Key terms

• Addiction - Physical or mental dependence on a substance or activity which is very difficult to overcome.
• Community service - A way of punishing offenders by making them do unpaid work within the community.
• Corporal punishment - Punishment of an offender by causing them physical pain which is now illegal in the Uk.
• Crime - An offence which is punishable by law for example stealing or murder.
• Death penalty - Capital punishment (a form of punishment in which a prisoner is put to death for the crimes they have committed).
• Deterrence - An aim of punishment - to put people off from committing crimes,
• Evil - The opposite of god - a force of the personificarion of a negative power that is seen as destructive towards god.
• Forgiveness - Showing mercy and pardoning someone for what they have done wrong.
• Free will - The ability of people to make decisions for themselves without constraint.
• Greed - Wanting to possess wealth, goods or items of value which are not needed.
• Hate crimes - Crimes often including violence that are usually targeted at a person because of their race, religion, sexuality, gender or disability.
• Mental illness - A medical condition that affects a person’s feelings, emotions or moods and perhaps ability to relate to others.
• Poverty - Being without money, food or the other basic need of life (being poor).
• Principle of unity - Philosophical idea that an action is right if it provides the maximum happiness for the maximum number of people affected by it.
• Prison - A secure building where offenders are kept for a long period of time set by a judge.
• Punishment - Something legally done to a person as a result of being found guilty for breaking the law.
• Reformation - An aim of punishment - to change someone’s behaviour for the better.
• Retribution - An aim of punishment - to get your own back. (Revenge)
• Sanctity of life - All life is holy as it is created and loved by god. Christians and Muslims believe that human life should not be misused or abused.