Crime & Punishment

John 8: Woman caught in adultery:

• Christians should forgive those who have done wrong as everyone hs done wrong before 
• People who are sorry should be forgiven-reform

Luke 23: Penitent Thief:

• if you are sorry for the crimes you have committed, you will be forgiven and go to heaven
• Criminals who are not sorry will go to hell

Matthew 6: The Lords Prayer:

• Christians should forgive so that God will forgive them

Romans 13: Submission to Governing Authorities:

• Respect the punishments that the government gives as they have been chosen by God
• Disobeying authorities is disobeying God as he chose them

Crimes against the Person:

• Directed towards an individual or small group
• ****, murder, assault, mugging

Crimes against Property:

• Burglary, vehicle theft, shoplifting, arson

Crimes against the State:

• Terrorist activities- selling military secrets, false accounting, treason

Religious Offences:

• Not crimes which are punished by the law, but seen as crimes to religious believers
• When an individual breaks the rules of their religion
• Eg. If a muslim ate non- halal meat. 

Protection: 

• Protecting the public from being harmed
• Criminals may be locked away

Retribution:

• Getting revenge on the criminal for their actions
• Helps victim overcome their resentment

Deterrence: 

• Some criminals may be put off from doing a crime if they are scared of the punishment
• The death penalty may deter some criminals from committing murder or similar crimes

Reformation:

• Changing the behaviour of criminals so they become respectable memebers of society
• May attend therapy or do comminity work

Vindication:

• Making sure that people who break the law will be punished accordingly
• Shows that the law should be respected and upheld, even with minor crimes, eg. speeding

Reparation:

• Making the offender do something in order to make up for their crime
• Shoplofters may pay for the items they stole or vandals may clean up an area

Duty: A moral or legal obligation

Responsibility: A duty to care for or having control over something/ someone

Conscience: The inner feeling which tells you what you are doing is right or wrong

People should be brought up being taught what is right and wrong in order to have a strong conscience to stop committing crimes

Social reasons:

• Young people with criminal backgrounds may find it hard to find education or jobs, so turn to crime
• Addicts may fund their addictions through criminal methods- stealing, prostitution etc.
• Lawbreaking may give them a sense of excitement and adrenaline

Enviromental reasons:

• People who are unemployed may find it difficult to find money, so turn to crime
• Gang rivalry sparks more crimes

Psychological reasons:

• Human nature is selfish and greedy and some people will use extreme methods to obtain weath/ power
• Many who commit crimes suffer from mental health problems
• Violence on TV can influence people to copy it

Community Service:

• Unpaid work that an offender completes for the benefit of the local community rather than going to prison
• Cheaper than prison and the reform rates are higher
• For lighter offences- antisocial behavious, not paying fines etc.

Electronic Tagging:

• Tagging an offender with an electronic device which tracks their movements
• Authorities are alerted if an offender leaves a certain region or is out of their house after a certain time

Fines:

• Money paid as punishment for the crimes
• For less serious offences- speeding, parking etc.

ASBOs and ABCs:

• A contract which states what the offender can and cannot do
• Eg. curfew, cannot go past a certain point, must meet an offender every week etc.

Probation:

• An offender has to meet regularly with a probation officer to make sure they dont reoffend
• Allows criminal to carry on normal life and hopefully reform without going to prison

Prison:

• When a criminal is locked up for committing a crime
• Expensive and the reoffending rate is high
• Can cause inmates to commit suicide

Parole:

• When a prisoner is released without completing their sentence because they have behaved well and accepted their guilt
• Monitored after they leave to make sure they dont reoffend
• Can lie to get out early- commit more crimes

Life Imprisonment:

• Very few prisoners who actually spend their whole life in prison
• Usually 15 year before prisoner is eligible for parole
• Letting criminals out early may make public feel unsafe
• Some have been wrongly sentenced
• Could cause mental health issues (suicide) knowing they will never get out

Early Release:

• When a prisoner is let out without having completed their sentence
• Dont need to meet with an officer- completely free
• Dont have to be eligible for parole first
• Can let out dangerous criminals

Prison Reform:

• Many prisoners are reoffending when they get out- prison reform aims to stop this
• Some believe that prison conditions should be made easier:
  • Criminals may be more likely to reform if in nicer conditions
  • Overcrowding can lead to sharing of skills & information
• Some believe that prison conditions should be made harsher:
  • Harsher conditions may deter more people
  • Less luxuries means taxpayers have to pay less

• Lethal Injection: Inmate is sedated then injected with a heart stopping drug
• Electric Chair: Killing using electric shocks
• Gas Chamber: Poisonous gas is leaked into a chamber

For: 

• Retribution- Terrorists and murderers deserve to die- eye for eye
• Deterrance- Stops criminals from fear of dying
• Protection- The public should be protected- prison isnt enough as criminals can be let out
• Finance- Costs taxpayers millions to keep murderers alive in prison

Against:

• Mistakes- Innocent people have been killed
• Protection- The public can be protected by prison
• Deterrance- No evidence that capital punishment is more effective than prison
• Reformation- Reformed criminals can provide faith in the government
• Right- Only God has the right to end someone's life

• Anyone who has broken the law who is under 18 is classified as a young offender
• Less serious cases may result in fines or community service, but for harsher crimes, offenders may be sent to institutions

Young Offenders Institutions:

• Hold 15-21 year olds, but under 18s are held in a different building to over 18s
• Recieve education, learn skills and other activities
• Include programs which look at behaviour, but not much individual support

Secure Training Centres:

• Hold offenders up to 17
• Recieve education and training, similar to school timetable
• Recieve more individual support

Secure Children's Homes:

• Hold offenders between 10-14
• Follows a school timetable
• Recieve a lot of individual support