Rs: Crime And Punishment

Front 1

Why do we need laws?

Back 1

1. We need laws so people know which behaviour to expect from each other. Without rules, they'd be chaos.

2. If there were no laws about business deals and work, modern day society could not operate as people wouldn't bother to work if they weren't going to get paid.

3. We need laws to protect the weak from the strong. The British philosopher Thomas Hobbes said that without laws life would be nasty

4. In an advanced civilisation such as the UK'S, we need laws for organisation.

Front 2

Why does there need to be a connection between law and justice?

Back 2

1. If a law is unjust, people will feel that it's right to break the law.

2. If some laws are unjust, then they are not fulfilling their purpose of making sure that people are rewarded for their work or that the weak are protected.

3. If a law is unjust, people will not obey it and will campaign against the law, causing trouble in society.

4. If people feel laws aren't making a just society, they will start a civil war like in Kosovo where a civil war began because they thought the Serbian legal system was treating them unfairly.

5. If laws are unjust they will disrupt rather than unite society.

Front 3

Describe the theory of retribution?

Back 3

1. It makes the criminal pay for their crime in proportion to the severity of the crime committed. Like killing murderers.

2. It makes criminals suffer for what they have done wrong.

3. It actually punishes the criminal.

Front 4

Describe the theory of deterrence?

Back 4

1. It puts people off from committing a crime.

2. If people know thieves have their hands cut off, they won't steal.

3. If people know murderers will be executed, they won't murder.

Front 5

Describe the theory of reform?

Back 5

1. The only way to stop crime is to turn criminals into honest law abiding citizens.

2. Most criminals has a poor upbringing and they don't know how to live without a crime.

3. Reformative punishments give criminals education and qualifications so they can find a proper job.

Front 6

Describe the theory of protection?

Back 6

1. Punishment should protect society from criminals.

2. Long prison sentences keep criminals out of society so that people and property are protected.

3. Community services keep hooligans and vandals off the streets in their leisure time.

Front 7

Why is justice important for Christians?

Back 7

1. The Bible says that God is just and will rewards the righteous and punish sinners.

2. The Bible says that people should be treated fairly and that God wants the world to be ruled fairly.

3. There are many statements in the New Testament about how Christians should treat people fairly and equally.

4. The Christian Churches have made many statements about the need for Christians to work for justice.

5. the Christian churches organised the successful Jubilee 2000 campaign to persuade the governments of the rich countries to cancel the debts of poor countries as they believed it was unjust.

6. The World Council of Churches says Churches across the world should work for 'Justice, peace and the integrity of creation'

Front 8

Why is justice important for Muslims?

Back 8

1. The Qur'an says God is just.

2. The Qur'an says that Muslims should treat people fairly.

3. Muslims believe it is part of their role of vice- gerents of God's creation to treat all people fairly.

4. The Shari'ah is based on justice for everyone with equality for all.

5. Islam teaches that it is unjust to be involved in the charging of interest because it takes money from the poor and gives it to the rich.

Front 9

What are the non- religious arguments in favour of captial punishment?

Back 9

1. If people know they will die if they murder someone, it will put people off murdering so there will be fewer murders.

2. Murderers and terrorists threaten society, and the best way to protect society from them is to take away their lives.

3. Human life is the most important thing there is and the value of human life can only be shown by giving those who take life the worst punishment.

4. Retribution is a major part of punishment and the only retribution for murder is the death penalty.

Front 10

What are the non- religious people against capital punishment?

Back 10

1. No court system can be sure that the correct verdict is always given. Wrongly convicted people can be released from jail, but not if they've been executed.

2. Statistics of countries with the death penalty and those without show that,if anything, those counties which don't use the death penalty have lower murder rate.

3. Murderers who know they are going to be killed if caught are more likely to kill more people to avoid being caught.

4. Murderers often regard life imprisonment as worse than death as they try to commit suicide.

Front 11

What are the different attitudes to capital punishments among Christianity? Against

Back 11

1. Many believe they should never use it:

▪Jesus came to save sinners but you can't reform a person who's dead.

▪Jesus said that an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth is wrong for Christians.

▪Christianity teaches that all life is sacred; if abortion and euthanasia are wrong so is capital punishment.

▪Most Christian Churches have made statements condemning capital punishment.

Front 12

What are the different attitudes among Christianity to capital punishment? For

Back 12

1. The Bible gives the death penalty as punishments for various offences.

2. The Roman Catholic Church and COE have not cancelled their statements that capital punishment can be used by the state.

3. The Christian Church itself used capital punishment in the past for the crime of heresy (not believing official Church teachings).

4. Christian thinkers such as St Thomas Aquinas said that the protection of society is a more important part of punishment than reform of the criminal. They believed capital punishment prevents murder and so keeps society in order.

Front 13

What are the different attitudes to capital punishment in Islam?

Back 13

1. Most agree: ▪It is a punishment set down by God in the Qur'an. ▪Muhammed made several statements agreeing with capital punishment for murder and adultery. ▪Muhammed sentenced people to death for murder when he was the ruler of Madinah. ▪The Shari'ah says that capital punishment is the punishment for murder and adultery.

2. Some don't agree: ▪It is recommended by the Qur'an, not compulsory. ▪The Shari'ah says that the family of a murder victim can accept blood money from the murderer instead of death. ▪They agree with the non religious arguments.

Front 14

Name some laws on drug and alcohol

Back 14

1. It is illegal to sell cigarettes, cigars tobacco ect to anyone under 18.

2. All tobacco packs must have large health warnings and a shocking picture about the effects of smoking.

3. It is against the law to smoke in indoor public places.

4. It is illegal to give an alcoholic drink to a child under 5 years old.

Front 15

Health problems caused by drugs?

Back 15

1. Smoking increases the chance of many medical conditions.

2. In men, smoking can cases impotence.

3. Various cancers like bronchitis

4. Heavy drinking can lead to addiction.

5. Heavy drinking increases the chance of health problems like liver problems.

6. The physical health of users can be damaged by the toxic effects of a drug.

7. Heavy drug users can often develop psychiatric illnesses.

Front 16

Social problems caused by drugs

Back 16

1. The suffering of families of smokers watching their loved ones slowly die from diseases they wouldn't have if they didn't smoke.

2. Social disorder can be seen on Friday and Saturday evenings.

3. 41% of deaths from falls and 30% of drownings were caused by the effects of alcohol.

4. 50% of those who commit sex abuse crimes also abuse alcohol.

5. All drug dealers are criminals and this leads to violence between different gangs and suppliers.

6. The high cost of maintaining a heroin or cocaine habit forces users into a life of crime.

7. Some users become violent when under the influence.

Front 17

Different attitudes to drugs and alcohol in Christianity: for

Back 17

1. The first miracle that Jesus performed was changing water into wine at a wedding feast.

2. St Paul said that Christians could drink in moderation.

3. Jesus used bread and wine at his Last Supper and told his disciples to continue the tradition.

4. Most Churches use alcoholic wine in their communion services so Christians must be able to drink wine in moderation.

Front 18

Different attitudes to drugs and alcohol in Christianity: against

Back 18

1. They believe that taking tobacco or alcohol is abusing God's temple, our bodies.

2. There are passages in the Bible warning against drunkenness which they consider sufficient reason to stay away from drugs.

3. The Bible also teaches that consumption of alcohol damages judgement and invites violence.

Front 19

Attitudes to drugs and alcohol in Islam?

Back 19

1. The Qur'an says that intoxicants are a means by which God tries to keep people from God and saying their prayers.

2. The prophet Muhammed said that every intoxicant is forbidden by Muslims.

3. Muslims lawyers say taking drugs or alcohol is a form of suicide as you are harming your body so it's forbidden.

4. Muhammed said several times that Muslims must not drink alcohol, and must also have nothing to do with the production or sale of alcohol.