Criminology - U2 - AC4.1 - Functionalist/Right Realist Policies Evaluation

Prison – Advantage: Incapacitates offenders

Prison prevents offenders from committing crimes against the public while they are incarcerated.

Prison – Disadvantage: Offenders can still harm others inside

While in prison, offenders may still commit crimes against staff or fellow inmates.

Prison – Advantage: Intended for rehabilitation

The UK prison system is designed to rehabilitate, offering programmes like education and therapy.

Prison – Disadvantage: Limited access to rehabilitation

Overcrowding and budget cuts mean many prisoners can't access education or treatment services.

Prison – Disadvantage: High reoffending rates

47% of released adults are reconvicted within a year, showing prisons are often ineffective long-term.

Prison – Advantage: Seen as a deterrent

Right Realists argue that the threat of prison deters potential offenders.

Prison – Disadvantage: Little evidence it deters crime

Studies suggest many offenders don’t consider the risk of prison before committing a crime.

Prison – Overall Effectiveness

Prisons can temporarily remove dangerous individuals from society, but high reoffending rates and poor access to rehabilitation limit their long-term effectiveness.

Zero Tolerance Policing – Advantage: Short-term crime drop in New York

Crime fell in 1990s New York under ZTP, suggesting it may help reduce crime in certain areas.

Zero Tolerance Policing – Disadvantage: Crime also fell elsewhere

Crime rates dropped in cities that didn’t use ZTP, so it's unclear if ZTP caused the fall.

Zero Tolerance Policing – Disadvantage: Increased juvenile crime

Males and Macallair found that curfews under ZTP actually increased youth offending.

Zero Tolerance Policing – Disadvantage: Discriminatory enforcement

ZTP often leads to disproportionate targeting of ethnic minorities, sparking tension.

Zero Tolerance Policing – Disadvantage: Ignores structural causes

Fails to address root causes like poverty or inequality, focusing only on symptoms.

Zero Tolerance Policing – Disadvantage: Focus on minor crimes

ZTP targets petty offences while more serious or white-collar crimes are overlooked.

Zero Tolerance Policing – Overall Effectiveness

ZTP can reduce visible crime in the short term, but its impact is debated, and it often ignores root causes while creating ethical and social issues.

Situational Crime Prevention – Advantage: Reduces crime opportunities

SCP focuses on hardening targets and increasing risks, making crime less attractive.

Situational Crime Prevention – Disadvantage: Crime displacement

Critics argue offenders may just find easier targets or different areas to commit crimes.

Situational Crime Prevention – Disadvantage: Increases risk to vulnerable

When some targets are hardened, offenders may shift focus to more vulnerable victims.

Situational Crime Prevention – Overall Effectiveness

SCP can effectively reduce opportunities for crime, but may simply shift crime elsewhere or place more risk on vulnerable groups.