Catholic belief + attitudes about Crime + aims of punishment

• • Crime = any offence that is punishable by law
• • Gov makes laws which govern our behaviour
• • Criminal justice system there to enforce laws and punish crime
• • For Catholics, sinful behaviour can...
  • lead to personal suffering
  • cause offence to God + exclusion from heaven
  • lead to being cut off
• • Some at greater risk of becoming offenders due to birth circumstances
• • Widely accepted: poverty, parental neglect, low self-esteem and substance abuse can sometimes explain crimes
• • Catholics agree the law is very important