Crime and Punishment Key Words

Question	Answer
Crime	An offence that is punishable by the law e.g. stealing, assault & vandalism etc.
Non-indictable crimes	less serious crimes such as a minor trafficking offence
Indictable crimes	serious crimes that can lead to prison if found guilty e.g. murder, causing death by dangerous driving etc.
Punishment	something legally done to somebody as a result of being found guilty of breaking the law.
Law & order	are about rules of our society and how they are enforced. These rules exist to keep society calm and safe. They are based on ideas of right and wrong.
Justice	a belief in what is right and fair. It is also the main aim of the criminal system i.e. to punish the guilty and bring justice to the victims.
Intention	The plan that someone has before they act e.g. a person may have an evil intention by plotting to hurt another person because of anger or jealousy etc. They may also have a good intention to work within communities to help prevent crime in the future etc.
Poverty	A reason or cause of crime. To be without food, money or other basic needs of life (being poor).
Upbringing	A reason or cause of crime. Parents or wider family members can impact negatively upon children and set a bad example e.g. through physical abuse, gambling & drug addiction etc. This poor example influences some children to turn to crime.
Mental illness	A reason or cause of crime. A medical condition affecting a personŐs feelings, emotions or moods and perhaps the ability to relate to others. In some cases crimes can be explained with reference to psychological issues e.g. trauma as a child can lead to criminal behaviour as an adult e.g. child abuse or alcoholism etc.
Addiction	A reason or cause of crime. Physical or mental dependency on a substance e.g. drugs or alcohol or activity (internet) which is very difficult to overcome.
Greed	A reason or cause of crime. A selfish desire for something or wanting to possess wealth, goods or items of value which are not needed. Greed can often lead to theft i.e. stealing and taking something which you have not paid for or does not belong to you.
Hate crimes	crimes (often including violence), that are usually targeted at a person because of their race e.g. anti-Semitism towards Jews, sexuality, disability or gender. This can be a reason or cause of crime. Some crimes e.g. hate crimes can lead to murder i.e. the unlawful killing of another person.
Opposition to an unjust law	can also be a reason or cause of crime. For example, many crimes were committed against the white minority South African government because of its racial discrimination policies towards the black majority population during the apartheid years. In the UK many people took to the streets to protest against the Governments introduction of the council tax. This tax was viewed as unfair.
Retribution	an aim of punishment, to get your own back. Retribution is seen as Ôgetting evenŐ with the person who has committed the crime. It is getting revenge and giving the criminal what they deserve. This may help the victim to overcome their resentment, as the criminal is punished appropriately. Many people believe (including Christians & Muslims) that a criminal deserves to suffer for what they have done wrong since this gives the victim some degree of justice. Justice involves doing the right and fair thing in a given situation and its principle is very much the biblical idea of 'an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth'.
Deterrence	an aim of punishment to put people off committing crimes e.g. prison or the death penalty. Some potential criminals may be put off committing a crime if they believe that they will be caught and dealt with seriously. The authorities hope that the prospect of severe or harsh consequences will persuade those who would break the law to think again and decide that it is not sensible to commit the crime. Deterrence is the most important aim of punishment in Islam.
Reformation	an aim of punishment to change someoneŐs behaviour for the better. It means turning criminals into law-abiding citizens. It involves recognition that offenders need help to change their ways. For the criminal, the process might include repentance (sorrow and a change of behaviour) and a feeling of regret, which brings a determination not to return to criminal activities. Offenders may also be made to meet the victims of their crimes (restorative justice) or work for the community (community service orders). Reformation is the most important aim of punishment in Christianity.
Prison	a secure building where offenders who have broken the law are kept for a period of time set by a judge/court of law. Prisons are often referred to as a custodial sentence. It is a form of punishment for indictable (most serious) offences e.g. murder, burglary, rape, assault etc.
Corporal punishment	punishment of an offender by causing them physical pain e.g. flogging or amputation (Shariah Law) or the cane in schools. Both types of corporal punishment are illegal in the UK but can be carried out legally in some Muslim countries.
Community service	a way of punishing offenders by making them do unpaid community work. This type of punishment is reserved for less serious crimes (e.g. littering, graffiti, minor trafficking offences etc.) and where the offender may not be seen as a threat to the community. It is widely understood as an alternative to prison.
Forgiveness	Showing grace and mercy and pardoning someone for the wrongdoing that they have committed. It means not to hold any grudge against a person even when they have hurt you badly. However, forgiveness is not about forgetting. It is about moving forward. Forgiveness is a very important idea in both Christianity and Islam. In both religions God forgives unconditionally. Many of Jesus' teachings were about forgiveness e.g. The Parable of the Lost Son; or demand to forgive not 7x but 70x7 times (in other words, always) & the Lord's Prayer ('Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us...') etc.
Death penalty	capital punishment; a form of punishment in which a prisoner is put to death often by hanging, firing squad or lethal injection. The death penalty is usually carried out for the most serious offences e.g. first degree murder, drug trafficking or blasphemy (Islam) etc. The death penalty was abolished (stopped) in the UK in 1969.
Sanctity of life	All life is sacred (holy) because it has been created and loved by God. For Christians human life is especially sacred since according to Day 6 of the Genesis Creation story Adam (man) has been created in GodŐs image. Christians believe that human life should not be misused or abused and wherever possible, protected.
Principle of utility	An ethical act or rule that states that a moral act is right if it will produce the greatest happiness or the greatest good for the greatest number of people. For example, according to the principle of utility, the death penalty can be justified if it can be demonstrated that society would be better for it.

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	Created by Jeni McClean about 6 years ago