Crime & Punishment

P7, XXXX Primary School21st January 2014

Punishment

Think of as many examples of different forms Think of as many examples of different forms of punishment as you can… This could be:of punishment as you can… This could be:

At homeAt home

At schoolAt school

In courtIn courtWhy do people get punished? What is Why do people get punished? What is punishment supposed to achieve?punishment supposed to achieve?

Fair and unfair punishments

Think of an example of unfair punishment. It Think of an example of unfair punishment. It might be from home or school, or something might be from home or school, or something you have seen on the TV or at the movies.you have seen on the TV or at the movies.

What made it unfair?What made it unfair?

Was it something to do with the way the Was it something to do with the way the punishment was decided?punishment was decided?

Was it something to do with the specific Was it something to do with the specific punishment that was chosen?punishment that was chosen?

3

Ordering crimesStealing from a shopStealing from a shop

Stabbing someone with a knifeStabbing someone with a knife

Shouting and swearing at someoneShouting and swearing at someone

Punching someone in the facePunching someone in the face

Telling lies in courtTelling lies in court

Murdering someoneMurdering someone

Dangerous drivingDangerous driving

Selling illegal drugsSelling illegal drugs

4

Purposes of punishment

Ordering punishments

FinesFines

Flogging/WhippingFlogging/Whipping

Unpaid work Unpaid work

ExecutionExecution

SupervisionSupervision

ImprisonmentImprisonment

WarningsWarnings

12

Kinds of sentences

You be the judge

Robert Johnson breaks into a house in the Robert Johnson breaks into a house in the night. He breaks a window to get in. No one is night. He breaks a window to get in. No one is at home. He steals a TV and an iPad; goods at home. He steals a TV and an iPad; goods worth about £1,000. The cost of repairing the worth about £1,000. The cost of repairing the window is £250. window is £250.

Robert has been in trouble before; he has two Robert has been in trouble before; he has two convictions for stealing from shops.convictions for stealing from shops.

What sentence would you pass?What sentence would you pass?

A little more informationThe owner of the house is an old lady called Mrs The owner of the house is an old lady called Mrs Beech. She is a widow and lives alone. She has Beech. She is a widow and lives alone. She has been in hospital at the time of the break-in. She been in hospital at the time of the break-in. She doesn’t get out much anymore and relies on the TV doesn’t get out much anymore and relies on the TV for news and entertainment. Her iPad held all the for news and entertainment. Her iPad held all the photos of her grandchildren who live in Australia photos of her grandchildren who live in Australia and she used it to Skype them regularly. She has and she used it to Skype them regularly. She has house insurance and can get the TV and iPad house insurance and can get the TV and iPad replaced (and maybe the photos too), but she has replaced (and maybe the photos too), but she has been left scared about living on her own. She fears been left scared about living on her own. She fears the thief might come back.the thief might come back.

Does this information make you want to reconsider Does this information make you want to reconsider the sentence you gave Robert?the sentence you gave Robert?

And some more informationRobert is 21. He is a drug addict and is homeless. He Robert is 21. He is a drug addict and is homeless. He has been living on the streets since he was 15, when has been living on the streets since he was 15, when we ran away from a children’s home. He was in the we ran away from a children’s home. He was in the home because his mum couldn’t look after him properly home because his mum couldn’t look after him properly because of her drug problem. He doesn’t know his dad.because of her drug problem. He doesn’t know his dad.

He says he broke into the house because he was He says he broke into the house because he was desperate for money. He has a son (aged 3) who lives desperate for money. He has a son (aged 3) who lives with his ex-girlfriend. He wanted to be able to buy his with his ex-girlfriend. He wanted to be able to buy his son something nice for Christmas. He didn’t have any son something nice for Christmas. He didn’t have any money because (a) he canmoney because (a) he can’’t work because of his drug t work because of his drug problem and (b) his benefits had been stopped when problem and (b) his benefits had been stopped when he missed appointments (also because of his drug he missed appointments (also because of his drug problems). problems).

Does any of this information change the way you would Does any of this information change the way you would sentence Robert?sentence Robert?

And some more…

You delayed sentence on Robert because he You delayed sentence on Robert because he had made plans to go into drug rehab and sort had made plans to go into drug rehab and sort himself out. You wanted to see if he was himself out. You wanted to see if he was serious about that. He was. He completed the serious about that. He was. He completed the programme and has been drug free for 6 programme and has been drug free for 6 months; he’s back in regular contact with his months; he’s back in regular contact with his ex-girlfriend and son and has just started a ex-girlfriend and son and has just started a college course. He’s also now a volunteer college course. He’s also now a volunteer helper in the drug rehab.helper in the drug rehab.

And finally…During his time in the rehab, Robert wrote a During his time in the rehab, Robert wrote a letter to Mrs Beech and, after some careful letter to Mrs Beech and, after some careful planning, they met up. He apologised and planning, they met up. He apologised and explained why he had done what he had explained why he had done what he had done. Mrs Beech was relieved to find that he done. Mrs Beech was relieved to find that he hadn’t targeted her house for any particular hadn’t targeted her house for any particular reason. She was also very glad to know that reason. She was also very glad to know that he was sorting his life out. She and Robert he was sorting his life out. She and Robert agreed that he would spend the next 2 or 3 agreed that he would spend the next 2 or 3 weekends tidying up her garden as a way of weekends tidying up her garden as a way of saying sorry.saying sorry.

The time has come to pass final sentence on The time has come to pass final sentence on Robert. What will you do?Robert. What will you do?

Stopping Offending

What might help keep Robert out of trouble What might help keep Robert out of trouble and off drugs in future?and off drugs in future?

Getting older and becoming more mature; Getting older and becoming more mature; learning to think things through before actinglearning to think things through before acting

Getting an education, a job and a house; being Getting an education, a job and a house; being able to be a good dadable to be a good dad

Thinking differently about himself; realising he Thinking differently about himself; realising he can be a good person and lead a good life.can be a good person and lead a good life.

Supervising RobertIf you were Robert’s social worker and had to If you were Robert’s social worker and had to supervise him for a year or two, what sorts of supervise him for a year or two, what sorts of things might you do with him or for him to help things might you do with him or for him to help him keep out of trouble?him keep out of trouble?

Any questions?Any questions?