RE - Religion, Crime and Punishment

What do different aspects of the justice system do?

Courts - Sort crimes and disputes (civil courts for non criminal disputes, magistrates’ courts for less serious crimes and crown courts for more serious crimes)

Police - Arrest and determine what step is taken next

Government - Makes, changes, gets rid of laws

Prison - Criminals sent to serve time

What is a hate crime?

A crime motivated by certain characteristics of a person

What are some causes of crime?

Social exclusion, poverty, drug use, gang culture, lack of faith, abuse, boredom, biological factors, lack of moral understanding

What are some examples of criminal case studies?

Nathaniel Hemy - 15 year old who committed armed robbery, sentenced to young offenders

Gary Dobson and David Norris - Serving roughly 15 years each for racist murder, sentenced under time of attack and as juveniles, were both 18 upon murder

A gay couple in Aceh (Indonesia) - Sentenced to 85 lashes after vigilantes caught them having sex together

What are different aims of punishment?

Reparation - Criminal pays back what they’ve done (money)

Deterrence - Prevents crime

Retribution - Paying for what they’ve done wrong

Vindication - Upholding the law

Protection - Protecting society and the criminal themselves

Reformation - Making the criminal a better person

What are some different types of punishment?

Prison, ankle bracelet, execution, community service, fines, speed awareness course

What do Christians believe about punishment?

Historically churches have used public punishments and equal ones like executing murderers but this is now considered barbaric and most Christians believe forgiveness is the best way, but justice should still be done

What are some arguments in favour of giving criminals second chances?

The Bible states reform and second chances are encouraged, the idea that young criminals should not have crimes held out against them as adults, and Islam teaches forgiveness

What are some arguments against the statement?

The worst criminals should be removed from society, a large amount of criminals reoffend, and Christianity and Islam still encourage harsh treatment

How do Christians and Muslims view prison?

Christians - Important but should be for reform

Muslims - Corporal punishment more common, split on which is better. Sharia only uses it for awaiting trial

How do Christians and Muslims view corporal punishment?

Christians - Discipline necessary, corporal punishment wrong

Muslims - Sometimes done under Sharia, quite rare

How do Christians and Muslims view community service?

Christians - Many believe it helps reform

Muslims - Not in Sharia but many Muslims support it

What are the five main methods of capital punishment?

Hanging, lethal injection, electric chair, gas chamber and firing squad

What are some arguments for the death penalty?

It is an effective method of protecting society, it causes retribution, it is a deterrent, it shows the value of human life, a majority of society wants executions, it is less expensive than prison

What are some arguments against it?

Innocent people can be executed, it is cruel, it doesn’t act as a deterrent, murderers don’t expect to get caught so don’t think of the punishment, no one should take human life, an executed person has no chance to change

What are some Christian views for and against the death penalty?

For: Bible prescribes it, Bible supports retribution “eye for eye”, leaders like Thomas Aquinas have supported it

Against: Jesus and St Paul said not to take revenge, Jesus taught forgiveness

What are some Islamic views for and against the death penalty?

For: The Qur’an says it can be done for just cause, Sharia prescribes it, Muhammad had murderers executed

Against: Blood money can be paid instead, only Allah has the right to take life away, many Muslims oppose the death penalty

What are some case studies about the death penalty?

Tookie Williams - Executed for murders, but many argued he had changed since he was a changed man who wrote against joining gangs

Derek Bentley - Said “let him have it” under influence of his friend Christopher Craig. He carried out a robbery and they shot an officer. Not revealed of the learning difficulties and influence at the time.

Ruth Ellis - Shot her lover. It was not revealed until after the trial that she was on anti depressants and that she was abused by her father and lover (her lover had punched her and caused a miscarriage)

How is forgiveness viewed in Christianity?

Christians to forgive others, 70 times 7, Jesus asked God to forgive his crucifiers, the golden rule, Jesus died for human sin

How is forgiveness viewed in Islam?

God will forgive a truly sorry person intending to follow Islam, the Hadith says God will reward you for forgiving, on Hajj Muslims ask for forgiveness, the family of a murder victim can take blood money rather than execution