Views about people who commit crime
I can explain different views on how offenders should be treated, including Christian beliefs and the role of chaplains and charities.
Views about people who commit crime
I can explain different views on how offenders should be treated, including Christian beliefs and the role of chaplains and charities.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Treatment of people who commit crime has changed over time, from harsh punishment to a focus on rehabilitation.
- Chaplains support offenders at every stage, working with groups like Prison Fellowship (restorative justice) and PACT.
- Bible verses such as Genesis 1:27 and Matthew 25:36 support dignity, forgiveness and visiting those in prison.
- Churches support rehabilitation, but agree that crime is wrong.
- Views on offenders vary, some stress punishment and deterrence, others support dignity and rehabilitation.
Keywords
Humane - showing kindness, care and sympathy towards others, respecting their dignity and aiming to reduce suffering
Justice - ensuring fairness by responding to crimes in a way that holds the offender properly accountable
Rehabilitation - the process of helping offenders regain skills, change behaviour and reintegrate into society after committing a crime
Common misconception
Rehabilitation and reform mean the same thing.
Rehabilitation focuses on helping offenders change through support like education and therapy, while reform is the wider goal of changing behaviour and becoming a better person. Rehabilitation is one way to achieve reform.
To help you plan your year 11 religious education lesson on: Views about people who commit crime, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 religious education lesson on: Views about people who commit crime, 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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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 4 religious education lessons from the Religion, crime and punishment unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
5 Questions
Q1.Personal conviction is a deeply held that leads someone to act.
Q2.Which Bible verse is often used to support obeying the law?
Q3.Christians believe conscience helps with decision-making.
Q4.Who was Dietrich Bonhoeffer?
Q5.When might a Christian break the law?
Assessment exit quiz
5 Questions
Q1.Match each keyword to its meaning:
is showing kindness, care and sympathy towards others
is holding the offender properly accountable
is the process of helping offenders regain skills, change behaviour