Criminology WJEC Unit 2 Questions And Answers
2025\2026
social definition - CORRECT ANSWER-what society believes is wrong
within a community. for example, moat people in the UK would think it
is wrong to have sex with a 14-year old, but in other cultures in different
countries it might not be seen as a problem because society doesn't
label it as one.
legal definition - CORRECT ANSWER-in our society, it is the legal system
which defines crime. for example behaviour that breaks the law and for
which you are punished by the legal system.
actus reus - CORRECT ANSWER-latin for guilty act. essentially means
committing a crime.
mens rea - CORRECT ANSWER-latin for guilt mind. essentially means
having a motive to commit the crime.
cautions - CORRECT ANSWER-administered by the police for minor
crimes such as writing graffiti on a bus shelter. you have to admit an
, offence and agree to be cautioned; otherwise you could be arrested for
the offence. a caution is not a criminal conviction.
conditional cautions - CORRECT ANSWER-given by the police but you
have to agree to certain rules and restrictions, such as receiving
treatment for drug abuse or repairing damage to a property.
penalty notices - CORRECT ANSWER-given for offences such as
shoplifting, possessing cannabis, or being drunk and disorderly in
public. you can only get a penalty notice of you are ages 18 or over.
custodial sentences - CORRECT ANSWER-where you are immediately
sent to prison. there are mandatory and discretionary life sentences
and fixed term and indeterminate prison sentences.
community services - CORRECT ANSWER-a combination order (sentence
of the court that combines a probation order and a community service
order) including unpaid work, probation, curfew and orders such as
having drug testing and treatment.
fines - CORRECT ANSWER-financial penalties; the amount depends on
the seriousness of the offence and the financial circumstances of the
offender.
2025\2026
social definition - CORRECT ANSWER-what society believes is wrong
within a community. for example, moat people in the UK would think it
is wrong to have sex with a 14-year old, but in other cultures in different
countries it might not be seen as a problem because society doesn't
label it as one.
legal definition - CORRECT ANSWER-in our society, it is the legal system
which defines crime. for example behaviour that breaks the law and for
which you are punished by the legal system.
actus reus - CORRECT ANSWER-latin for guilty act. essentially means
committing a crime.
mens rea - CORRECT ANSWER-latin for guilt mind. essentially means
having a motive to commit the crime.
cautions - CORRECT ANSWER-administered by the police for minor
crimes such as writing graffiti on a bus shelter. you have to admit an
, offence and agree to be cautioned; otherwise you could be arrested for
the offence. a caution is not a criminal conviction.
conditional cautions - CORRECT ANSWER-given by the police but you
have to agree to certain rules and restrictions, such as receiving
treatment for drug abuse or repairing damage to a property.
penalty notices - CORRECT ANSWER-given for offences such as
shoplifting, possessing cannabis, or being drunk and disorderly in
public. you can only get a penalty notice of you are ages 18 or over.
custodial sentences - CORRECT ANSWER-where you are immediately
sent to prison. there are mandatory and discretionary life sentences
and fixed term and indeterminate prison sentences.
community services - CORRECT ANSWER-a combination order (sentence
of the court that combines a probation order and a community service
order) including unpaid work, probation, curfew and orders such as
having drug testing and treatment.
fines - CORRECT ANSWER-financial penalties; the amount depends on
the seriousness of the offence and the financial circumstances of the
offender.
