to stop reoffending

Is penal populism effective?

Only works if combined with rehabilitation

Prison is NOT an effective crime control policy

No a deterrent as prison population increases

Reoffending rates are high

Prison IS an effective crime control policy

It is for some, only if paired with education and treatment

What percentage of people were in employment after 1 year of being released?

28%