Religion and Crime
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All major religions recognise the importance
of law and order in society – the law should
be respected
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Christians believe the causes of crime should
be tackled and promote the idea of
forgiveness
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Muslims believe that they should follow the
Qur’an and the law of Muhammad
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Social causes: lack of education / abusive
violent parents / drug or alcohol addiction /
boredom and poor role models
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Environmental causes: unemployment / poor
estates and gang rivalry
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Psychological causes: mental illness / violence
on TV or in games
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Criminal law: where the state law has been
broken: Murder / Robbery etc
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Civil law: personal disputes / divorce / sue
companies
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Indictable: more serious crimes / rape /
murder
Non-indictable: less serious / driving offences
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Crimes against the person: Murder / Assault
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Crimes against property: Vehicle theft / shop
lifting / criminal damage
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Crimes against the state: Terrorism or
Treason
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Sin: A crime against religion or God –
breaking the commandments
Some are similar to the law “Do not steal”
some are religions “Remember the Sabbath”
Blasphemy – insulting God or religion can be
very serious in Muslim countries and carries the
death penalty
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Protection - protect the public from
dangerous people like murders

Retribution – Revenge for a crime – eye for an
eye
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Deterrence – Stops people committing
crimes because of the high punishment – puts
people off
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Reformation – To change people and their
behaviour for the better
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Vindication – So people respect the law if
there is no punishment people would not
obey
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Reparation – To make up for their crime, give
something back to society - community
service
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Idea of revenge / getting even / retribution –
not acceptable
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The Law must be upheld – Vindication
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Work with the causes of crime and crime
prevention
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Must REFORM – punishment and forgiveness
go together
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Deter people from crime – heavy
punishments
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Public humiliation – flogging
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Law must be respected and the victim
satisfied
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Muslims hope that they will repent and seek
forgiveness from Allah
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Protect from dangerous people
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Isolate and punish
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Stop reoffending
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Deterrent and Vindication
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A chance to reform
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Schools for crime
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Breed resentment / bitterness
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Very Expensive - £30 000 per year
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Most prisoners reoffend 70%
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Difficult to get a job
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All religions accept the need for prisons

Must reform criminals – education and
qualifications
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Need to support prisoners on release
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Help to overcome addiction
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Christians actively involved in prison reform –
Vicars visit prisoners

Christians have campaigned for more
emphasis on reform
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Muslims hope that prison is a deterrence and
that criminals will ask for Allah’s forgiveness

In 1969 the UK abolished the death penalty
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Arguments for:
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Retribution – life for a life
Deterrence – high punishment
Protection – can never reoffend
Finance – Much cheaper than keeping
someone in prison for 15 years
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Mistakes – Innocent people have been
executed
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Protection – life in prison should mean life
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Deterrence – No evidence that it is more of a
deterrent than life in prison
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Rights – should the government have the
right?
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Some Christians support the death penalty –
it is still used in parts of America. The bible
says a life for a life
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Other Christians believe in forgiveness and
that only God has the right to take life away

Thou shall not murder – 10 Commandments
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Most Muslim countries have the death
penalty for murder
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Sometimes financial compensation is offered
instead of the death penalty
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Muhammad accepted the justice of a life for a
life
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Electronic Tagging – Cheaper than prison but
crimes can still be committed – e.g before
curfew…. Is an easy punishment?!
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Community Service – Gives something back
to society, teaches reform, seen as an easy
punishment

Fines – Can be instant but some people cant
afford it!
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Probation – period of good behaviour - offers
advice and does not impact on family
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The term young offender refers to anyone
under 18 who has broken the law.
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If a young offender commits a minor crime
they may be given:
a reprimand
a final warning
an ASBO (Anti Social Behaviour Order)
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Secure training centre – purpose built centres
with a focus on education and rehabilitation
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Secure Children’s home – run by the local
authority social services and focus on the
physical, emotional and behavioural needs of
the young people
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Young offenders Institution – Run by the actual
prison service as a form of protection to the
public and rehabilitation to the young person
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Parole is when a prisoner is released without
completing their sentence, this is because
they have shown good behaviour in prison
and are no longer considered a risk to society.
If they are granted parole they need to report
to a parole officer on a regular basis.
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Early release is when a prison is let out of
prison before they have served their full
sentence. This may happen in the case of
political prisoners or due to overcrowding in
prisons
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Life imprisonment is the most severe
punishment given. The average life sentence
is 15 years although it may be longer such as
in the case of Myra Hindley. There are less
than 50 prisoners in the UK who will remain in
prison until they die.