The social construction of criminality

Crime is a social construct

this means that society decides on what is criminal behaviour and what is not

There are reasons as to why certain types of behaviour are made illegal

Cultural Social Religious Problematic Reactionary

› why might certain issues become/cease to be law?

Different cultures have different laws

These laws are punished, when broken, in different ways to our culture

They can be dealt with either more severely or less severely

Different cultures have different laws

- It also means that these laws are punished in different ways to our culture

- They can be dealt with either more severely or less severely

country crime punishment

Iran Adultery

UK Adultery

Saudi Arabia Theft

UK Theft

USA Murder

UK Murder

Indonesia Drug trafficking

UK Drug trafficking

Depends on type of theft –but the maximum is imprisonment

No punishment

Death penalty

Minimum 7 years

In some states- the death penalty

Maximum-life imprisonmentAmputation of the hand

Death by stoning

Answer

country crime punishment

Iran Adultery

UK Adultery

Saudi Arabia Theft

UK Theft

USA Murder

UK Murder

Indonesia Drug trafficking

UK Drug trafficking

Depends on type of theft –but the maximum is imprisonment

No punishment

Death penalty

Minimum 7 years

In some states- the death penalty

Maximum-life imprisonment

Amputation of the hand

Death by stoning

Laws can be applied differently according to circumstances in which actions occur

Legal guidance can be given that says that there could be extenuating circumstances as to why a person might be charged with a lesser offence or not be charged at all

These could be…

self-defence defence of another defence of property prevention of crime lawful arrest provocation diminished responsibility