AC1.2 - Social construction of crime

What is social construction of criminality?

Something is made or defined by society rather than being naturally occurring

Identify ways in which laws can differ

-Place

-Culture

-Time

-Circumstances

Give three examples of how laws change from culture to culture

-Polygamy

-Adultery

-Cannabis

Give examples of how laws change has changed over time

-Homosexuality

-Gun control laws

-Physical punishment

In what year did the government ban handguns in the UK?

1997

Why was the gun control law changed?

-public outcry

-Snowdrop Campaign got 750,000 signatures

-Gun control network set up by parents and lawyers of victims

When was homosexuality made illegal?

1885

When was homosexuality made legal?

1967

Why was the law about homosexuality changed?

-Wolfenden report in 1957 suggested homosexuality should be legalised for over 21

-‘Homosexual Law Reform Society’ campaign

When was physical punishment abolished?

1965

Why was physical punishment law changed?

-Breach to human rights

-Nothing can be done to correct miscarriage of justice

What is meant by an act being Criminalised?

If society begins to see it as harmful or unacceptable the act becomes a crime

What is meant by the term Decriminalised?

If society becomes more tolerant or changes its views of a crime and so its made legal

What are some circumstances in which laws are applied differently?

-Age

-Moral panic

-Typification

-Mental state

What did Axel Rudakubana do?

He murdered 3 girls and was sentenced to minimum 52 years prison time

How many years were Robert Thompson and Jon Venables sentenced to in prison?

8 years

What happened to those convicted after the 2011 riots?

They received harsher punishments.

Eg Magistrate sentences were 3 times longer

What is typification?

Police treat different demographics of people differently

Eg “roughnecks” are treated more harshly then “saints”

Why was Brian Thomas sentenced changed due to his mental state?

He strangled his wife in his sleep but wasn’t found guilty due to night terrors he suffered

Why does what is seen as a crime vary according to place?

-Different places have different social norms

-Different places have different levels of tolerance

Where is being naked illegal and legal?

Legal on nudist beach

Illegal in public

Where is drinking alcohol illegal and legal?

Legal in Uk

Illegal in Saudi Arabia

Where is carrying a gun legal and illegal?

Legal in USA

Illegal in UK