Page 3: Legal Application and Criminal Responsibility

The final page delves into how laws are enforced differently based on various social factors and introduces the concept of criminal responsibility. It explores how mental health and other circumstances can affect legal outcomes.

Vocabulary: Typifications - stereotypes or categorizations about which types of people are typically considered criminals.

Example: The case of Alexander Lewis-Ranwell demonstrates how mental health conditions can affect criminal responsibility and legal outcomes.

Highlight: The age of criminal responsibility varies by jurisdiction, being 10 in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, showing how cultural influence on criminal behavior affects legal systems.

Page 1: The Foundation of Social Construction in Criminality

This page introduces the fundamental concept of how criminality is socially constructed and varies across different cultures. The text explores how social construction of criminality in criminology is shaped by various cultural elements including values, beliefs, customs, and traditions.

Definition: Culture encompasses shared values, beliefs, customs, and traditions of specific groups, including elements like food, drink, arts, language, and community practices.

Highlight: Laws and criminal definitions can change over time due to various factors including religious beliefs, public opinion, and evolving social norms.

Example: The case of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in Britain, illustrates how society's views on crime and punishment have evolved over time.