4.3 Criminology

What is the aim of the police?

Maintain public order, prevent crime, catch criminals

What is the reach of the police?

National, with 39 regional teams (plus Met. Police and British Transport Police)

How are the police funded?

Central government budget

What are Peelian Principles?

Impartiality, policing by consent (require public’s approval)

Strengths of the police

National and local reach

Available 24/7

Specialist teams

Large funding recently improves training and efficiency

Weaknesses of the police

Bad funding until recently

Lack of diversity

Low public confidence affects policing by consent

Crime is still rising

What is the aim of the CPS?

Bringing offenders to justice

What is the reach of the CPS?

National reach with 14 regional teams

How is the CPS funded?

Central government budget, costs awarded in court, recovered assets

What are the strengths of the CPS?

Specialist teams

National and local reach

Tests provide a uniformed approach

84.1% of cases are prosecuted

Independent from police which increases accountability and transparency

What are the weaknesses of the CPS?

Very slow processes

Funding and staff cuts

Only prosecute safe cases - questions on efficiency

Issues in complaints handling (take up to 16 weeks)

What are the aims of the judiciary?

Uphold the law to ensure justice

What is the reach of the Judiciary?

National, 92 Crown and 320 Magistrates

How is the Judiciary funded?

MoJ (government budget)

Fines, fees, recoveries and levy incomes

What are the values of the Judiciary?

Independence, integrity and impartiality

What are the requirements for the Judiciary?

Legal experience/qualification, lengthy interview and selection process

Strengths of the Judiciary

Authoritative figures

Public servants

Principled and loyal

Highly qualified and trained

System of precedent ensures fairness and consistency

Weaknesses of the Judiciary

Old and case hardened

Inconsistent sentencing

Biased backgrounds

Lack of diversity (10% BAME, 37% female)

Too protected by security of tenure

What are the aims of the prison service?

Prevent future victims by rehabilitating offenders

What is the reach of the prison service?

National and local reach, A B C D prison categories

How is the prison service funded?

MoJ (government budget)

Strengths of the Prison Service

Protect the public

Achieve social control

Rehabilitate offenders

Fulfill the aims of punishment

Weaknesses of the prison service

Overcrowding

Lack of staff

Drugs epidemic

Selective incapacitating (disproportionate locking up of BAME communities)

What are the aims of the probation service (NPS)?

To protect the public and supervise the release of offenders

What is the reach of the probation service?

National and local reach (12 agencies)

How is the probation service funded?

Government budget

15% increase in 2022

£4,500 = average cost of a probationer

Strengths of the probation service

Keeps the public safe

Typically a good supervision of offenders

Half the rate of recividism compared to the prison service

Weaknesses of the probation service

Privatisation failed

Issues with safety (high risk offenders)

Budget and staff cuts

High workload (168%)

What is a charity? Give an example

Organisations that provide help and raise money for those in need

Prison Reform Trust

What is a pressure group? Give an example

A group that tries to influence public policy in the interest of a particular cause

Howard League for penal reform

How are charities and pressure groups funded?

Public donations as they are independent from government

What are the aims of the Prison Reform Trust?

Improve conditions and treatments of prisoners

What are the aims of Women in Prison?

Improve lives of incarcerated women

What are the aims of NACRO?

Help previous offenders reintegrate into society

What is the Books for Prisoners by Howard League?

Huge success as the ban was lifted. They wrote letters to MPs and involved celebrities

Strengths of charities and pressure groups

Media awareness

Funding directly from public (independent)

Fill gaps in state provision

Strong commitment to a particular issue

Weaknesses of charities and pressure groups

Don’t always receive public support

Overfocused on one particular issue

Limited by finances and geographical location

Campaigns aren’t always effective

Examples of Environmental Design

Broken Windows Theory

Natural surveillance (open plan)

Defendable Space and Territoriality

Examples of Behavioural Tactics

Zero Tolerance Policing

Token Economies

Examples of Institutional Tactics

Phased Discipline

Sanctions (informal rewards/punishments)

Examples of community co-operation

Reintegrative Shaming

Community Crime Prevention

Reduction of deprivation, inequality and exclusion

What is panopticon?

Central surveillance

Unsure whether being watched causes self surveillance

What are gaps in state provision due to?

Lack of existing laws

Lack of resources

Increased use of technology

Unreported crime

Characteristics of HMP Pentonville

Staff in central halls, cells radiate outwards

Characteristics of HMP Kirkham

Open prison encouraging reintegration to society

Characteristics of USP Florence

High security, razor wire fencing, guard dogs, cameras, motion detectors, watch towers etc

What are civil liberties? Case Study

Basic rights and freedoms granted to citizens by the law

Shannon Matthews

Costs and benefits of civil liberties

Costs - restrict CJS agencies ability to achieve social control

Benefits - protect individuals

What are moral imperatives? Case study

Strongly felt principles that compel someone to act (‘Compassionate motive')

Kay Gilderdale or Stansted 15

Statistics on recidivism

46% of adults

69% of children

Within one year of release

What theories link to recividism?

Social Learning Theory - prison is a university of crime

Labelling Theory - offenders have to live up to their label (SFP)

How is recividism a limitation to social control?

Increases prison population

Increases short sentences

Decreases effective rehab

How do financial cuts affect the police and social control?

Decrease law enforcement

How do financial cuts affect the CPS and social control?

Undermine their deterrence effect

How do financial cuts affect the prison service and social control?

Increase recividism rates and fail to effectively rehabilitate offenders

How do financial cuts affect the probation service and social control?

Decrease chances of successful rehabilitation and reintegration