©THEBRIGHT EXAM SOLUTIONS 2024/2025
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Criminology Unit 2 Exam Questions With
Verified Answers
AC 1.1 Compare criminal behaviour and deviance: - Answers✔
Norms - Answers✔...... are social expectations created by society that guide our behaviour on
what is acceptable (normal/common) or unacceptable, e.g following the latest fashion
trend/supporting a certain football team.
Values - Answers✔..... are traditional rules shared by most people with general guidelines on
how we should live our lives/right and wrong. These views can change depending on different
cultures. One example of a value is respecting the elderly.
Moral code - Answers✔A consistent set of rules, held by society that may or may not be written
down to guide people on what acceptable or unacceptable behaviour is e.g not skipping a queue.
Something may not be illegal but should be followed in order to be accepted in society.
Deviance - Answers✔The violation of social norms (doing a behaviour that wouldn't be 'normal'
in society). It may or may not be legal. This can be good such as protesting for womens' rights,
odd such as having lots of cats and bad e.g murder.
name 3 forms of deviance with examples - Answers✔Admired- good or unusual behaviour e.g
fighting for the womens' vote
Odd- unusual and bizarre behaviour such as owning lots of cats.
Bad- unusual and disapproved of behaviour e.g murder
Identify 3 forms of deviant behaviour - Answers✔Picking nose
Burping loudly
Sneezing without covering your mouth
1
, ©THEBRIGHT EXAM SOLUTIONS 2024/2025
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Describe criminal behaviour - Answers✔Criminal behaviours are actions that are illegal or anti-
social signs that suggest a crime is going to be committed which can be punished by the law
3 forms of criminal behaviour - Answers✔Crime against the state
Crime against the property
Crime against the person
Formal sanction definition - Answers✔Formal sanctions are punishments for breaking formally
written rules and are given by official bodies such as the police, courts and schools. An example
could be a fine or exclusion.
Identify four types of formal sanctions - Answers✔Community sentence
Custodial sentence
Fine
Anger management rehabilitation
Informal sanction definition - Answers✔Informal sanctions are not given by an official body,
they are given by family and friends surrounding that person. They are given for breaking
informal rules. People show approval/disapproval in informal ways such as a bravery award or
name calling.
Identify 2 types of informal sanction (one positive/one negative) - Answers✔Name calling
Praise
Legal definition of criminal behaviour+example - Answers✔An act that breaks the law and can
be punished by official bodes such as police or courts. For an action to be considered a crime the
offender must have actus reus-guilty act (be guilty of committing the act) and mens rea-guilty
mind (meaning it was planned and intentional). Murder would require both however the charge
could be reduced to manslaughter if they are guilty of committing the act but it wasn't planned.
*Most criminal offences require the prosecution to establish beyond all reasonable doubt that the
person committed the crime with intent in order to be convicted.
Strict liability definition+2 examples - Answers✔In some cases a wrongful act alone can be
enough to convict someone even if they didn't intend to do it. For example a factory owner fails
to safeguard machinery and causes a worker to be injured even though it wasn't intended the
owner can be convicted. Another example is speeding people may not intend to do it.
Social definition of criminal behaviour+lots of examples - Answers✔A behaviour that offends
society/an act that goes against societal norms. People may have different views on what a crime
is depending on the time (homosexuality/wearing a seatbelt), place/culture (FGM and forced
marriage) and situation (killing people in the war is allowed but not in everyday life).
2
, ©THEBRIGHT EXAM SOLUTIONS 2024/2025
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Summary offence definition - Answers✔A less serious offence that is tried by magistrates and
the defendant doesn't have the right to a jury trial e.g harassment phone calls or speeding
Indictable offence definition - Answers✔A more serious offence such as rape or murder that are
tried in a crown court where the defendant has the right to a jury trial, this usually results in the
punishment of prison.
Other than formal and informal sanctions identify other implications for committing a criminal
act (only need one) - Answers✔Being placed on a sex offender register (VISOR)
Banned from visiting other countries
Unable to do certain jobs e.g working with young people
Factors taken into account before sentencing (7) - Answers✔Seriousness of offence, harm to
victim, level of blame (planned/weapons), mitigating factors/personal circumstances
(remorse/provides care for someone), previous offences/criminal record, at what point they plead
guilty, what will prevent reoffending
Age of criminal responsibility for england and wales - Answers✔10- people below this will be
treated as children who didn't know right from wrong.
AC 1.2- Explain the social construction of criminality - Answers✔Explains how laws change in
different cultures, over time and are applied differently according to circumstances/situations.
Social construction definition - Answers✔Construction relates to building or making something
therefore man made and unnatural. Therefore social construction relates to social views and
opinions making rules for the society they live in. One example is homosexuality since societal
views have changed over time so it is now legal.
Miscarriage of justice definition - Answers✔The failure of the court/judical system to meet
justice especially when the results cause an innocent person to be convicted.
Derek Bentley case - Answers✔He was hanged for the murder of a police man during a burglary
attempt. At the time Christopher Craig (16) was accused of the murder. Bentley was convicted
for joint enterprise, he was found guilty after saying "let them have it," After his death he was
later pardoned.
Timothy Evans case - Answers✔He was wrongfully convicted and hanged for the murder of his
wife and infant daughter. During the trial he accused his downstairs neighbour John Christie. 3
years after Evans' execution John Christie was found to be a serial killer who murdered 6 other
women in the house including his own wife.
Double jeopardy laws - Answers✔This prevented a person from being tried again for the same
crime. It was changed in 2003 and abolished in 2005.
3
, ©THEBRIGHT EXAM SOLUTIONS 2024/2025
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Describe how the law on homosexuality in the UK has changed OVER TIME and explain WHY
THE LAW CHANGED (6 marks) - Answers✔Homosexuality was a crime in 1885 with a
maximum sentence of life imprisonment. In 1967 the law was changed so that men aged 21+
could privately be homosexual in England and wales, Scotland in 1980 and Nothern Ireland in
1982. In 1994 the age of consent for male homosexuality dropped to 18 and was then reduced to
16.
Why law changed:
Wolfden report- After world war 2 there was an increase in prosecutions. After gathering
evidence from the police, psychiatrists, religious leaders and gay men a report was published in
1957 that homosexual acts in private between consenting adults aged 21+ be legalised.
Campaigns- The homosexual law reform society made of public figures campaigned that gay sex
should be legalised (1967). Stonewall campaigns led to equalising the age of consent to 16.
Politicians- supported the campaign and Roy Jenkins (home secretary) introduced the necessary
legislation in 1967 but now there is the Equality At 2010 which means everyone should be
treated equally and fairly.
Human rights- In India the supreme court decided that the state has no right to control citizens
private lives.
What is the Wolfden report? - Answers✔After world war 2 there was an increase in prosecutions
for homosexuality. After gathering evidence from the police, psychiatrists, religious leaders and
gay men a report was published in 1957 that homosexual acts in private between two consenting
adults aged 21+ be legalised.
Describe how the drug laws in Portugal have changed OVER TIME and explain WHY THE
LAW CHANGED (6 marks) - Answers✔After the dictatorship in Portugal 1930-1975 there was
a revolution leading to very high drug crime rates for example 1% of the population were
addicted to heroin in the 1990s. From 2001 possession of drugs became a civil offence instead of
a crime meaning that certain amounts of heroin, MDMA, LSD, cannabis and others could be
possessed by people. The idea was to label it as a health issue rather than giving a criminal
record, users are referred to health services which prevent the sharing of needles and therefore
decreases HIV rates. For a first offence people voluntary speak to the police and receive a
caution and are punished further if repeated, this shows the openness of police and community
communication. Since people do not get the thrill of doing something illegal (as possession of
drugs was decriminalised) it should reduce drug crime rates.
Describe how gun control laws have changed in the UK OVER TIME and explain WHY THE
LAW CHANGED (6 marks) - Answers✔The law changed due to two mass shootings. In 1996 at
Dunblane school 16 children and their teacher were shot. The parents of the victims, family and
4
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Criminology Unit 2 Exam Questions With
Verified Answers
AC 1.1 Compare criminal behaviour and deviance: - Answers✔
Norms - Answers✔...... are social expectations created by society that guide our behaviour on
what is acceptable (normal/common) or unacceptable, e.g following the latest fashion
trend/supporting a certain football team.
Values - Answers✔..... are traditional rules shared by most people with general guidelines on
how we should live our lives/right and wrong. These views can change depending on different
cultures. One example of a value is respecting the elderly.
Moral code - Answers✔A consistent set of rules, held by society that may or may not be written
down to guide people on what acceptable or unacceptable behaviour is e.g not skipping a queue.
Something may not be illegal but should be followed in order to be accepted in society.
Deviance - Answers✔The violation of social norms (doing a behaviour that wouldn't be 'normal'
in society). It may or may not be legal. This can be good such as protesting for womens' rights,
odd such as having lots of cats and bad e.g murder.
name 3 forms of deviance with examples - Answers✔Admired- good or unusual behaviour e.g
fighting for the womens' vote
Odd- unusual and bizarre behaviour such as owning lots of cats.
Bad- unusual and disapproved of behaviour e.g murder
Identify 3 forms of deviant behaviour - Answers✔Picking nose
Burping loudly
Sneezing without covering your mouth
1
, ©THEBRIGHT EXAM SOLUTIONS 2024/2025
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Describe criminal behaviour - Answers✔Criminal behaviours are actions that are illegal or anti-
social signs that suggest a crime is going to be committed which can be punished by the law
3 forms of criminal behaviour - Answers✔Crime against the state
Crime against the property
Crime against the person
Formal sanction definition - Answers✔Formal sanctions are punishments for breaking formally
written rules and are given by official bodies such as the police, courts and schools. An example
could be a fine or exclusion.
Identify four types of formal sanctions - Answers✔Community sentence
Custodial sentence
Fine
Anger management rehabilitation
Informal sanction definition - Answers✔Informal sanctions are not given by an official body,
they are given by family and friends surrounding that person. They are given for breaking
informal rules. People show approval/disapproval in informal ways such as a bravery award or
name calling.
Identify 2 types of informal sanction (one positive/one negative) - Answers✔Name calling
Praise
Legal definition of criminal behaviour+example - Answers✔An act that breaks the law and can
be punished by official bodes such as police or courts. For an action to be considered a crime the
offender must have actus reus-guilty act (be guilty of committing the act) and mens rea-guilty
mind (meaning it was planned and intentional). Murder would require both however the charge
could be reduced to manslaughter if they are guilty of committing the act but it wasn't planned.
*Most criminal offences require the prosecution to establish beyond all reasonable doubt that the
person committed the crime with intent in order to be convicted.
Strict liability definition+2 examples - Answers✔In some cases a wrongful act alone can be
enough to convict someone even if they didn't intend to do it. For example a factory owner fails
to safeguard machinery and causes a worker to be injured even though it wasn't intended the
owner can be convicted. Another example is speeding people may not intend to do it.
Social definition of criminal behaviour+lots of examples - Answers✔A behaviour that offends
society/an act that goes against societal norms. People may have different views on what a crime
is depending on the time (homosexuality/wearing a seatbelt), place/culture (FGM and forced
marriage) and situation (killing people in the war is allowed but not in everyday life).
2
, ©THEBRIGHT EXAM SOLUTIONS 2024/2025
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Summary offence definition - Answers✔A less serious offence that is tried by magistrates and
the defendant doesn't have the right to a jury trial e.g harassment phone calls or speeding
Indictable offence definition - Answers✔A more serious offence such as rape or murder that are
tried in a crown court where the defendant has the right to a jury trial, this usually results in the
punishment of prison.
Other than formal and informal sanctions identify other implications for committing a criminal
act (only need one) - Answers✔Being placed on a sex offender register (VISOR)
Banned from visiting other countries
Unable to do certain jobs e.g working with young people
Factors taken into account before sentencing (7) - Answers✔Seriousness of offence, harm to
victim, level of blame (planned/weapons), mitigating factors/personal circumstances
(remorse/provides care for someone), previous offences/criminal record, at what point they plead
guilty, what will prevent reoffending
Age of criminal responsibility for england and wales - Answers✔10- people below this will be
treated as children who didn't know right from wrong.
AC 1.2- Explain the social construction of criminality - Answers✔Explains how laws change in
different cultures, over time and are applied differently according to circumstances/situations.
Social construction definition - Answers✔Construction relates to building or making something
therefore man made and unnatural. Therefore social construction relates to social views and
opinions making rules for the society they live in. One example is homosexuality since societal
views have changed over time so it is now legal.
Miscarriage of justice definition - Answers✔The failure of the court/judical system to meet
justice especially when the results cause an innocent person to be convicted.
Derek Bentley case - Answers✔He was hanged for the murder of a police man during a burglary
attempt. At the time Christopher Craig (16) was accused of the murder. Bentley was convicted
for joint enterprise, he was found guilty after saying "let them have it," After his death he was
later pardoned.
Timothy Evans case - Answers✔He was wrongfully convicted and hanged for the murder of his
wife and infant daughter. During the trial he accused his downstairs neighbour John Christie. 3
years after Evans' execution John Christie was found to be a serial killer who murdered 6 other
women in the house including his own wife.
Double jeopardy laws - Answers✔This prevented a person from being tried again for the same
crime. It was changed in 2003 and abolished in 2005.
3
, ©THEBRIGHT EXAM SOLUTIONS 2024/2025
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Describe how the law on homosexuality in the UK has changed OVER TIME and explain WHY
THE LAW CHANGED (6 marks) - Answers✔Homosexuality was a crime in 1885 with a
maximum sentence of life imprisonment. In 1967 the law was changed so that men aged 21+
could privately be homosexual in England and wales, Scotland in 1980 and Nothern Ireland in
1982. In 1994 the age of consent for male homosexuality dropped to 18 and was then reduced to
16.
Why law changed:
Wolfden report- After world war 2 there was an increase in prosecutions. After gathering
evidence from the police, psychiatrists, religious leaders and gay men a report was published in
1957 that homosexual acts in private between consenting adults aged 21+ be legalised.
Campaigns- The homosexual law reform society made of public figures campaigned that gay sex
should be legalised (1967). Stonewall campaigns led to equalising the age of consent to 16.
Politicians- supported the campaign and Roy Jenkins (home secretary) introduced the necessary
legislation in 1967 but now there is the Equality At 2010 which means everyone should be
treated equally and fairly.
Human rights- In India the supreme court decided that the state has no right to control citizens
private lives.
What is the Wolfden report? - Answers✔After world war 2 there was an increase in prosecutions
for homosexuality. After gathering evidence from the police, psychiatrists, religious leaders and
gay men a report was published in 1957 that homosexual acts in private between two consenting
adults aged 21+ be legalised.
Describe how the drug laws in Portugal have changed OVER TIME and explain WHY THE
LAW CHANGED (6 marks) - Answers✔After the dictatorship in Portugal 1930-1975 there was
a revolution leading to very high drug crime rates for example 1% of the population were
addicted to heroin in the 1990s. From 2001 possession of drugs became a civil offence instead of
a crime meaning that certain amounts of heroin, MDMA, LSD, cannabis and others could be
possessed by people. The idea was to label it as a health issue rather than giving a criminal
record, users are referred to health services which prevent the sharing of needles and therefore
decreases HIV rates. For a first offence people voluntary speak to the police and receive a
caution and are punished further if repeated, this shows the openness of police and community
communication. Since people do not get the thrill of doing something illegal (as possession of
drugs was decriminalised) it should reduce drug crime rates.
Describe how gun control laws have changed in the UK OVER TIME and explain WHY THE
LAW CHANGED (6 marks) - Answers✔The law changed due to two mass shootings. In 1996 at
Dunblane school 16 children and their teacher were shot. The parents of the victims, family and
4
