Mods PEEs - Crime and Law

Crime trends

P - One crime trend in Scotland is that overall crime has decreased since 2012.

E - This is because we have gotten better at stopping and preventing crime as security measures have increased.

E - For example overall crime in Scotland has decreased by 14% since 2012.

P - Another crime trend in Scotland is that sexual crimes are increasing.

E - This may be because historical sexual crimes are being reported later. As well as this a new sexual crime of Disclosing Indecent Images was created in 2018.

E - For example sexual crimes have risen by 70% since 2013 in Scotland.

Victims of crime

P - One group more likely to a victim of crime is younger people.

E - Younger people are likely to be often surrounded by people their own age who are also most likely to commit a crime.

E - For example according to the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey in 2021-2022 16-24 year olds experienced a 15.4% risk of crime whereas those over 60 years old experienced only about 5%.

P - Another group more likely to be a victim of crime is those living in deprived areas.

E - Crime rates tend to be higher in deprived areas like Dundee and parts of Glasgow compared to more affluent areas like Dunblane and East Renfrewshire where crime rates are lower.

E - For example, in Scotland’s 15% most deprived communities those living there experienced a 4% higher risk of crime in 2021-2022.

Biological causes

P - One biological cause of crime is the ‘warrior gene’ or the nature argument - criminals are born bad.

E - If somebody has a mutation in the MAOA gene, known as the warrior gene, they become predisposed to violence as they are less able to control their emotions.

E - Criminals are thought to lack empathy and get angry more easily due to the warrior gene.

P - Younger people are more likely to commit crimes and this may be down to their biology.

E - Teenagers’ prefrontal cortex are smaller and this makes them less able to control their emotions and more open to peer pressure and risk, which makes them more vulnerable to committing crimes.

E - The brain does not fully develop until the age of 26.

Economic causes

P - Theorist Robert Merton argued that those with the least opportunities are the most likely to commit crimes.

E - Due to inequalities and limited resources not everyone can achieve wealth.

E - If somebody is unable to achieve the goal of wealth, they may turn to illegitimate means of earning money such as drug dealing or fraud. This is called innovation.

P - Crime rates are the highest in deprived areas which suggests that poverty leads to crime.

E - People with low income or those living in deprived areas such as Dundee may turn to crime to provide for themselves and their family. If crime rates are high in an area crime may be normalised for people.

E - 1 in 9 young men in Scotland’s most deprived communities will spend time in prison before they turn 23.

Social causes

P - One social cause of crime is lack of education.
E - Staying in school can teach you the consequences of crime and makes crime less appealing. If somebody leaves school with limited qualifications they may struggle to find a job and may turn to crime for financial support.

E - 59% of prisoners in England and Wales regularly truanted from school compared to 5% of the general population.

P - Another social cause of crime is upbringing and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).

E - If someone has experienced abuse or violence in childhood this behaviour may be normalised to them and they may copy it in adulthood.

E - 97% of UK prisoners have experienced at least one ACE.

Impact on victims

P - One impact of crime on victims is physical injuries.

E - Some injuries caused by violent crime include broken bones, bruises, loss of limbs and paralysation.

E - In 2017 in Scotland the most common violent-crime-related injury was minor bruising and black eyes at 60%.

P - Crime can impact victims financially.

E - If someone has been a victim of a crime they may want to move house to an area where they feel safer. If someone has been a victim of theft they may want to replace stolen items or they may lose money in cyber crimes. In addition victims of crime may want to pay money for extra security such as CCTV cameras.

E - For example in 2017 in Scotland the most common value of items stolen in property theft was £100 or under.

Impact on perpetrators

P - Committing a crime and being in prison can have a negative effect on perpetrators’ mental health.

E - Prisons are often very violent places and prisoners spend long durations of time locked in a cell which can be very isolating.

E - In 2017-2018 Scottish prisons saw a 43% rise in prison self-harm incidents.

P - Being in prison can have a positive impact on perpetrators.

E - In prison perpetrators can access rehabilitation such as skills training, anger management courses and help with addiction. This makes them more employable upon release which in turn reduces the chance of reoffending.

E - For example in Greenock Prison prisoners can learn how to paint and wallpaper.

Impact on perpetrators’ families

P - Having a family member in prison can have an emotional impact.

E - Children with parents in prison may miss their parent or may be bullied or avoided at school.
E - For example children with a parent in prison are twice as likely to suffer from a mental health issue.

P - Having a family member in prison can have a financial impact.

E - If someone is in prison then their family loses an income which may mean they cannot afford mortgage or resources. In many cases prisoners’ families have to move house or may even end up homeless.

E - In addition the person in prison may request money is sent to them by their family or the family may spend money to travel to the prison to visit.

Impact on society

P - One impact of crime on society is that taxes go up.

E - Crime costs the taxpayer in many ways - the justice system, prisons, the police force, crime-related healthcare and social work all cost money from taxes which mean if crime rates are higher then taxes must also increase.

E - For example it costs an average of £36000 to keep someone in prison for a year in Scotland.

P - Another impact of crime on society is that fear increases.

E - If crime rates are high in an area people are likely to be more scared of becoming a victim. People in deprived areas and women are the groups most likely to be fearful of becomin a victim of crime.

E - For example in the 15% most deprived areas in Scotland people are 16% more likely to feel unsafe walking alone at night.