Religious attitudes to crime and punishment

10

commandment

sConscience

Types of crim

es

Punishments

Alternatives to

prison

Capital

punishment

Types of crimeNon-indictable = less serious: cycling without lights, minor speeding offences.

Indictable = more serious: rape, murder. If a person is found guilty they may face a prison sentence.

Crime against the personWhen a crime is directed at

a person or groupE.g. murder, assault, rape,

slander, hate crimes, violent abuse, child neglect, mugging.

Crime against propertyE.g. Burglary, vehicle theft,

shoplifting, film/music piracy, vandalism, arson.

Crime against the state (country)

E.g. terrorism, selling secrets to other countries, deceiving the tax officeReligious Offences

Religions have their own religious rules – breaking one would be a sin. E.g. jealously breaks one of the 10 Commandments, stealing breaks a commandment but also the law. Blasphemy is a sin but also illegal in some countries.

Is sin worse than crimes against the state?

What does the Bible tell us?

Right versus wrong• For society to function individuals need to

understand the difference between right and wrong

• Citizens have a duty and responsibility to not break the law other wise there would be chaos

• If parents and schools don’t educate young people between right and wrong young people will not respect others and may even get involved in crime

• Many people believe in ‘conscience’ which is an inner voice that tells an individual between right and wrong

• But if an individual has no awareness of moral standards it is doubtful their conscience will make them feel guilt or remorse for bad actions

Causes of

Crime

SOCIAL REASONS

ENVIRONMENTAL REASONS

PSYCHOLOGICAL REASONS

EXCLUDED FROM

SCHOOL

ABUSIVE PARENTS

ADDICTION

UNEMPLOYMENT

PEER PRESSURE

POOR HOUSING

MENTAL ILLNESS

Social Reasons

• Abusive and violent parents and broken homes provide a poor role models and leave children unable to recognise acceptable behaviour.

• Criminal activity offers excitement instead of boredom and a feeling of acceptance

• Drugs, gambling, and addiction may be financed though criminal activity

• Surveys show that the majority of young people that end up in prison have been excluded from school

• Left with nothing constructive to do, law-breaking might give them an adrenaline rush and the feeling that they have achieved something (even though it is wrong)

Environmental Reasons

• High unemployment can lead to crime rates rising

• Rivalry between gangs has led to people carrying knives and guns

• Crime rates among people who have poor housing, overcrowding and deprived backgrounds are high

• An uncared for environment does not encourage responsible behaviour

Psychological Reasons

• Criminologists say that the majority of people in prison are suffering from mental illness or psychological problems

• Some people argue that people a naturally selfish so crime is a result of human nature

• Criminologists believe that violence on TV can influence people to try and copy it

Religious Attitudes to law and order

• All religions recognise the importance of law and order.

• Without law and order there would be chaos.

• People would live in fear & worried about becoming a victim of crime.

• Citizens have a moral duty to behave according to the law or they deservedly are punished by the law.

• Christians believe that all actions have consequences “a man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:7)

• God will judge• Criminals need to be

punished but also forgiven; they deserve a second chance “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. ”Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” (Luke 17:3-4)

• It is important to work towards stopping the causes of crime

• Christians are encouraged to be law abiding citizens

Christian Buddhist• If a person breaks the law

their karma will be affected & actions have consequences for their future

• “If a person foolishly does me wrong, I will return to him the protection of my boundless love. The more evil that comes from him, the more good will go from me” (The Buddha)

• God does not judge• Am individuals own karma

will decide and ensure justice will be done in their current life or the next

• Buddhists do not want any future suffering

Aims of punishment – which is most important and why?

ProtectionKeeping the public safe

from being harmed, threatened or injured by

criminals

RetributionGetting revenge and giving the criminal what they deserve

DeterrencePutting people off

committing crimes by deterring them

ReformationChanging a criminals behaviour to reform them for the better

VindicationOffenders must be

punished to show that the law must be

respected & is right

ReparationTo help an offender put something back into society ‘repay’

Religious Teaching about Punishment

• “Love your neighbour”(Jesus) – Christian love should be shown to all people

• “Pray for those who persecute you”(Jesus)

• “Forgive your brother 70 x 7 times”(Jesus) – always be prepared to forgive those who wrong you

• “Forgive us the wrongs we have done, as we forgive the wrongs others have done” (from the Lord’s Prayer – the Our Father) – this recognises that everyone sins and needs forgiveness

• Buddhists believe that you reap what you sow – bad actions will have karmic consequences.

• The ideal is for a person to see the error of their ways and to turn their life around.

• Imprisonment should provide opportunities for reform.

• Principles of non-harming and compassion mean Buddhists would not agree with punishments that were unduly severe or would cause direct harm to the offender.

Religious beliefs about prison

• The major religions accept that there is a need for prisons with society to deprive offenders of their freedom and stop them continuing a life of crime.

• Religions believe it is important to try and reform offenders i.e. Education programmes, medical programmes to overcome drug addiction so that when they are released from prison as law-abiding citizens.

• Christians have been actively involved in prison reform and many prisons have a chaplain who visits prisoners and help prisoner’s families.

• Buddhists believe in showing compassion (karuna) the best way to help the offender is to reform their behaviour.

Religious and moral teachings

‘When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The King will reply, ‘I

tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine,

you did for me.’Matthew 25:39-40

What does this Bible quote tell us about

Christian beliefs about prison?

Prison reform today

• In Britain the Howard League for Penal Reform and the Prison Reform Trust are working now to improve conditions for prisoners. They are concerned about the overcrowding as there are currently around 5,000 people who are waiting to be transferred to psychiatric care.

• They argue that prisons do not help people reform and should be a form of punishment for the worst offenders.

• What do you think?

Religious beliefs on capital punishment

• Some Christians support the use of capital punishment as they believe that the threat of the death penalty acts as a deterrent to stop some people committing serious crimes.

• Other Christians believe that it is always wrong to kill, only God has the right to take life away (sanctity of life). In the past innocent people have been wrongly sentenced to death, also it prevents criminals from repenting.

• Buddhism teaches the importance of non-violence ahimsa and the First Precept states ‘I undertake not to harm any living thing’.

• However in some countries where Buddhism is the main religion the death penalty is used i.e. Thailand.