Religious Attitudes to the Treatment of Criminals (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062))

Religious attitudes towards prison

The treatment of criminals

• In UK law, there are several ways that criminals can be punished for crimes.

  • These range from a long-term prison sentence to a fine 

• Some forms of punishment, such as torture, are not permissible, because those punished need to be treated with dignity

  • This is their human right

• Citizens accused of a crime need to be given a fair trial in a court by a fair and unbiased jury

• Reformation is meant to be the most important element when deciding punishment

  • If the criminal reforms or changes, it is of benefit to society

Religious attitudes towards prison

• Prison means loss of liberty for the offender

  • This is reserved for serious offenders and sentences can range up to a full life sentence for the most serious offences

• Prisoners have no control over how they spend their time and spend significant periods locked up

  • At other times they undertake activities such as exercise, training and education programmes, and work for very little money

Christian attitudes towards prison

• Christians agree with the use of prisons for serious offenders

• Prisons protect the community

• Prisons should support the reformation process and help give offenders an education and training for their future

• Prisons should treat offenders with dignity and respect, and conditions should be humane

• The Bible teaches ‘Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them.’ (Hebrews 13:3)

Muslim attitudes towards prison

• Many Muslims believe that prison is a good punishment to ensure justice is done

• Prisons are good as they protect the community

• Prisons are a good punishment as the criminal will lose their freedom and the ability to see their family (important in Islam)

• However, the Qur’an gives other punishments for certain crimes

• In countries under Shari’ah law, the situation is different to the UK. Prison is used to protect society when the offender is awaiting their trial. At the trial, corporal or capital punishments might be imposed instead

Religious attitudes towards corporal punishment

• Corporal punishment is the use of physical pain as a punishment for a criminal act

  • It deliberately inflicts pain through whipping, branding or amputation

• This type of punishment only remains in parts of Africa, the Middle East, Asia and South America

• Corporal punishment is illegal in the UK

  • Corporal punishment was permitted in UK schools until 1987 when it was outlawed in government-funded schools (1999 in all other schools in England and Wales)

  • By 2003, it had also been banned completely in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Christian attitudes towards corporal punishment

• Most Christians would not support corporal punishment

• It causes physical harm and Jesus taught his followers to ‘turn the other cheek’ (Matthew 5:38-39) instead of ‘eye for eye, tooth for tooth’ (Exodus 21:24)

• It is seen as getting revenge by hurting a prisoner

• It does not seek to reform an offender and therefore is merely a negative form of punishment

• Some Christians might say that it is acceptable to use corporal punishment to discipline a child

  • They would refer to the teaching in the Old Testament which suggests that a loving parent would do this: ‘He who spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.’ (Proverbs 13:24)

• However, most Christians would say that other methods of discipline are more effective and respectful

Muslim attitudes towards corporal punishment

• Islam allows corporal punishment in Shari’ah law, and some Muslims support its use on criminals

• There are several examples in the Qur’an of acceptable use of corporal punishment

• It is used in countries with Shari’ah law to punish offences such as gambling, drinking or selling alcohol

• More serious offences may be punished with punishments such as amputation, but this is strictly regulated, with clear proof that the person is guilty of the charges 

• Corporal punishment is often carried out in public because it is seen as an effective deterrent to others

  • Crime rates are lower in countries with Shari’ah law than in the UK

• The Qur’an also says that if someone is genuinely sorry and asks for forgiveness, then the punishment does not need to be used

  • In many Muslim countries, the Law of Compensation can be used, which swaps corporal punishment for paying compensation 

• Therefore many Muslims believe it is better not to use corporal punishment

  • They would say that it is wrong to cause others pain, even criminals, because all human life is made by Allah and is sacred

Religious attitudes towards community service

• Community service is when offenders are made to do unpaid work in the community

  • For example, they might clean graffiti or decorate public buildings

• This type of punishment is used in the UK for offences such as vandalism or minor assault, which are not considered serious enough for a prison sentence

Christian attitudes towards community service

• Christians would agree with community service because it:

  • gives offenders a chance to see the consequences of their actions, and therefore it helps to reform them.

  • is an opportunity to make up for the damage they have caused

  • does not physically harm the offender

  • contributes positively to society

Muslim attitudes towards community service

• Muslims would support the idea of community service as valuable in some situations

• However, it is rarely used in Shari’ah law because it is not seen as a strong enough deterrent to the criminal