Crime and Punishment

Crime and Punishment

Laws are made by Parliament in the UK and are upheld by the courts.

WHY DO WE NEED LAWS?

1)Orgnisation of society.

2)Without them everything will end up in chaos.

3)For business to work.

4)Protect the weak from the strong.

UNJUST LAWS:

AQUINAS: Unjust laws are not proper laws because:

a)People will feel the need to break unjust laws - society breaks down.

b)If some are unjust, people might think all laws are.

c)People may fight against it causing trouble in society - civil rights movement.

d)People will think the legal system is not working and may start a civil war e.g. Kosovo.

THEORIES OF PUNISHMENT:

RETRIBUTION: This is about making the criminal pay - it makes them suffer and it actually punishes them.

DETERRANCE: This is about putting people off committing crime in the first place. E.g. capital punishment - may deter potential murderers, cutting off hands - may deter potential thieves.

REFORM: This is…