1.2- Social construction of crime

• What crime were the couple found guilty of?

  Pimping out their adopted sons
• What was recorded by the couple?

  The rapes of their adopted sons
• What public demand arose from the couple's actions?

  Capital punishment discussion
• What are the learning objectives of Unit 2?

  • Describe how an offence changes across cultures
  • Explore how law changes over time and in different places
• What is the definition of adultery?

  Sexual relations outside marriage
• What is the legality of adultery in the UK?

  Not a criminal offence, affects divorce
• In which cultures is adultery legal?

  UK, Europe, Malaysia, Singapore
• In which cultures is adultery illegal?

  Many Islamic law countries
• Why does the law vary in different cultures regarding adultery?

  Religious beliefs and women's status
• What are the key points about the change in Double Jeopardy law?

  • Abolished due to Ann Ming's campaign
  • Requires new and compelling evidence for retrial
  • Example: Gary Allen's case
• What is prostitution defined as?

  Selling sexual services
• How was prostitution viewed in ancient Rome and Greece?

  Acceptable job, not criminal
• How did views on prostitution change during medieval times?

  Deemed immoral and deviant
• What was the church's stance on prostitution during the Renaissance?

  Legalized and accepted by the church
• Why did many women become prostitutes historically?

  It was their only source of income
• What are current views on prostitution?

  Calls for decriminalization and regulation
• What does vagrancy refer to?

  No means of financial support
• What is the legal status of vagrancy in the UK?

  Illegal under the Vagrancy Act 1824
• How did society's views on vagrancy change?

  Increased sympathy and concern for vagrants
• What is capital punishment?

  Executing someone for a specific crime
• How long has capital punishment been practiced?

  For thousands of years
• What types of offences were historically punishable by death?

  Over 200 offences, including minor ones
• What was the public's reaction to execution methods in the 20th century?

  Demand for change due to sadistic practices
• What happened in Jesse Tafero's execution?

  He was executed with a malfunctioning device
• What was the outcome of Derek Bentley's case?

  Public outrage and legal scrutiny
• Who was George Stinney?

  Youngest boy executed in the 20th century
• What was the public reaction to George Stinney's execution?

  Calls for changes in capital punishment laws
• What is the age of criminal responsibility in the UK?

  10 years old
• What is the age of criminal responsibility in Canada?

  12 years old
• What is the age of criminal responsibility in Bangladesh?

  9 years old
• What is the age of criminal responsibility in China?

  Generally under 16 years old
• What is the difference between murder and manslaughter?

  Manslaughter allows for diminished responsibility
• What is consent in legal terms?

  Permission for a crime to occur
• What is self-defense in law?

  Use of reasonable force to avoid conviction
• What is automatism in legal terms?

  Defendant not in control of actions
• What happens if a defense like automatism is successful?

  The person is not guilty of a crime