AC1.2 Explain the social construction of criminality

• Give examples of activities that are illegal in the UK but legal in other countries

  • Assisted suicide
  • Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
  • Smoking cannabis
• Give example's of activities that are legal in the UK but illegal in other countries

  • Same sex marriages
  • Jay walking
• What is the social construction of criminality?

  The term social construction fevers to something that has been made or defined by society, rathe than simply occcuring naturally. Therefore, what counts as criminality is simply whichever acts society defines as criminal
• Give examples of laws that have changed in the uK over time

  • Capital punishment- abolished in 1969
  • Legal age of consent- in 1275 was 12, raised to age 13 in 1875, 15 in 1885
• What is the case study for how laws change depending on circumstances?

  • Jamie Bulger Case
  • John venables and Robert Thompson
  • Usually murders will be convicted to prison with a life sentence
  • However, because they were so young (10 years old) the court could not do this