AC3.3

Examine the limitations of agencies in achieving social control

The limits of control

Agencies such as the police and prisons, seek to achieve social control, but they are not always successful. The articles on this page consider various reasons why this might be the case.

An overview of those areas covered by this AC is shown to the right.

Bromley Briefings 2021 - you will need this document many times for up-to-date research

Winter-2022-Factfile.pdf

Repeat offending

Recidivism rates and who re-offends?

Watch the video and use the information to evaluate the ability of prison to rehabilitate offenders.

1. What happened in December 2016?

2. What happened to the officers at the prison?

3. How many wings did the inmates control?

4. How did inspectors describe the jail? Why was that?

5. According to Peter Clarke, what was happening in the prison?

6. Who is now running the prison and who did they take over from?

7. Who was moved from the prison to other jails?

8. According to Tanayeh Sam, what was happening in the prison?

9. What have G4S previously faced criticism for?

10. Overall, is Birmingham Prison helping rehabilitate offenders? Give reasons for your answer.

Civil liberties and legal barriers

Facial Recognition - LibertyFacial recognition technology is being used by police and private companies in publicly accessible places. It breaches everyone’s human rights, discriminates against people of colour and is unlawful. It’s time to ban it.

Does stop and search reduce crime.pdf

The Abu Qatada case:

Abu Qatada arrives in Jordan after eight-year deportation battleDavid Cameron 'absolutely delighted' at Abu Qatada's departure, saying continued presence in UK had made his 'blood boil'

Abu Qatada timelineTimeline of Abu Qatada's fight against deportation

Access to resources and support

EDUCATION IN PRISON.pdf

Trends in criminal justice spending, staffing and populations, Dec 2017_0.pdf

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7868330.stm

Use P147 of the textbook, the 2021 Bromley Briefings Fact File, and the link above, to complete the table on page 8 of your handout.

Housing for ex-prisoners

Calls for 195-year-old Vagrancy Act to be scrapped in England and WalesLaw criminalises homeless people for rough sleeping and begging in England and Wales

It is still illegal under the Vagrancy Act 1824 for a person to be sleeping rough on the streets. Read this article and then think about the situation for ex-prisoners without settled accommodation avoiding committing this crime as soon as they leave the gates of a prison.

Housing and wellbeing | NacroOur services for tenants, landlords, Local Authorities, CRCs and general housing advice services

www.crisis.org.uk/ending-homelessness/law-and-rights/prison-leavers/

Some charities, such as Crisis (above) and Shelter will help prisoners to find accommodation on leaving prison. However, there are limitation to what charities can do.

Finance

The police: The town where police don't come out

The Crown Prosecution Service

CPS response to additional £85m funding

12 August 2019|News

Director of Public Prosecutions Max Hill QC said: “This investment of an additional £85 million for the CPS comes at a crucial time for criminal justice. Our work is changing, and this new funding will provide the increased capacity to enable us to respond effectively to challenging trends we currently face, from the surge in violent crime, to the explosion of digital evidence.

“The Prime Minister has been clear that keeping the public safe is a Government priority, and that this will need a joined up response from all parts of the criminal justice system. Today’s announcement means the CPS can deal effectively with the increasing complexity of our caseload, and any increase that comes as a result of the cash injection for policing.”