the threat of punishment as a way to put a person off committing crime

ensuring fairness by responding to crimes in a way that holds the offender properly accountable

legal measure aimed at preserving others’ rights and freedoms by removing or restricting those who pose a risk

helping the criminal understand why their behaviour was wrong, with the goal of changing  their mindset and actions

getting the criminal back for their crimes by giving a punishment as payback or revenge for the wrongdoing

The aims of punishment

Religious education

Good and evil intentions

Reasons for crime: poverty and upbringing

Reasons for crime: mental illness and addiction

Reasons for crime: greed and hate

Opposition to an unjust law

Views about people who commit crime

Views about different types of crime

The treatment of criminals: prison and community service

The treatment of criminals: corporal punishment

Different religious views about corporal punishment

The concept of forgiveness

Different religious views about forgiveness

Ethical arguments relating to the death penalty

Different religious views about the death penalty

In this unit pupils will study ideas of crime and how people may view crime is caused. From that, they will examine different ideas of punishing crime and treating criminals focussing especially on a case study of the death penalty and ideas of forgiveness.

Religion, crime and punishment

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Punishment can focus on the offender, society, or the {{}}.

Deterrence discourages crime, protection keeps people safe, and {{}} ensures fairness.

What value is central to Christian ideas about punishment?

Reformation changes the offender, protection keeps people safe, and justice ensures {{}}.

Hate crimes are motivated by {{}} against someone’s identity or group.

The Bible teaches people to love their {{}} as themselves.

they go against commandments and teachings

Why do Christians condemn murder and theft?

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights protects life, {{}}, and equality.

Starter Quiz

What is an example of a serious crime?