Year 10 - Citizenship
What is the purpose of sentencing?
What can we do to reduce crime?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
Pupils explore how crime impacts the UK and consider the purpose of sentencing and whether current sentencing approaches in the UK are effective.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain why there are different types of sentencing and evaluate how effective each might be.
Key Notes
- There are a range of different sentences, including custodial and community sentences, fines and discharges.
- Youth sentencing is slightly different and focuses on rehabilitative imposed orders designed to reshape behaviour.
- When sentencing, judges must use guidelines that provide minimum and maximum sentences and factors to consider.
- Sentences can rehabilitate and provide retribution. Both have positive and negative points and the UK uses both.
Vocabulary To Learn
- sentence: the punishment given to a person found guilty in a court case
- aggravating factors: circumstances that increase the seriousness of the offence
- mitigating factors: circumstances that reduce the seriousness of the offence
- rehabilitation: in this context, the process of returning to, or helping someone return to, a healthy or good way of life after they have offended
- retribution: a response to criminal behaviour that focuses on holding offenders accountable through punishment
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Punishment is the only purpose of sentencing.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
There are a range of different sentences, including custodial and community sentences, fines and discharges. Youth sentencing is slightly different and focuses on rehabilitative imposed orders designed to reshape behaviour.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'sentence'
the punishment given to a person found guilty in a court case.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Punishment is the only purpose of sentencing. Correction: To try and change behaviour, rehabilitation is also needed. This aims to reduce further crime being committed.
More Lessons In This Unit
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