Punishment and its justification

    AQA
    GCSE

    This study component requires a critical analysis of the sociological perspectives on the role and justification of punishment within the Crime and Deviance module. Candidates must evaluate competing theories regarding the function of punishment: Durkheim's functionalist view of reinforcing social solidarity (retributive vs. restitutive justice), Marxist interpretations of punishment as a Repressive State Apparatus (RSA) serving capitalism (Rusche and Kirchheimer), and Weberian rationalization. Crucially, students must analyze Foucault's 'Discipline and Punish', tracing the shift from sovereign power (public spectacle) to disciplinary power (surveillance/Panopticism). Contemporary issues such as mass incarceration (Garland), transcarceration, and the crisis of recidivism must be assessed against these theoretical frameworks.

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    Objectives
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    Exam Tips
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    Pitfalls
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    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Award marks for explicit linkage of Durkheim's concept of 'boundary maintenance' when discussing the Functionalist perspective on public punishment.
    • Credit responses that accurately distinguish between 'formal social control' (police, courts, prison) and 'informal social control' (family, peer group, education).
    • Candidates must evaluate the effectiveness of custodial sentences by citing concepts such as 'recidivism rates' or the 'university of crime' argument.
    • High-level responses must apply Marxist theory to explain punishment as a tool of the 'repressive state apparatus' used to maintain ruling class hegemony.

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Award marks for explicit linkage of Durkheim's concept of 'boundary maintenance' when discussing the Functionalist perspective on public punishment.
    • Credit responses that accurately distinguish between 'formal social control' (police, courts, prison) and 'informal social control' (family, peer group, education).
    • Candidates must evaluate the effectiveness of custodial sentences by citing concepts such as 'recidivism rates' or the 'university of crime' argument.
    • High-level responses must apply Marxist theory to explain punishment as a tool of the 'repressive state apparatus' used to maintain ruling class hegemony.

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡When analyzing 'Items' (sources), explicitly quote the text to trigger a theoretical concept (e.g., link a mention of 'strict laws' to 'deterrence').
    • 💡For 12-mark questions, ensure a 'juxtaposition' structure: present one theoretical view (e.g., Functionalist) and immediately critique it with an opposing view (e.g., Marxist).
    • 💡Use precise terminology: replace 'stopping crime' with 'incapacitation' or 'deterrence'; replace 'fixing the criminal' with 'rehabilitation'.
    • 💡Allocate strictly 1 minute per mark; do not over-write on 3 or 4-mark questions at the expense of the 12-mark essay.

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Conflating 'deterrence' (preventing future crime) with 'retribution' (punishing past actions).
    • Providing anecdotal descriptions of prison conditions rather than analyzing the sociological function of incarceration.
    • Failing to explicitly reference a sociological perspective (Functionalism, Marxism, Interactionism) in 12-mark 'Discuss' questions.
    • Confusing civil law outcomes (damages) with criminal law sanctions (imprisonment/fines).

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    Identify
    Describe
    Explain
    Discuss
    Evaluate
    To what extent

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