Causes of Crime Social Reasons – lack of education and

qualifications, broken homes, kids having nothing constructive to do which leads to boredom, drugs, gambling or alcohol addiction, and committing crime to support them.

Environmental Reasons – high unemployment-increase in crime.

Psychological Reasons – violence on TV, selfish and greedy attitudes

Christian views on crimeChristian views on crime One teaching is ‘A man reaps what he sows’

(Galatians 6:7). This is similar to the Buddhist idea of karma.

Most Christians teach that criminals need to be punished but also forgiven and given a second chance. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.”

They believe that it is important to work towards stopping the causes of crime.

Christians are encouraged to be law-abiding.

Buddhist views on crimeBuddhist views on crime Buddhist believe that if a person breaks the

law his or her karma will be affected and the actions will have consequences.

For Buddhists, this is not a cause of God judging or punishing people, but a person’s own karma will ensure that justice will eventually be done in either this life or the next.

Types of Crime

Civil and criminal law – Civil law – concerns disputes between private

individuals or groups. Cases are taken to small claims court or the High Court if its more serious.

Examples- disputes over wills, divorces, landlord and tenant arguments etc.

Criminal Law – when the state law has been broken. Police gather evidence and forward to the Crown prosecution Service. Less serious crimes are dealt with at a magistrates court. More serous go to the High Court, usually with a jury.

Examples – burglary, murder, breaking speed limit etc

Types of Crime Crime against the person – wrongdoing that

directly harms a person e.g. murder, assault. Crime against Property – damaging items

that belong to somebody else e.g. vandalism Crime against the state – an offence aimed at

damaging the government or a country e.g. treason

Religious offence – an offence against religion e.g. blasphemy (disrespecting God or anything held sacred by the religion), sin (going against God’s laws/rules e.g. do not covet (be jealous of others).

Responsibility

Justice

Conscience

An inner sense of what is right or wrong/ Voice of God

A duty/ commitment to do something

Fairness/ equality based on right and wrong. Includes punishment when laws are broken

A sense of how to behave/ what is right and wrong

Morality

Key term Match up

Right and Wrong- Right and Wrong- MoralityMorality

Some religious people say we learn what Some religious people say we learn what is right and wrong from God or from is right and wrong from God or from teachings in religious books like the Bible.teachings in religious books like the Bible.

Some believe that God speaks to people Some believe that God speaks to people through their conscience. It is the voice of through their conscience. It is the voice of God telling you what you should do.God telling you what you should do.

Other people believe we learn what is Other people believe we learn what is right from our family/ school/ laws.right from our family/ school/ laws.

The Aims of The Aims of PunishmentPunishment

What is the point of Punishment?

Protection: The aim of the protection is to keep society safe from people who are otherwise likely to cause harm. For example, prison, mental institution.

Retribution: The aim of retribution is ‘pay back’ for wrongdoing. The idea is to inflict a penalty that is deserved, which is fitting for the crime you've committed. For example, fine, taking driving license away after speeding.

Deterrence: The aim of the deterrence is to put people off committing the offence in the future, either the wrongdoer him/herself, and/or discourage others from following his/her example. For example, cutting a hand off a theif.

Reformation (rehabilitation): The aim of the reformation is to help the wrongdoer to change his/her ways, to be reformed. The idea is to provide skills, counselling, education so that they don’t feel the need to rely on committing crime. For example, anger management, drug and alcohol rehab, giving education or skills like carpentry.

Vindication: The aim of vindication is to punish offenders to show that the law must be respected. Laws need to be respected to allow a harmonious society e.g. car drivers must respect traffic lights otherwise there would be chaos on the roads.

Reparation (restorative justice): The aim of reparation is to help an offender to put something back into society. To make up for the crime they committed. For example, community service.

Christian views on the aims of punishment

Most Christians do not support the idea of retribution (pay back) but would support the other main punishments.

Christians believe that laws need to be upheld (the idea of vindication).

They also believe in crime prevention and the need to work towards removing the causes of crime, which may include poverty, unemployment and bad social conditions.

The most important aim punishment is to reform criminals and to help them become law-abiding citizens.

Most Christians believe that offenders should repent of their wrongdoing and receive both punishment and forgiveness, so that once the penalty is paid they have a second chance and can start afresh.

Helping someone who has repented and is determined to change is a priority, and this is often achieved through reparation.

Buddhist views on the aims of punishment

Buddhist believe that it is important to protect society from the actions of criminals but are not in favour of retribution.

Getting revenge goes against the teaching of loving kindness (metta) and compassion (karuna).

Using excessive cruelty to punish a criminal will injure both the offender’s mind (making them bitter and resentful) and also the mind of the person doing the punishing.

The best approach is to help the offender to have a change of heart and to modify/reform their behaviour.

This would be in keeping with the Five Precepts. Reparation (making up for offence) is also important

because criminal activity creates bad karma and so making amends helps not only society but the lawbreaker as well.

Forms of punishmentForms of punishment Community service – picking up litter, reading to senior citizens, Community service – picking up litter, reading to senior citizens,

helping in a charity shop. This can also include a curfew.helping in a charity shop. This can also include a curfew. Electronic tagging – a monitoring device. This could even include Electronic tagging – a monitoring device. This could even include

permitting a sex offender to leave home because the electronic permitting a sex offender to leave home because the electronic tag will alert the authorities if the offender goes within a hundred tag will alert the authorities if the offender goes within a hundred metres of a school or park.metres of a school or park.

Fines – The maximum fine form the magistrate's court is £5,000 Fines – The maximum fine form the magistrate's court is £5,000 but no limit the High Court can fine.but no limit the High Court can fine.

Probation – sometimes offenders are given suspended sentences, Probation – sometimes offenders are given suspended sentences, which means they can go to prison if they get in trouble again. which means they can go to prison if they get in trouble again. Probation officers give advice, help the offender obey the law, Probation officers give advice, help the offender obey the law, and reports to the court about the progress made.and reports to the court about the progress made.

Parole – being released early from prison, depending on a parole Parole – being released early from prison, depending on a parole board hearing.board hearing.

Life imprisonment – average life sentence is 15 years before the Life imprisonment – average life sentence is 15 years before the criminal becomes eligible for parole. criminal becomes eligible for parole.

Early release – some prisoners are released before they are Early release – some prisoners are released before they are eligible for parole, either because of a political decision (often eligible for parole, either because of a political decision (often low risk prisoners), good behaviour, they’ve repented, or been low risk prisoners), good behaviour, they’ve repented, or been reformed.reformed.

Prison reform – providing education, skills, counselling, Prison reform – providing education, skills, counselling, drug/alcohol rehab to allow the offender to change their life on drug/alcohol rehab to allow the offender to change their life on release.release.

Life imprisonment, parole Life imprisonment, parole and prison reformand prison reform

Community service – picking up litter, reading to Community service – picking up litter, reading to senior citizens, helping in a charity shop. This senior citizens, helping in a charity shop. This can also include a curfew.can also include a curfew.

Electronic tagging – a monitoring device. This Electronic tagging – a monitoring device. This could even include permitting a sex offender to could even include permitting a sex offender to leave home because the electronic tag will alert leave home because the electronic tag will alert the authorities if the offender goes within a the authorities if the offender goes within a hundred metres of a school or park.hundred metres of a school or park.

Fines – The maximum fine form the magistrate's Fines – The maximum fine form the magistrate's court is £5,000 but no limit the High Court can court is £5,000 but no limit the High Court can fine.fine.

Probation – sometimes offenders are given Probation – sometimes offenders are given suspended sentences, which means they can go suspended sentences, which means they can go to prison if they get in trouble again. Probation to prison if they get in trouble again. Probation officers give advice, help the offender obey the officers give advice, help the offender obey the law, and reports to the court about the progress law, and reports to the court about the progress made.made.

Age of ResponsibilityAge of Responsibility If children who commit crime are under the age of 10, If children who commit crime are under the age of 10,

the parents would be held responsible, as the age of the parents would be held responsible, as the age of criminals responsibility in England, Wales and Northern criminals responsibility in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 10.Ireland is 10.

Until 10, children are not deemed old enough to take Until 10, children are not deemed old enough to take total responsibility for their actions.total responsibility for their actions.

Some religions have ceremonies to mark the occasion Some religions have ceremonies to mark the occasion when a child becomes an adult.when a child becomes an adult.

An example – Jewish Bar Mitzvah. Jewish boys become An example – Jewish Bar Mitzvah. Jewish boys become responsible for their actions in the eyes of God from responsible for their actions in the eyes of God from the age of 13. Until 13, their parents are responsible. the age of 13. Until 13, their parents are responsible. Jews believe in the Book of Life which is symbolic for Jews believe in the Book of Life which is symbolic for God keeping account of everyone’s actions (think of God keeping account of everyone’s actions (think of Santa's good and bad list). The book will be looked at Santa's good and bad list). The book will be looked at on the Day of Judgment and if the child is under 13, the on the Day of Judgment and if the child is under 13, the parent’s are responsible for their sins, but if they are parent’s are responsible for their sins, but if they are 13, the child is responsible for their sins. They are 13, the child is responsible for their sins. They are therefore responsible for making up for their sins and therefore responsible for making up for their sins and asking for forgiveness. asking for forgiveness.

Young OffenderYoung Offender A young offender is under 18.A young offender is under 18. Minor crimes are dealt with by means of Minor crimes are dealt with by means of

reprimands, ASBO’s, child safety orders.reprimands, ASBO’s, child safety orders. More serious crimes are dealt with before the More serious crimes are dealt with before the

Youth Court by means reparation e.g. Youth Court by means reparation e.g. community service or fines, curfew.community service or fines, curfew.

Serious crimes are dealt with before the Crown Serious crimes are dealt with before the Crown Court and the young person is held in custody Court and the young person is held in custody such as in a secure training centre (focus on such as in a secure training centre (focus on education and rehabilitation), secure education and rehabilitation), secure children’s home (run by local authority - look children’s home (run by local authority - look at the physical, emotional and behavioural at the physical, emotional and behavioural needs) or young offender’s institution (run by needs) or young offender’s institution (run by prison service – take ages 15-21 in separate prison service – take ages 15-21 in separate juvenile wings. juvenile wings.

Arguments For and Against PrisonArguments For and Against Prison

ForFor To protect society form dangerous and To protect society form dangerous and

violent criminalsviolent criminals To isolate those who deserve such To isolate those who deserve such

punishment from their family and friends punishment from their family and friends (retribution)(retribution)

To stop people reoffending, because they To stop people reoffending, because they are locked awayare locked away

To act as a deterrent to others and ensure To act as a deterrent to others and ensure that the law is respected (vindication)that the law is respected (vindication)

To give offenders a chance to reflect on To give offenders a chance to reflect on their actions and decide to reform.their actions and decide to reform.

Arguments For and Against PrisonArguments For and Against Prison

AgainstAgainst Its expensive. It costs a taxpayer £30,000 a Its expensive. It costs a taxpayer £30,000 a

year to keep someone in prison. year to keep someone in prison. They are often called ‘schools for crime’ – They are often called ‘schools for crime’ –

prisoners can educate each other in prisoners can educate each other in criminal methodscriminal methods

Prisons often breed resentment, bitterness Prisons often breed resentment, bitterness and a determination to get back at society.and a determination to get back at society.

Most prisoners reoffend on release, so the Most prisoners reoffend on release, so the system does not bring about reform.system does not bring about reform.

A prison record makes it very difficult to A prison record makes it very difficult to get a job on release, which may lead back get a job on release, which may lead back into crime.into crime.

Religious views on prison

All major religions accept the need for prisons. Imprisonment is seen as necessary to deprive

offenders of their freedom and prevent them continuing a life of crime.

Religions support the idea of seeking to reform offenders, so that on release they become responsible and law-abiding members of society.

They support the idea of rehabilitation. Buddhist and Christian chaplains regularly visit

inmates and also help prisoners families. Christians may take inspiration from the

Parable of the Sheep and The Goats – see next slide.

Design your own cartoon drawing to explain the parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25)

Matthew 25 – the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory …he will separate the people [like the sheep and the goats].” Jesus said “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” This teaches that people should treat others with care and respect. In short, love thy neighbour.

Methods used to execute people:Methods used to execute people:

There are eight main methods of execution in current use There are eight main methods of execution in current use worldwide:  worldwide: 

Beheading: Beheading: Only two countries execute people by Only two countries execute people by chopping their head off: Saudi Arabia and Iraq. chopping their head off: Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

Electric chair:Electric chair: Nobody knows how quickly a person dies Nobody knows how quickly a person dies from the electric shock, or what they experience, in two from the electric shock, or what they experience, in two cases prisoners apparently lived for 4 to 10 minutes before cases prisoners apparently lived for 4 to 10 minutes before finally expiring: US only finally expiring: US only

Firing squad:Firing squad: The prisoner is bound and shot through the The prisoner is bound and shot through the heart by multiple marksmen. Death appears to be quick, heart by multiple marksmen. Death appears to be quick, assuming the killers don't miss: Utah, US, Belarus, China, assuming the killers don't miss: Utah, US, Belarus, China, Somolia, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and others. Somolia, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and others.

Guillotine:Guillotine: A famous French invention, not used in North A famous French invention, not used in North America. It severs the neck. Death comes very quickly. America. It severs the neck. Death comes very quickly.

Poison gas:Poison gas: Cyanide capsules are dropped into acid Cyanide capsules are dropped into acid producing Hydrogen Cyanide, a deadly gas. This takes producing Hydrogen Cyanide, a deadly gas. This takes many minutes of agony before a person dies. many minutes of agony before a person dies.

Methods used to execute people:Methods used to execute people: Hanging:Hanging: if properly conducted, this is a humane method. if properly conducted, this is a humane method.

The neck is broken and death comes quickly. However, if The neck is broken and death comes quickly. However, if the free-fall distance is inadequate, the prisoner ends up the free-fall distance is inadequate, the prisoner ends up slowly being strangled to death. If it is too great, the rope slowly being strangled to death. If it is too great, the rope will tear his/her head off: Egypt, Iran, Japan, Jordan, will tear his/her head off: Egypt, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Pakistan, Singapore and others. Pakistan, Singapore and others.

Lethal injection:Lethal injection: Lethal drugs are injected into the Lethal drugs are injected into the prisoner while he lays strapped down to a table. Typically, prisoner while he lays strapped down to a table. Typically, sodium pentothal is injected to make the prisoner sodium pentothal is injected to make the prisoner unconscious. Then pancuronium bromide is injected. It unconscious. Then pancuronium bromide is injected. It terminates breathing and paralyzes the individual  Finally, terminates breathing and paralyzes the individual  Finally, potassium chloride is injected to stop the heart. If properly potassium chloride is injected to stop the heart. If properly conducted, the prisoner fades quickly into conducted, the prisoner fades quickly into unconsciousness: China, Guatemala, Philippines, Thailand, unconsciousness: China, Guatemala, Philippines, Thailand, and the U.S. and the U.S.

Stoning:Stoning: The prisoner is often buried up to her or his neck The prisoner is often buried up to her or his neck and pelted with rocks until they eventually die. The rocks and pelted with rocks until they eventually die. The rocks are chosen so that they are large enough to cause are chosen so that they are large enough to cause significant injury to the victim, but are not so large that a significant injury to the victim, but are not so large that a single rock will kill the prisoner: North Afghanistan and single rock will kill the prisoner: North Afghanistan and Iran, as a penalty for murder, adultery, blasphemy, and Iran, as a penalty for murder, adultery, blasphemy, and other crimes. other crimes.

Arguments for and Against Capital Arguments for and Against Capital PunishmentPunishment

FOR Retribution – Terrorist and murders deserve

to die – ‘a life for a life’. Deterrence – The death penalty deters

people from doing horrendous crimes because they know if they are caught they will die.

Protection – The public needs to be protected. However, those given a life sentence are often let out of prison after about 15 years.

Finance – It costs taxpayers thousands of pounds to keep murderers alive in prison.

Arguments for and Against Capital Arguments for and Against Capital PunishmentPunishment

AGAINST Mistakes - Innocent people have been

executed. Protection – Putting a murderer in prison

protects society. Deterrence – There is no evidence that the

death penalty is more of a deterrent than life imprisonment.

Reformation – Reformed criminals can be an enormous influence for good.

Right – Only God has the right to end a person’s life.

Christian views on Capital Punishment

Some Christians support capital punishment using the principle of “whoever sheds the blood of a man, by man shall his blood be shed” (Genesis 9:6)

“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” – Retribution.

“Those who live by the sword, will die by the sword”.

They see the threat of the death penalty as a deterrent that helps to prevent serious crimes.

Others Christians believe in the 5th Commandment ‘Do not murder’ as executing a murderer is still killing.

Forgiveness - “Love your enemy” - “For if you forgive men when they sin against

you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

Buddhist views on Capital Punishment

There is no single Buddhist policy on capital punishment, however the death penalty is not in keeping with:

The First Precept ‘Do not harm others’. The Buddhist Teaching on non-violence

(ahimsa). The teachings of Metta – loving kindness and

Compassion should help Buddhists be forgiving. The Buddha taught anything a person does,

even if it brings good to them, like getting justice for a crime, it can’t be considered a good action if it causes physical and mental pain to another human, which being on death row and the executions can cause.

Tick List for the examTick List for the exam Explain religious beliefs about law and orderExplain religious beliefs about law and order Explain the concepts of right and wrong, Explain the concepts of right and wrong,

conscience, duty and responsibilityconscience, duty and responsibility Describe and evaluate the causes of crimeDescribe and evaluate the causes of crime Understand the different types of crimesUnderstand the different types of crimes Explain the aims of punishmentExplain the aims of punishment Evaluate whether or not the different forms of Evaluate whether or not the different forms of

punishment achieve the aims of punishment, punishment achieve the aims of punishment, including consideration of young offenders, including consideration of young offenders, imprisonment, parole, early release and the imprisonment, parole, early release and the death penaltydeath penalty

Evaluate alternatives to prison and issues Evaluate alternatives to prison and issues concerning prison reformconcerning prison reform

Discuss topics from different points of view, Discuss topics from different points of view, including religious onesincluding religious ones

Exam style QuestionsExam style Questions

1.1. Explain, using an example, what is meant by a Explain, using an example, what is meant by a ‘religious offence’. (2 marks)‘religious offence’. (2 marks)

2.2. Give three ways in which a young offender may Give three ways in which a young offender may be punished by the law. (3 marks)be punished by the law. (3 marks)

3.3. ‘‘Prisoners should be given religious teaching.’ Prisoners should be given religious teaching.’ What do you think? Give reasons for your What do you think? Give reasons for your opinion. (3 marks)opinion. (3 marks)

4.4. Explain two of the aims of punishments. (4 Explain two of the aims of punishments. (4 marks)marks)

5.5. ‘‘Greed and selfishness are the main causes of Greed and selfishness are the main causes of crime.’ Do you agree? Give reasons and explain crime.’ Do you agree? Give reasons and explain your answer, showing you have thought about your answer, showing you have thought about more than one point of view. Refer to religious more than one point of view. Refer to religious arguments in your answer. (6 marks)arguments in your answer. (6 marks)