4.1

• What is the focus of UNIT 2 in criminological theories?

  Understanding causes of policy change
• What should you assess according to AC4.1?

  The use of criminological theories in policy development
• What are the types of criminological theories mentioned?

  • Individualistic theories
  • Biological theories
  • Sociological theories
• What are the two types of policy making mentioned?

  Informal and formal policy making
• How can criminological theories inform policy on crime?

  By applying knowledge of each theory
• What is the focus of individualistic theories in policy development?

  How individuals learn and react to experiences
• What is psychoanalysis in relation to criminal behavior?

  A treatment exploring unconscious thoughts
• What is a criticism of psychoanalysis as a treatment method?

  Few positive evaluations by offenders
• What does behaviour modification focus on?

  Techniques to extinguish undesirable behaviours
• What is the principle behind behaviour modification?

  Reinforced behaviours are strengthened
• What is the token economy system?

  A system rewarding desired actions with tokens
• How does the token economy promote conforming behaviour?

  By allowing benefits for responsible behaviour
• What does research suggest about the effectiveness of token economies?

  Short-term effectiveness, not long-term
• What are other policies or treatments mentioned for offenders?

  • Social skills training
  • Anger management
• What is the aim of social skills training?

  To assist offenders in avoiding offending
• What does anger management aim to prevent?

  Violent offences by controlling anger
• What is the focus of biological theories in policy development?

  Influencing brain chemistry by diet
• What did the case study by Gesch et al. (2002) investigate?

  The impact of diet on aggressive behaviour
• What were the results of Gesch et al.'s study on dietary supplements?

  35% reduction in disciplinary incidents
• What did Virkkunen et al. (1987) find about violent offenders?

  They have lower serotonin turnover
• What dietary change did Schoenthaler (1982) find effective?

  Reduced sugar diet decreased anti-social behaviour
• What model have prisons attempted to embrace?

  The Balance of Good Health model
• What was the pilot scheme in 2012 for sex offenders?

  Chemical castration to reduce sex drive
• What does eugenics claim about genes?

  • Inheritance of genes explains behaviour
  • Reinforces biological determinism
  • Claims biology contributes to social problems
• What did Dalton and West's research find about criminal records?

  40% of boys with criminal fathers had records
• When was the death penalty temporarily abolished in the UK?

  1965
• What did statistics from the USA show about the death penalty?

  Murder rates are higher in death penalty states
• Why might the death penalty not be an effective deterrent?

  People kill in the heat of the moment
• What is penal populism?

  • Government laws to punish offenders
  • Popular with the general public
  • Influenced by media and public concern
• What event triggered penal populism according to David Garland?

  The James Bulger case in 1993
• How has penal populism affected political parties?

  They cannot afford to be soft on crime
• What is the current status of life sentence prisoners in the UK?

  More than the whole of Europe combined
• What event led to increased public concern about violent crime in 1993?

  The James Bulger case
• What was the public's reaction to the James Bulger case?

  They pressed the government to be tough on crime
• How did media coverage of crime affect political parties?

  It pressured them to be tough on crime
• What did Tony Blair promise regarding crime during his political career?

  To be tough on crime and its causes
• What is a punitive law?

  Laws that intend to punish
• What is a custodial sentence?

  A punishment of being sent to prison
• What are the types of prison sentences?

  • Concurrent: served at the same time
  • Consecutive: served one after the other
  • Suspended: served in the community with conditions
  • Determinate: of a fixed length
  • Indeterminate: of no fixed length
• What is the imprisonment rate in England and Wales?

  147 people per 100,000 population