1. Crime & Punishment Causes of crime; Environmental reasons; State;
Keywords; Crime, duty, responsibility, conscience, crime against the person, crime against property, crime against the state, religious offence,
repentance, young offender, imprisonment, prison reform, death penalty, community service, electronic tagging, fine, probation, parole, life
punishment, protection, retribution, deterrence, reform, vindication, reparation, forgiveness,
imprisonment, early release,
Causes of crime;
It is assumed that we are all brought up with the idea or right & wrong. We have a duty & responsibility to be law abiding. Our conscience helps us to judge this.
Environmental reasons;
Times of high unemployment lead to financial difficulties; peer pressure to join gains involved in knife & gun crime; inadequate or overcrowded housing or a deprived background.
State;
Terrorism, selling secrets to another country
Or tax fraud
Types of crime;
There are 2 types of offence, ones that prison is not used for – non-indictable, eg speeding, and ones that it is - indictable, eg murder . Crimes can be classed as being against;
Religion;
Some religious offences may not be classed as crime, such as desiring someone else's wife or property, but if it is acted – stolen, then it not only breaks the 8th commandment but state law also.
Property;
Dishonesty crimes such as burglary or vehicle theft, film & music piracy or shoplifting
Or vandalism or arson
Person;
Maybe murder, rape or assault
Or slander, neglect or mugging
Social reasons;
Young people may have a lack in education or qualifications; no positive parental influence; may lead to an adrenaline rush; a sense of achievement; poor home conditions leading to poor role models; boredom, drug, alcohol or gambling addictions.
Psychological reasons;
Maybe within the human nature to be selfish & greedy, using any method to obtain wealth. Violence in TV programs may encourage this.
UK Law;
Is split into 2 categories;
Civil – involving problems between individuals or groups & is dealt with in the small claims or high court
Criminal – involves the breaking of state law and involve the police. Simple cases maybe dealt with by magistrates. More serious cases are held at Crown court with a judge & jury
Crime & Punishment
Religious view of crime;
We all make moral decisions. Believers base their morality upon the teachings of the faith they follow. Some religions such as Judaism have very clear laws, where as other religions such as Buddhism provides guidance as the laws are open to interpretation.
Christians & Muslims believe that life is sacred as it is a gift from God.
Young Offenders;
This is anyone under the age of 18.
Crime isn’t serious more serious even more serious
Police Youth court – part Crown court & custody
of magistrates court
Secure training unit
Secure children's home
Young offender institution

2. Capital Punishment; Aims of punishment; Prison; For; Against;
Key religious beliefs; Christian; ‘Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the LORD your God is giving you.’ Deuteronomy 16:20
‘But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!’ Amos 5:24
Protection:
To keep the public from being harmed, threatened or injured
Aims of punishment;
If you are found guilty of a crime then punishments are given as a penalty. There are 6 main aims of punishment;
Vindication;
Criminals must be punished to show that the law should be respected and followed
Prison;
Prisons are used to house people who have committed a crime of serious enough nature to be removed from society. Prisons are becoming overcrowded as a result of it being used for lesser crimes and longer sentences being given.
Retribution;
The ‘get you own back’ punishment, it is the same as the crime – e.g. a life for a life
Reparation;
To allow the offender to give something back to society
Deterrence;
To put people ‘off’ from committing the same crime
Reformation;
To change someone's behaviour for the better
For;
Protect society from dangerous & violent criminals
Isolate criminals from family & friends – retribution
Stop reoffending
Act as a deterrent & ensure the law is respected – vindication
Give offenders the chance to reflect and reform
Against;
Taught other crimes by other inmates
Create bitterness, resentment and desire to ‘get back’ at society
System does not reform as people reoffend
Difficult to get a job after being in prison
Kept away from family
Relationships breakdown
Religious responses;
Prison;
Both Christians & Sikhs accept the need for prisons, as long as there is reform attached, so they are responsible & law abiding citizens on release. They also support education & drug & alcohol rehabilitation, there are also active prison visits.
Capital Punishment;
In 1969 the death penalty was removed from use in the UK. Capital punishment is the use of the death penalty
Against;
Mistakes
Protection
Deterrence
Reformation
Right
For;
Retribution
Deterrence
Protection
Finance
Religious beliefs;
Christianity;
Exodus 20:1-17
Hebrews 12:14
Exodus 21:24-25
Luke 17:3
Proverbs 21:15
Matthew 25:39-40
Ezekiel 33:11
The 10 Commandments;
No other Gods except for me
Do not worship false idols
Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain
Keep the Sabbath holy (7th day)
Love and respect your father and mother
Do NOT kill
Don’t commit adultery
Don’t steal
Don’t lie
Don’t wish for things that you don’t have
Religious responses;
Capital punishment;
Christians can take both sides of this argument – in the USA it is seen as a deterrent for serious crime, can be supported by the bible. However, so can the opposite view, where innocent people may be executed.