Role of Agencies in Achieving Social Control

• Agencies involved with social control


  • Government-sponsored agencies
  • Police
  • CPS
  • Judiciary
  • Prisons
  • Probation
  • Charities
  • Pressure groups
• Police Service


  • The first professional police officers, known as 'Peelers' or 'Bobbies', were appointed in London in 1829 by the then Home Secretary, Robert Peel
  • 45 police forces in the United Kingdom with regional reach
  • 39 in England & 4 in Wales
  • Single forces cover Scotland and NI
• Police: Aims and Objectives


  • To reduce crime and maintain law and order
  • The prevention and detection criminal offences
  • To protect life and property
  • To preserve the peace in communities
• How are police able to meet their aims and objectives?


  1. Community Policing

  2. Statutory Powers: Arrest

  3. Detain

  4. Search

  5. Question
• Police: Philosophy


  • Equality and Diversity - Police officers act with fairness and impartiality. They do not discriminate unlawfully or unfairly
  • Honesty and Integrity - Police officers are honest, act with integrity and do not compromise or abuse their position
  • Authority, respect and courtesy - Police officers act with self-control and tolerance, treating members of the public and colleagues with respect and courtesy
• Police: Funding


  • Police are funded by the Government via the Central Government Grant
  • Some of the income of the police is raised through our council tax
• Key duties of a Police officer


  • Respond to initial 999 calls
  • Prevent crime from taking place by monitoring locality
  • Preserve the crime scene upon arrival
  • Interview suspects
  • Maintain peace/order at public events
• Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)


  A government-sponsored agency that prosecutes criminal cases investigated by the police and other organisations in England and Wales
• CPS established


  1986
• There are also 'specialist operations' in the police, with branches covering a wide range of functions.
• CPS


  • Makes decisions independently of the Police and Government
  • Duty - to ensure the right person is prosecuted for the right offence, and to bring offenders to justice
• Judiciary


  Responsible for the settlement of legal issues. Examines issues and cases where a citizen is accused of breaking the law and will make a judgment.
• Values of the CPS (Philosophy)


  • Independence
  • Honesty
  • Fairness
  • Openness
  • Respect for all
  • Professionalism
  • Excellence
• Role of a judge in a Crown Court criminal case

  1. Make decisions about the law including its interpretation and application

  2. Manage the trial

  3. Set the precedent for other courts to follow

  4. Ensure it is human rights compliant

  5. Explain the procedure and legal issues to the jury

  6. Sum up the evidence for the jury

  7. Pass a sentence if appropriate, with guidance from the Sentencing Council

  8. Interpret the law if it is unclear
• Working Practices of the CPS


  1. CPS consists of 13 geographical areas across England and Wales

  2. CPS Direct provides the police with charging advice 24/7

  3. Head of CPS is the Director of Public Prosecutions
• Types of judges


  • Superior Judges (High Court and above)
  • Inferior Judges (any court under the High Court)
• Full Code Test


  Used to decide if a prosecution should take place, has two parts: evidential test and public interest test
• Purpose of the Prison Service


  • Provide punishment involving deprivation of liberty and all the consequences that has for the prisoner
  • Attempt rehabilitation so that when they are released, prisoners return to society as law abiding
  • Tackle issues and challenges in outside life that have contributed to criminal behaviour
• Evidential Test


  Is there enough evidence against the defendant? Must consider whether evidence can be used in court and is reliable and credible. Must be satisfied there is enough evidence to provide a 'realistic prospect of conviction' against each defendant.
• A successful barrister can earn more than even a senior judge
• Prison Service


  • 109 prisons are public sector and run by HM Prison Service (the government)
  • There are 14 private prisons, e.g. HMP Birmingham, which are contracted to a private security company called G4S
• Public Interest Test


  Is it in the public interest for the CPS to bring the case to court? A prosecution will usually take place unless the prosecutor is sure that public interest factors against prosecution outweigh those in favour. Considers seriousness of offence, culpability, circumstances, impact, proportionality.
• Research shows that many highly qualified lawyers are put off applying to join the High Court because they could earn three times more in their current post
• Prison categories


  • Category A
  • Category B
  • Category C
  • Category D
• Threshold Test


  If there is not sufficient evidence for the suspect to be charged, this test allows an immediate charging decision despite not all the evidence being available. Decision is made on reasonable suspicion rather than evidence. Can only be applied where the suspect presents a substantial bail risk and not all evidence is available when the suspect is to be released from custody.
• Oath of allegiance and judicial oath


  Oaths/affirmations taken by judges when sworn in
• National Probation Service (NPS)


  A statutory criminal justice service that supervises high-risk offenders released into the community
• Funding the CPS


  • CPS is a government-funded body with the majority of its budget being approved by Parliament
  • CPS recovers some of the costs of its prosecutions from defendants through court-awarded costs
  • CPS recovers criminal assets through confiscation, restraint and enforcement activities
• National Probation Service

  • Works with 30,000 offenders per year
  • Supports the rehabilitation of offenders whilst protecting the public
  • Works in partnership with community rehabilitation, courts, Police, and other partners to safely manage offenders
• Independence of the judiciary


  • Security of tenure: Guaranteed permanent employment
  • Judges' responsibility for freedoms, rights and duties means decisions are made on the basis of the law, evidence and facts
  • Independent judiciary is an essential requirement for a fair, consistent and neutral administration of justice
  • Judges are free from political control and cannot be dismissed by the government
  • Judges are not elected, but appointed and have security of tenure
• Privileges for prisoners


  Depend on behaviour, with levels set at basic, standard and enhanced
• Probation


  Serving a sentence out of prison
• Incentive and Earned Privileges Programme


  1. All prisoners enter prison at standard level

  2. Prisoners need to be well-behaved and prove themselves to staff to move up to an enhanced level

  3. If rules are broken, or prisoners are badly behaved, they drop back down to basic level

  4. Each level gives you certain rights and activities
• Who is on probation

  • Those serving community sentences
  • Those released on license or parole from prison
• Charities and pressure groups


  Not government funded, can bring an independent and challenging function to the justice system
• While on probation, offenders may have to


  1. Do unpaid work

  2. Complete education or training course

  3. Get treatment for addictions, such as drugs or alcohol

  4. Have regular meetings with an 'offender manager'
• Charities and voluntary agencies exist to support and defend the interests of their beneficiaries
• They are non-profit making organisations and often enjoy some tax advantages from the government
• Aims of the Probation Service


  • Believe in the ability of offenders to change for the better
  • Commit to promoting social justice, inclusion, equality and diversity
  • Recognise that consideration should be given to rights and needs of victims
  • Assess and manage risk of offenders in the community
• Prison Reform Trust (PRT)


  Charity established in 1981 to create a just, humane and effective penal system