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GCSE · Thematic Studies

RS.TE5 Suffering Caused and Relieved by Punishment

AQA 8062 · Calculators not allowed · about 55 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.

This question checks key vocabulary used when discussing suffering caused and relieved by punishment.

(a)State what is meant by a victim of crime.(1)

(b)State what is meant by reparation.(1)

(c)State what is meant by compensation.(1)

(d)State what is meant by victim support.(1)

(e)State what is meant by suffering, in the context of crime and punishment.(1)

(Total for Question 1 is 5 marks)

Give three facts about who can be affected by suffering related to crime and its punishment.

(Total for Question 2 is 3 marks)

Explain two religious teachings about suffering caused by punishment. Refer to a source of wisdom and authority in your answer.

(Total for Question 3 is 4 marks)

Explain two contrasting views, religious and/or non-religious, about the suffering caused to an offender's family by their punishment. Refer to a source of wisdom and authority in your answer.

(Total for Question 4 is 5 marks)

This question is about suffering caused and relieved by crime and punishment. It is the AQA-style 24-mark, five-part question: parts (a) to (d) are worth 12 marks; part (e) is the 12-mark evaluation.

(a)State one group of people, other than the offender, who may be affected by suffering caused by crime and its punishment.(1)

(b)Give two ways that suffering caused by crime can be relieved.(2)

(c)Explain two religious teachings about relieving suffering caused by crime. Refer to a source of wisdom and authority in your answer.(4)

(d)Explain two contrasting views about where support for those affected by crime should be focused. Refer to a source of wisdom and authority or another source in your answer.(5)

(e)Evaluate this statement: 'Relieving the suffering of victims should always be the top priority of the criminal justice system.' In your answer you should: refer to religious teaching, refer to different points of view, reach a justified conclusion.(12)

(Total for Question 5 is 24 marks)

Explain two non-religious perspectives on suffering caused by crime and punishment. Refer to Humanist or other non-religious beliefs in your answer.

(Total for Question 6 is 4 marks)

Give three ways the suffering caused by a crime can affect a victim.

(Total for Question 7 is 3 marks)

Mark scheme · RS.TE5 Suffering Caused and Relieved by Punishment

Question 1

(a) B1 a person who has been directly harmed by a crime, e.g. physically, emotionally or financially, oe
(a) Answer: A person who has been directly harmed by a crime, e.g. physically, emotionally or financially.
(b) B1 making amends for harm caused, e.g. by paying compensation or by an apology, oe
(b) Answer: Making amends for harm caused, e.g. by paying compensation or by an apology.
(c) B1 money or another form of payment given to make up for harm or loss caused, oe
(c) Answer: Money or another form of payment given to make up for harm or loss caused.
(d) B1 practical and emotional help given to a victim of crime, e.g. by charities or support services, oe
(d) Answer: Practical and emotional help given to a victim of crime, e.g. by charities or support services.
(e) B1 pain or hardship, physical, emotional or financial, experienced as a result of a crime or its punishment, oe
(e) Answer: Pain or hardship, physical, emotional or financial, experienced as a result of a crime or its punishment.

Question 2

B1 the victim of the crime can suffer physical, emotional or financial harm, oe
B1 the offender can suffer through the punishment itself, e.g. the loss of liberty in prison, oe
B1 the offender's family can suffer, e.g. through loss of income or the stigma of having a family member in prison, oe
Answer: Any three: victims can suffer physical, emotional or financial harm; offenders can suffer through the punishment itself; offenders' families can also suffer, e.g. loss of income or stigma.

Question 3

B1 point 1: some Christian teaching holds that the suffering caused by punishment, e.g. discipline, can serve a positive purpose if it leads to genuine change, oe
B1 development: 'No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace' (Hebrews 12:11), oe
B1 point 2: Islamic teaching on qisas holds that the possibility of punishment, even where it causes suffering, protects society and can save lives, oe
B1 development: 'there is for you in legal retribution [saving of] life... that you may become righteous' (Qur'an 2:179), oe
Answer: E.g. suffering through discipline producing later good (Hebrews 12:11); qisas as protecting life even where it causes suffering (Qur'an 2:179).

Question 4

B1 view 1: some argue this suffering, while regrettable, is an unavoidable consequence of a proportionate punishment for the original crime, oe
B1 development: this can be supported by the general principle of proportionate justice in Exodus 21:23-25, oe
B1 view 2: others argue the suffering of an innocent family, e.g. children losing a parent to prison, should be reduced wherever possible, such as through community sentences, oe
B1 development: this can draw on teaching about compassion for the vulnerable, e.g. Matthew 25:40, 'whatever you did for one of the least of these... you did for me', oe
B1 reference to a source of wisdom and authority made accurately, oe
Answer: Contrast: an offender's family's suffering as an unavoidable consequence of proportionate justice (Exodus 21:23-25) vs a view that this suffering should be minimised out of compassion for the vulnerable (Matthew 25:40).

Question 5

(a) B1 the victim of the crime, or the offender's family, or the wider community, oe
(a) Answer: E.g. the victim of the crime (also accept: the offender's family; the wider community).
(b) B1 compensation or reparation paid to the victim, oe
(b) B1 support services offered to the victim or to the offender's family, oe
(b) Answer: E.g. compensation to the victim; support services for the victim or the offender's family (also accept: restorative justice meetings; rehabilitation that reduces future offending).
(c) B1 point 1: many Christians believe they have a duty to help carry the burdens of those who are suffering, oe
(c) B1 development: 'Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ' (Galatians 6:2), oe
(c) B1 point 2: many Muslims believe relieving another person's suffering is of the highest importance, oe
(c) B1 development: 'whoever saves one [life], it is as if he had saved mankind entirely' (Qur'an 5:32), oe
(c) Answer: E.g. the duty to carry others' burdens (Galatians 6:2); the high value placed on relieving harm and saving life (Qur'an 5:32).
(d) B1 view 1: many argue the community has a primary duty to support victims of crime, e.g. through victim support services and compensation, oe
(d) B1 development: this can be supported by teaching to carry the burdens of those who are suffering (Galatians 6:2), applied to victims specifically, oe
(d) B1 view 2: others argue that supporting an offender's rehabilitation also relieves suffering, because it reduces the number of future victims, oe
(d) B1 development: on this view, relieving suffering is not only about the present victim but about preventing future harm to others, oe
(d) B1 reference to a source of wisdom and authority or another appropriate source made accurately, oe
(d) Answer: Contrast: primary focus on supporting current victims (Galatians 6:2) vs a wider focus that includes offender rehabilitation to prevent future victims' suffering.
(e) L4 (10-12): A well-argued, balanced answer that considers more than one point of view in a developed way, using accurate and detailed references to religious teaching and/or scripture to support each point, and reaches a clear, justified conclusion.
(e) L3 (7-9): A clear and reasoned answer that considers more than one point of view, supported by relevant references to religious teaching and/or scripture, though the justification of the conclusion may be less developed.
(e) L2 (4-6): A reasoned answer that considers at least one point of view, with some relevant supporting evidence, but with limited or no consideration of an alternative view.
(e) L1 (1-3): One or more relevant points are made, but with little or no supporting evidence and no reasoned conclusion.
(e) L0 (0): No relevant content.
(e) Indicative content:
- Note for markers: this question can be answered with either conclusion; credit any well-supported argument, whether it agrees, disagrees, or takes a middle position.
- Agree: victims can suffer lasting physical, emotional and financial harm, and some argue the justice system has historically focused more on offenders than on properly supporting victims.
- Agree: Galatians 6:2's teaching to 'carry each other's burdens' is often applied to supporting victims specifically, since they did not choose the harm done to them.
- Agree: without strong victim support, some argue confidence in the justice system as a whole is weakened, since victims may feel forgotten.
- Disagree: Qur'an 5:32 teaches that saving one life is like saving all mankind, which some use to argue that preventing future crime, including through offender rehabilitation, ultimately protects future victims too.
- Disagree: if a system focuses only on the current victim and ignores rehabilitation, an unreformed offender may go on to create more victims, so some argue this is not truly in victims' long-term interests either.
- Disagree: 'always the top priority' may be too strong, since a justice system also has duties to protect the wider public and to act fairly towards the accused and convicted.
- A balanced answer might conclude that supporting victims must always be a central priority, but that this is best achieved alongside, not instead of, measures that reduce future offending and so future victims' suffering.

Question 6

B1 point 1: many Humanists argue that reducing overall human suffering, wherever it falls, should guide how punishment is designed, oe
B1 development: this can lead to support for punishments that are proportionate and that avoid unnecessary suffering, e.g. to an offender's innocent family, while still holding the offender accountable, oe
B1 point 2: some argue that practical, evidence-based support for victims, such as counselling and compensation schemes, matters more than religious concepts such as sin, oe
B1 development: on this view, the state and community, not only the offender, share responsibility for relieving a victim's suffering, oe
Answer: E.g. a utilitarian, suffering-minimising Humanist argument; a practical, evidence-based case for victim support.

Question 7

B1 financial loss, e.g. through theft, damage or being unable to work, oe
B1 emotional or psychological harm, e.g. fear, anxiety or distress, oe
B1 a lasting loss of a sense of safety or trust, oe
Answer: Any three: financial loss; emotional or psychological harm; a lasting loss of a sense of safety or trust.

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