How does sentencing in England and Wales compare to elsewhere?
I can describe different countries’ approaches to sentencing and evaluate their effectiveness.
How does sentencing in England and Wales compare to elsewhere?
I can describe different countries’ approaches to sentencing and evaluate their effectiveness.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Different countries use different sentencing guidelines, some are rehabilitation focused others are retribution focused.
- Scotland uses a different legal system to England and Wales and therefore has different sentencing guidelines.
- Custodial sentencing exists everywhere but can look very different, e.g. Norweigan prisons are theraputic and home-like.
- Youth justice is different depending on the country and how they view culpability for this age.
Keywords
Sentencing - the process of giving a punishment to a person found guilty in a court case
Rehabilitation - in this context, the process of returning to, or helping someone return to, a healthy or good way of life, after they have offended
Retribution - a response to criminal behavior that focuses on holding offenders accountable through punishment
Reoffending - when someone commits another crime after previously being convicted or punished for one
Common misconception
All countries sentence in the same way as each other.
Although sentencing within a country follows sentencing guidelines, these can vary vastly between each other, e.g. the USA is able to pass the death penalty in some states.
To help you plan your year 10 citizenship lesson on: How does sentencing in England and Wales compare to elsewhere?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 citizenship lesson on: How does sentencing in England and Wales compare to elsewhere?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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Equipment
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
spending time in prison
carrying out work to pay back your local area
paying money
no further punishment