Crime and Punishment

• If a law is unjust, people will feel that it is right to break the law.
• If some laws are unjust, people will think that all laws are unjust. They will think that the government is not doing their job.
• People will not obey the law and will campaign against it causing trouble in society
• People will think the legal system is not working and they may start a civil war.

• The Bible gives the death penalty as punishment for some offences.
• Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England haven't cancelled their statements that Capital Punishment can be used by the state.
• Christian Church used Capital Punishment for heresy.
• St Thomas Aquinas said that the protection of society is more important than the reform of the criminal.

• Jesus came to reform sinners, but you can't reform a dead person.
• Jesus said that an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth is wrong for Christians.
• Christianity teaches that all life is sacred (abortion and euthanasia are wrong, so is Captial Punishment).
• Most Christian Churches have made statements condemning Capital Punishment.

• Punishment by God in the Qur'an.
• Muhammed made statements agreeing with Capital Punishment for apostasy, adultery and murder.
• Muhammed sentenced people to death for murder.
• Shari'ah says that Capital Punishment is the punishment for apostasy, adultery and murder.

Capital Punishment?

• If people know they will die if they murder someone, it will put them off murdering.
• Murderers and terrorists threaten society. The best way to protect society is by taking away their lives.
• Human life is important. The value of life can only be shown by giving murderers the worst punishment (death).
• Retribution is a part of punishment. Only retribution for murder is the death penalty (an eye for an eye).

Theories of Punishment?

• Retribution - makes criminals pay and suffer. It also actually punishes the criminal.
• Reform - the only way to stop crime and most criminals had a bad upbringing and they don't know how to live without crime. It gives criminals an education and qualifications.
• Protection - capital punishment works because you can't kill if you're dead. Long prison sentences keep criminals out of the society.
• Deterrance - thieves have hands cut off so they won't steal, and murderers will be executed so they don't murder.

Punishment?

• No court can be 100% sure that the verdict is correct. Wrongly convicted people can be released from prison, but not if they have been executed.
• Murderers regard life imprisonment as worse than death.
• Murderers who know they will be killed if caught are more likely to kill more people to avoid being caught.
• Statistics of people killing in countries without the death penalty are lower than in countries with it.

• Retribution - criminals should be punished.
• Reform - changing criminals so they don't commit crimes again.
• Protection - prevent society from criminals.
• Deterrance - put people off committing crimes

• Qur'an says God is just so will reward and punish on the last day.
• Qur'an says all Muslims should treat people fairly.
• Part of their role as vice-gerents of God's creation to treat all people fairly.
• Unjust to charge interest (riba) as it takes money from the poor and gives it to the rich.

• Bible - God is just and will reward the righteous and punish those who sin.
• Bible - people should be treated fairly and God wants the world to be ruled justly.
• Jesus said the rich should share with the poor. Christians should treat people fairly and equally.
• World Council of Churches Assembly (Vancouver 1984) invited Christian communities to help the process of 'Justice, peace and the integrity of creation'

• recommended by the Qur'an, but not compulsory.
• Shari'ah says that the family of a murder victim can accept blood money from the murderer instead of death.
• Agree with the non-religious arguments against Capital Punishment (2)

• Illegal to sell cigarettes, cigars, tobacco etc. to under 18's.
• All tobacco packs must have big health warnings and picture warnings about the effect of smoking.
• Adverts and sponsorship for tobacco is banned.
• Illegal to smoke indoor public places, workplaces, football grounds and all parts of railway stations.

• Illegal to give an alcoholic drink to under 5's.
• Children under 16 can go into a pub but can't have alcoholic drinks.
• People aged 16 or 17 can drink beer, wine or cider with a meal, if bought and accompanied by an adult.
• Illegal for under 18s to buy alcohol anywhere.

It is an offence to:

• Possess a controlled substance with intent to supply or offer to supply a controlled drug.
• Possess a controlled substance unlawfully.
• Allow your premises to be used for drug taking.

controlled - class A, B or C drugs

• Smoking increases risk of more than 50 health conditions.
• Smoking causes various cancers, coronary heart disease; stroke, chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
• In men, smoking can cause impotence.
• In pregnant women who smoke, their babies will have a lower birth weight, will be weaker and may not develop normally.

• If you drink heavily, you have an increased risk of developing serious health conditions - liver problems, stomach disorders, heart disease and some cancers.
• Heavy drinking can lead to addiction.
• About 1 in 7 deaths are caused by effects of drinking alcohol.

Drugs?

• Physical health of users can be damaged because of the toxic effects of a drug.
• Can cause death by infections, liver disease or intentional self harm.
• Heavy users often have psychiatric illnesses.

Alcohol - 

• 50% of fire deaths are caused by the effects of alcohol
• 70% of murder victims and 40% of **** offenders had been drinking at the time of the incident.
• 50% of sex abuse crimes are done by someone who abuses alcohol.

Illegal Drugs - 

• High cost of heroin or cocaine habit forces users into a life of crime.
• All drug dealers are criminals, leads to violence between different gangs of suppliers.

AGAINST DRUGS 

• They are illegal and they abuse the body which is thought of as God's temple.

Alcohol and why?

MODERATION:

• The first miracle that Jesus performed was turning water into wine at a wedding feast.
• Jesus uses bread and wine at the Last Supper and told the disciples to continue the tradition.
• Most Churches use alcoholic wine in their Communion services.
• St Paul said that Christians could drink in moderation.

Alcohol and why?

REFUSE (Salvation Army, Methodists, Pentecostals):

• Using tobacco and alcohol is abusing God's temple (their bodies).
• Bible passages warn against drunkenness.
• Bible teaches that consumption of alcohol damages judgement, inflames passions and invites violence.
• Many Christians are involved in working with alcoholics and want to support them by refusing alcohol.

PROHIBITED (HARAM):

• Qur'an says that intoxicants are a way that Satan tries to keep people from God and from saying their prayers.
• Prophet Muhammed said that every intoxicant is forbidden to Muslims (khamr)
• Muslim lawyers say taking drugs or alcohol is a form of suicide (harming the body) and suicide is forbidden.
• Muhammed said that Muslims mustn't drink alcohol or have anything to do with the production and sale of alcohol.

HARAM - harms the body

MAKRUH (lawyers think this) - because it is not mentionned by the Qur'an or Muhammad.