Practise paragraphs – criminology
AC 1.3
Ripple effect
The ripple effect is spreading the effects of crime to people further than the victim. It has
positive consequences as it leads to reduction in crime. It raises awareness to families and
the local area which ends up spreading to a wider area. The ripple effect also has negative
consequences as it doesn’t just affect the victims, it affects children and families and widens
to the community, causing consequences to people other than the victim causing life lasting
damage. For example, if a child gets abused and becomes a bully at school as their way of
coping, this could cause psychological damage.
Cultural
Cultural based crimes are crimes committed within culture and religion. Some people may
not be aware its criminal due to it being in an unknown religion to them. This could cause
people to stop reporting certain crimes. The lack of reporting has negative consequences
because they continue to occur, and no one will be aware causing low levels of public
awareness. Therefore, the offenders will get away without punishment and therefore may
recommit this crime. An example of this is FGM which is often committed by ethnic
minorities and a crime in the UK. Yet, there are 66,000 victims of it in England and Wales.
Decriminalisation
Decriminalisation is when crimes are still illegal, yet people don’t view them as being illegal
within society. Therefore, police lower their focus on this crime. When they’re
decriminalised, this has positive consequences because there will be less strain on the police
as they won’t have to make arrests on low level crimes. For example, if cannabis was
decriminalised, less pressure would be on the NHS as drug production will be checked
meaning drugs are less dangerous reducing the amount of deaths. Businesses will also gain
as it will prevent county lines. However, a negative consequence could be that drug usage
will increase due to there being no punishment.
Legal change
Legal change is a permanent change to a law which could make something previously legal
now illegal or it could make something previously illegal now legal. Legal change has positive
consequences as it may make society a safer place and make people be themselves without
fear, for example the law changes in homosexuality has allowed people to be themselves in
public. The law change in 1972 allowed 2 men to be in a relationship without fear of being
arrested. In 2013, same sex marriage was legalized and the first marriage occurred a year
later. Another positive consequence is that it removes a grey area for the police, causing
them less pressure. It could cause less stigma and judgement as well as updating new laws.
On the other hand, it can be a negative thing as people may not be aware of a law change
and may be unaware its illegal.
AC 1.3
Ripple effect
The ripple effect is spreading the effects of crime to people further than the victim. It has
positive consequences as it leads to reduction in crime. It raises awareness to families and
the local area which ends up spreading to a wider area. The ripple effect also has negative
consequences as it doesn’t just affect the victims, it affects children and families and widens
to the community, causing consequences to people other than the victim causing life lasting
damage. For example, if a child gets abused and becomes a bully at school as their way of
coping, this could cause psychological damage.
Cultural
Cultural based crimes are crimes committed within culture and religion. Some people may
not be aware its criminal due to it being in an unknown religion to them. This could cause
people to stop reporting certain crimes. The lack of reporting has negative consequences
because they continue to occur, and no one will be aware causing low levels of public
awareness. Therefore, the offenders will get away without punishment and therefore may
recommit this crime. An example of this is FGM which is often committed by ethnic
minorities and a crime in the UK. Yet, there are 66,000 victims of it in England and Wales.
Decriminalisation
Decriminalisation is when crimes are still illegal, yet people don’t view them as being illegal
within society. Therefore, police lower their focus on this crime. When they’re
decriminalised, this has positive consequences because there will be less strain on the police
as they won’t have to make arrests on low level crimes. For example, if cannabis was
decriminalised, less pressure would be on the NHS as drug production will be checked
meaning drugs are less dangerous reducing the amount of deaths. Businesses will also gain
as it will prevent county lines. However, a negative consequence could be that drug usage
will increase due to there being no punishment.
Legal change
Legal change is a permanent change to a law which could make something previously legal
now illegal or it could make something previously illegal now legal. Legal change has positive
consequences as it may make society a safer place and make people be themselves without
fear, for example the law changes in homosexuality has allowed people to be themselves in
public. The law change in 1972 allowed 2 men to be in a relationship without fear of being
arrested. In 2013, same sex marriage was legalized and the first marriage occurred a year
later. Another positive consequence is that it removes a grey area for the police, causing
them less pressure. It could cause less stigma and judgement as well as updating new laws.
On the other hand, it can be a negative thing as people may not be aware of a law change
and may be unaware its illegal.
