Pearson Edexcel · GCSE · History
Course version: 1HI0 · Version from Sept 2016
C1900–present: Crime and punishment in modern Britain - 2 The nature of…
Full specification wording
Option 10: c1900–present: Crime and punishment in modern Britain - 2 The nature of law enforcement and punishment: The abolition of the death penalty; changes to prisons, including the development of open prisons and specialised treatment of young offenders; the development of non-custodial alternatives to prison.
The 20th century saw a shift in punishment from retribution to rehabilitation.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 1HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 2 of 2
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
The 20th century saw a shift in punishment from retribution to rehabilitation. The abolition of the death penalty for murder in 1965 (permanent in 1969) marked a major turning point, driven by changing attitudes and controversial cases. Prisons evolved; the development of open prisons (like New Hall in 1933) offered relaxed regimes to prepare inmates for release. The treatment of young offenders became specialised, with Borstals (1902) and Youth Offender Institutions focusing on education rather than harsh punishment. Furthermore, the system developed non-custodial alternatives to prison, such as probation and community service orders (1972), aiming to reduce overcrowding and integrate offenders into society while maintaining a punitive element.
What earns the marks
- Explain the timeline and reasons for the abolition of the death penalty, including the 1965 Murder Act.
- Describe the purpose of open prisons in rehabilitating offenders and preparing them for reintegration.
- Detail the specialised treatment of young offenders, contrasting Borstals with adult prisons.
- Identify and explain non-custodial alternatives to prison, such as community service and electronic tagging.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Claiming the death penalty was abolished for all crimes in 1965.
Put it right: Note that it was abolished for murder in 1965, but remained for treason and piracy until 1998.
Confusing Borstals with modern Youth Offender Institutions.
Put it right: Explain that Borstals were introduced in 1902 and abolished in 1982, replaced by youth custody centres.
Assuming non-custodial sentences are a modern invention without historical precedent.
Put it right: Recognise that while community service is modern (1972), probation began earlier in 1907.
Exam tips
- Link the abolition of the death penalty to specific case studies, such as Derek Bentley or Timothy Evans, to demonstrate contextual knowledge.
- When discussing changes to prisons, emphasise the shift in purpose from deterrence and retribution to rehabilitation.
- Use non-custodial alternatives as evidence of the government's attempt to manage prison overcrowding and reduce reoffending rates.
Try the lesson
The start of the Option 10: c1900–present: Crime and punishment in modern Britain - 2 The nature of law enforcement and punishment: The abolition of the death penalty; changes to prisons, including the development of open prisons and specialised treatment of young offenders; the development of non-custodial alternatives to prison. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
What is the primary purpose of an open prison, first developed in the twentieth century?
Listen
The 20th century saw a shift in punishment from retribution to rehabilitation. The abolition of the death penalty for murder in 1965 (permanent in 1969) marked a major turning point, driven by changing attitudes and controversial cases. Prisons evolved; the development of open prisons (like New Hall in 1933) offered relaxed regimes to prepare inmates for release. The treatment of young offenders became specialised, with Borstals (1902) and Youth Offender Institutions focusing on education rather than harsh punishment. Furthermore, the system developed non-custodial alternatives to prison, such as probation and community service orders (1972), aiming to reduce overcrowding and integrate offenders into society while maintaining a punitive element. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explain the timeline and reasons for the abolition of the death penalty, including the 1965 Murder Act. Describe the purpose of open prisons in rehabilitating offenders and preparing them for reintegration. Detail the specialised treatment of young offenders, contrasting Borstals with adult prisons. Identify and explain non-custodial alternatives to prison, such as community service and electronic tagging. A common slip: Claiming the death penalty was abolished for all crimes in 1965. Instead, Note that it was abolished for murder in 1965, but remained for treason and piracy until 1998. Exam tip: Link the abolition of the death penalty to specific case studies, such as Derek Bentley or Timothy Evans, to demonstrate contextual knowledge.
Put the events in order
Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.
- 1. Probation began as a non-custodial alternative to prison
- 2. Borstals introduced for the specialised treatment of young offenders
- 3. Community service orders introduced
- 4. New Hall opened as an open prison
- 5. Death penalty abolished for murder
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Rehabilitation vs Retribution
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Penal reform
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Youth justice
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Alternatives to incarceration
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See every definition
- Rehabilitation vs Retribution
- The 20th century saw a shift in punishment from retribution to rehabilitation.
- Penal reform
- Prisons evolved, including the development of open prisons offering relaxed regimes to prepare inmates for release.
- Youth justice
- The treatment of young offenders became specialised, with Borstals and Youth Offender Institutions focusing on education rather than harsh punishment.
- Alternatives to incarceration
- The system developed non-custodial alternatives to prison, such as probation and community service orders, aiming to reduce overcrowding and integrate offenders into society.
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