1. Thinking and discussion What are the main social changes that have taken place in society since your birth?

2. BASIC GUIDANCE This is a tricky part of the report – basically you are talking about is how attitudes have changed over time and how these changes mean that policies have changed e.g. the death penalty You could also mention the different viewpoints of different groups e.g. new right and conservatives This is the power point by the welsh board – you can use it – although it’s not great

3. How do beliefs about crime influence crime control policies? Unit 1 – Assessment Criteria 2.3 Explain how social changes affect policy

4. 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 20 Do you think we should have capital punishment in the UK? Key Yes Maybe Unsure Not really No Y axis

5. Case study of social attitudes and crime policy Capital punishment (the death penalty)

6. Discuss arguments for and against the death penalty For: Against:

7. Some arguments for and against the death penalty can be found on the following website: http://www.balancedpolitics.org/death_penalty.htm

8. The ‘Bloody Code’ In 1815, approximately 200 crimes in the UK were punishable by death. These included – Horse theft – The stealing of goods worth more than 5p – Being out at night with a blackened face.

9. Independent study Find out about alternatives to the death penalty that were used before 1815.

10. Why was the law so harsh? The poor were viewed as lazy and agents of their own misfortunes. The rich made laws that protected property. The law was intended to deter people from committing crimes.

11. Was the strict law effective? Juries were unwilling to convict people if they knew that they would be hanged to death. Social circumstances meant that people would commit crimes because they were hungry or poor. People still seem to be willing to commit crime if they will profit in some way.

12. Sir Samuel Romilly (1757–1818) Sir Samuel Romilly was a law reformer who opposed slavery and supported the French Revolution. He struggled, with limited success to repeal the ‘Bloody Code’. However, laws limiting those who could be hanged were enacted throughout the C19th. http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/REromilly.htm

13. The Repeal of the Death Penalty The first attempt to remove the death penalty (capital punishment) took place in 1938. The public did not support this legislation though MPs did. Cases of miscarriage of justice in the 1950s turned public opinion against hanging at that time.

14. Personal research Look at the following website which tells the story of the repeal of the death penalty in 1965: Summarise reasons why the death penalty was repealed. Was this a popular piece of legislation? What attitudes to crime had changed in society that made the government wish to change the law? http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/de cember/16/newsid_3258000/3258437.stm

15. Independent study Find out more about miscarriages of justice where people were executed.

16. Read and research further on the death penalty debates in the USA. In what ways are the arguments similar to or different from those used in the UK. INDEPENDENT STUDY

17. Scenario I approve of the campaign my newspaper’s running for the reintroduction of the death penalty. When you look at some of the shocking, disturbing crimes in the news, it seems obvious to me that prison just isn’t enough of a deterrent to these animals! I know quite a few people who feel the same way I do about this…

18. Write a short report (one side of A4) outlining the case for and against supporting legislation to re- introduce the death penalty for your local Member of Parliament. Comment on public attitudes as well as legal arguments. Do not copy and paste from any website or textbook. Refer to the sources that you used. Write a short report (one side of A4) outlining the case for and against supporting legislation to re- introduce the death penalty for your local Member of Parliament. Comment on public attitudes as well as legal arguments. Do not copy and paste from any website or textbook. Refer to the sources that you used.

19. Final self review What have you learned about the way that people can affect legal policies?