The Role of the Police and Courts in the Criminal Justice System

Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.

• identifies a first way, e.g. typifications of the 'typical offender'1 mark
• develops this, e.g. Cicourel argued officers use stereotypes, often linked to class or background, when deciding who to stop or arrest1 mark
• identifies a second way, e.g. differences in how areas are policed1 mark
• develops this, e.g. areas seen as 'high crime' may receive heavier policing, increasing the recorded offending of residents there regardless of actual behaviour elsewhere1 mark

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• Award up to 8 marks for a response that identifies and explains relevant points, supported by sociological evidence.2 marks
• 1-2 marks: identifies the Marxist argument that the courts favour the powerful, e.g. corporate and white-collar crime is less likely to be prosecuted or harshly sentenced.2 marks
• 1-2 marks: explains a supporting idea, e.g. Chambliss's argument that law enforcement favours the interests of powerful groups.1 mark
• 1-2 marks: identifies the feminist chivalry thesis, e.g. Pollak's argument that women may be treated more leniently than men by a predominantly male criminal justice system.1 mark
• 1-2 marks: gives a balancing point, e.g. evidence that women who offend against gender norms, such as violent offenders, can be treated more, not less, harshly, showing treatment is not uniformly lenient.1 mark
• Full marks require clear explanation linked to named sociological evidence rather than unsupported assertion.1 mark

Nothing ticked yet - 8 available

Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.

• Detailed and accurate knowledge of at least two theories or perspectives on unequal treatment (e.g. interactionist, Marxist, feminist). Builds a developed, well-evidenced argument on both sides and reaches a clear, substantiated conclusion.2 marks
• Accurate knowledge of at least one relevant theory with named evidence, and some reference to an alternative view, but the argument or evaluation is less fully developed.2 marks
• Some appropriate knowledge of policing or the courts but the answer may be one-sided or lack named sociological evidence.2 marks
• Basic, undeveloped knowledge with little clear reference to named theory or evidence.2 marks
• No creditable response.1 mark
• Cicourel's concept of typifications shows police discretion can be shaped by stereotypes of the 'typical offender' rather than by offending alone; Marxists argue the law and its enforcement favour the powerful, so corporate and white-collar crime is less likely to reach court or be harshly sentenced than working-class crime; Pollak's chivalry thesis suggests women may be treated more leniently than men for comparable offences.1 mark
• due process is a formal legal principle intended to guarantee everyone a fair trial and the presumption of innocence, regardless of background; not all evidence supports leniency towards every group, e.g. women who commit violent offences that break gender norms can be treated more harshly, not more leniently, which challenges a simple chivalry explanation; formal rules, procedures and rights of appeal exist specifically to constrain individual officer or court bias.1 mark
• a strong answer concludes that, despite the formal principle of due process, sociological evidence on police discretion, selective enforcement and the chivalry thesis suggests treatment is not fully equal in practice, though the direction and size of any bias can vary by social group and type of offence rather than following one single pattern.1 mark

Nothing ticked yet - 12 available