Crime and Punishment

why are laws needed?
1. all groups need rules that its' members must follow
2. laws in businesses make sure we are paid and treated fairly
3. protect the weaker from the strong
4. keeps things organised in advanced societies such as the UK
Must be a connection between law and justice
1. St Aquinas said unjust law is not a proper law because..
  1. if a law is unjust people will feel that it is right to break the law
  2. if some are unjust people may think all laws are unjust
  3. if laws don't give justice people will take law into their own hands
  4. if think the legal system is not working it may lead to a civil war
Theories of Punishment
1. Retribution
  1. punished in proportion to the crime e.g. kill those that kill. Believe criminals should suffer for what they have done wrong
2. Deterrence
  1. if you cut someone's hand off for stealing then they will not steal again and others may think twice before committing the same crime
3. Reform
  1. include educating criminals so they gain qualifications and don't have to turn to crime
4. protection
  1. keep criminals in prison for so long that when released they are no longer a danger
Christian attitudes to Justice
1. Justice is important to Christians. God is just and rewards the good whilst punishing the bad. Christian churches began the Jubilee 2000 campaign where they tried to end third world debt as a way of sharing the Earth's resources more fairly.
2. Many Churches have set up fair trade groups to ensure farmers get a fair deal. others have peace and justice groups .
3. Believe in Justice because..
  1. Bible says God is a God of justice
  2. Jesus said the rich should share with the poor
  3. New testament has lots of statements about how Christians should treat people fairly
Islam and Justice
1. Quran says God is just
2. Last day is concerned with justice, when people will be judged in their deeds
3. as Khalifah's they must share the Earth's resources equally
4. Islam teaches all people should have equal rights (Zakah), sharing of wealth at the end of the month of Ramadan
Capital Punishment (crime punished by death)
1. Non-religious arguments in favour
  1. will deter crimes like murder and terrorism
  2. Murderers are a threat to society. this threat should be permanently removed
  3. the only retribution / compensation for murder is death
2. Non- religious arguments against
  1. could be wrongly convicted
  2. countries without death penalty have lower murder rates, so as a deterrent it doesn't work
  3. Executed terrorists become martyrs and inspire others to become terrorists
3. Christian attitudes to Capital Punishment
  1. against it because..
    1. Jesus came to save (reform) sinners. Can't reform the dead
    2. Jesus banned the Old testament law of 'an eye for an eye' (retribution)
    3. Human life life is sacred and only God can take it away
    4. Jesus said 'turn the other cheek'
  2. Some see it as a good way to keep orders in society because..
    1. Bible mentions it as a punishment for certain crimes and the Bible comes from God
    2. Catholic churches have not condemned the use of capital punishment
    3. Church used it for crimes like heresy (against the Church)
    4. Thomas Aquinas said peace in society was more important than reforming sinners
4. Islamic attitudes to capital punishment
  1. Allowed for 3 crimes; murder, adultery and apostasy (someone working against Islam)
  2. agree with capital punishment because..
    1. is a punishment set down by God in the Quran. Do what Got wants.
    2. Muhammed himself sentenced people to death
    3. Shariah law lays down the crimes to be prescribed death and all Muslims try to follow this
Drugs, tobacco and alcohol
1. UK laws on tabacco
  1. Can't sell to under 18s
  2. adverts for tobacco products are banned
2. UK laws on alcohol
  1. supervised under 16s can go anywhere in pub
  2. Over 16s can have an alcoholic drink with meal if supervised by an adult
3. Health problems
  1. Tobacco
    1. increases risks of getting over 50 medical conditions
  2. drugs
    1. Death through overdose
    2. major causes of mental illnesses
  3. alcohol
    1. causes liver and stomach problems
    2. mental health problems
4. social problems
  1. tobacco
    1. watching loved ones die
    2. makes people smell
  2. drugs
    1. dealers are criminals
    2. major cause of gang crime
  3. alcohol
    1. 41% of all deaths through falls
    2. 65% murder victims have been drinking
5. Christian attitudes to drugs and alchol
  1. all against it because..
    1. St Paul taught Christians that the body is a temple and should not be abused
    2. drugs have mental effects and make it difficult to worship God correctly
6. They have two attitudes to tobacco and alcohol
  1. ok if used in moderation because
    1. Jesus' first miracle was turning water to wine
    2. St Paul said Christians could drink in moderation
    3. Jesus drank wine at the last supper
  2. some practise abstinence because...
    1. Bible warns against drunkenness
    2. Bible notes alcohol 'impairs judgement, inflames passions and invites violence'
7. Muslim attitudes to drugs and alcohol
  1. Both prohibited as 'haram' because...
    1. Quran says satan uses them to keep people from God
    2. Muhammed calls them 'khamr' (forbidden)
    3. seen as suicide by Muslim lawyers which is banned
    4. Muhammed says a number of times that Muslims should have nothing to do with alcohol

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	Created by Dominika amano about 11 years ago