crime and law

• biological causes of crime

  mental health disorders

  estimated 1/3 of those arrested in England suffer from mental health illnesses

  schizophrenia, bipolar, ADHD ect can lead to violent crimes
• biological causes

  genetic

  warrior gene links to conditions like ADHD and anger issues

  causes crimes like assault
• biological causes

  hormones

  men higher levels of testosterone can lead to aggression

  Scottish prison's have 800 men and only 300 women

  85% arrests involve male offenders
• social causes

  peer pressure

  112 serious gangs in scotland

  70% gangs involved in drugs
• social causes

  social enviroment

  higher violent crime levels in poorer areas

  1/9 men in Royston Glasgow spend time in prison by 23
• social causes

  Alcohol and drugs

  alcohol abuse most strongly linked to crimes of violence

  7 out of 10 murder suspects had been drinking/on drugs
• economic causes

  poverty

  robbery levels higher in poorer areas with social problems

  3 and 1/2 more criminals living in 20% most deprived areas than the 20% least deprived
• economic causes

  changes to welfare

  universal credit - underpaid waiting for payment leads to crime

  link between UC and 12% increase in robberies from 2017-18
• economic causes

  unemployment

  unemployed men with criminal records (long term) more likely to re offend

  not being able to afford things leads to shoplifting
• nature

  19th century Italian prison doctor, believes people who commit crimes are different mentally, idea that a person is biologically programmed to commit a crime, in their genes
• nurture

  1950s American criminologist, people turn to crime to get what they need/want, factors in society and the environment the person grows up in eg poverty, family, peer pressure, alcohol and drugs can make people more likely to commit crimes
• prisons ineffective

  overcrowding

  against human rights and breeds hostility

  designed to hold 7800 people but in 2019/20 held 8200
• prisons ineffective

  cost

  costs around £331 mil a year to run prisons which could be spent on things like health or education

  costed around £35000 a year to keep someone in prison
• prisons ineffective

  reoffending

  aren't enough rehab programs

  64% of those released are reconvicted within 2 years
• alternatives ineffective

  dtto

  only 33% are successful

  1/4 or more end up in jail time
• alternatives ineffective

  tagging

  no significant statistical effect on crime

  71% reconvict within 2 years
• alternatives ineffective

  p- CPO

  e- 31.9% non completion rate in 2018/19, highest since introduced
• government effective

  p- fall in knife related crime

  e- knife related crime fallen and many other cities and countries started to look at how scotland managed

  e- 2018/19 police in London and other English cities began looking at scotlands success
• government effective

  p- fall in drunk offenders

  e- introduced new laws to try reduce alcohol consumption and related crimes

  e- introduced because because drunken crimes increased significantly in 2008/9 but it has significantly lowered since
• government effective

  p- falls in violent crimes

  e- violence reduction unit set to treat crime like a disease to try and deal with the cause

  e- murder rates dropped in the last 10 years by 60%
• government ineffective

  p- knife crime continues

  e- knives are still used to commit horrible and fatal crimes

  e- continues to be stabbings such as a 16 year old boy in Glasgow who was stabbed in march 2020
• government ineffective

  p- alcohol related crime still a big problem

  e- large amounts of crime still committed under the influence

  e- 2/3 serious assaults committed while under the influence
• government ineffective

  p- rises in violent crime

  e- very high profile violent crime in scotland still take place

  e- non sexual violent crimes increases 16% between 2018/19 - 2019/20
• impact on family

  p- children of perpetrators face issues

  e- 2x as likely to experience mental health problems

  e- 3x more likely to be involved in anti social behaviour and re offending
• impact on family

  p- lose money

  e- imprisoner member may be main earner

  e- may lose their house
• impact on family

  p- emotional effect

  e-family breakdowns like divorce

  e- stigmitsied by assosiation can be treated badlyby peers community ect
• impact on perpetrator

  p- mental health problems

  e- feeling isolated

  e- 762 incidents of self harm compared to the previous year which was a jump of 43%
• impact on perpetrator

  lose family and friends

  people dont want to associate with criminal

  may lose custody of children
• impact on perpetrator

  employment issues

  certain jobs where u need to be around young people like teachers doctors require employers to be notified on criminal records

  only aroung 1/4 criminals enter employment post conviction

  50% employers wouldn't consider employing an ex offender
• impact on wider society

  cost of policing

  government need to increase taxes

  budget for police rose to over £1.2 billion
• impact on wider society

  lose on tourism

  less choose to visit

  scotland lose out on billions
• impact on wider society

  cost of prisons

  spending in 2017 was £206 mil more than the year before

  £1.3 bil announced for reforming and modernising prisons
• impact on community

  physical impact

  broken window theory visible signs of crime lead to more crime

  can lead to depopulisation as people dont want to live there
• impact on community

  economic issues

  business less likely to settle or stay open meaning less job opportunities

  2 mil incidents of shoplifting in uk
• impact on community

  less community spirit

  people scared to go out

  lack of socialising
• impact on victims

  financial cost

  replacing stolen/broken goods

  install security which can cost up to £1000s
• impact on victims

  emotional distress

  social life and relationships may become strained

  may experience ptsd or anxiety

  eg ariana grande concert
• impact on victims

  physical injury

  2/3 incidents result in injury

  victims may become unable to work or live the way they used to eg ariana grande
• alternatives affective

  dtto

  break link between drug use and crime

  lasts 6 months to 3 years

  good when completed
• alternatives affective

  tagging

  cheaper than prison

  keep jobs and maintain family contact