Laws on Bigamy and Polygamy

This page focuses on the laws on bigamy and polygamy in UK and US, highlighting the differences in legal approaches across various locations.

Bigamy is defined as the offense of marrying someone while already being married to another person. Polygamy is described as the practice of having more than one spouse at a time, often with all spouses being aware of each other.

In the United Kingdom, both bigamy and polygamy are currently illegal. The United States also prohibits these practices in all 50 states, although some states have decriminalized them and reduced sentences to the equivalent of a traffic ticket.

Vocabulary: Bigamy refers to the act of marrying someone while already being married, while polygamy is the practice of having multiple spouses simultaneously.

The page then transitions to discussing childhood as a social construct. It emphasizes that childhood is defined by society rather than being a natural or biological state. During the Middle Ages, the concept of childhood as we know it today didn't exist; children were viewed as small adults.

The text describes the harsh working conditions for children during the Industrial Revolution:

• Average working days lasted 12-13 hours
• Children often had to crawl under machinery, risking limb loss
• Child labor was common for economic purposes

Highlight: The concept of childhood has evolved significantly over time, from viewing children as small adults in the Middle Ages to recognizing them as a distinct group requiring protection in modern times.

The page concludes by mentioning the protests against child labor in 1833, which led to new laws protecting children in the workplace, such as:

• 9-13 year-olds were limited to 8-hour workdays
• Mandatory lunch breaks were introduced
• Prohibition of night work for those under 18

Evolution of Childhood and Criminal Responsibility

This page discusses the evolution of childhood in the 20th century and explores the concept of criminal responsibility for young offenders.

The 20th century saw a shift towards a child-centered society, with laws adapting to protect children. Examples of these protections include:

• Establishment of safeguarding teams in schools
• Creation of social services
• Laws regulating work conditions for minors $minimum wage, maximum hours$
• Age restrictions for games and movies
• Prohibition of smoking in cars with children present
• Introduction of compulsory schooling

Highlight: The 20th century marked a significant shift in societal attitudes towards children, resulting in numerous legal and social measures to protect their well-being.

The page then presents a case study of John Venables and Robert Thompson, focusing on the age of criminal responsibility. In England and Wales, the age of criminal responsibility is 10 years old. The case involves these two 10-year-old boys who kidnapped and murdered James Bulger.

Example: The Venables and Thompson case challenged societal perceptions of childhood innocence and criminal responsibility.

The text mentions that one of the boys' lawyers argued that their actions were similar to a harmless prank that escalated. However, this argument was countered by evidence suggesting premeditation, as the boys had previously attempted to kidnap another child.

Highlight: The case of John Venables and Robert Thompson sparked debate about the age of criminal responsibility and the nature of childhood criminality.

Legal Applications and Social Constructs of Crime

This page explores how laws are applied differently according to circumstances and delves into issues with defining crime as a social construct.

The rule of law states that everyone is subject to the law, and it should be applied equally to all. However, there are instances where the law is applied differently:

1. Diminished responsibility: In some murder cases, an alternative charge of manslaughter may be allowed due to an unbalanced mental state.
2. Consent as a defense: This proves that permission was provided by the appropriate person for the act to occur $e.g., boxing is not classed as assault$.
3. Self-defense: A legal defense that allows the use of reasonable force.
4. Automatism: A defense in law meaning the defendant was not in control of their actions.

Vocabulary: Diminished responsibility refers to an unbalanced mental state that is considered to make a person less answerable for a crime.

The page then discusses issues with defining crime, emphasizing that crime depends on context. It provides an example of how smashing a stranger's car window to help a dog on a hot day might change people's perceptions of the act, even though it's still technically criminal.

Example: Breaking into a car to save a dog from heat exhaustion might be viewed more favorably by society, despite being legally considered property damage.

The text concludes by explaining why laws differ according to place, time, and culture. It reinforces the idea that crime and deviance are social constructs, meaning they vary across different societies. Examples of acts with different legal statuses in various places include jaywalking, cannabis use, and euthanasia.

Highlight: The social construction of crime and deviance explains why certain acts may be legal in one jurisdiction but illegal in another, reflecting the diverse values and norms of different societies.

Social Constructs in Criminality and Childhood

This page introduces the concept of social construct of criminality and explores different types of deviance. It emphasizes how society's views shape our understanding of criminal acts and how these perceptions can change over time.

The page defines social construct as something made or defined by society. It then elaborates on four types of deviance:

1. Cross-cultural deviance: Behaviors considered deviant in some cultures but not others.
2. Situational deviance: Actions that are only deviant in specific situations.
3. Historical deviance: Behaviors that are deviant only at certain times in history.
4. Role-based deviance: Actions that are deviant for most people but acceptable for certain occupations.

Definition: A social construct is something that has been created and accepted by the people in a society.

Example: Homosexuality is an instance of cross-cultural deviance, as it is not accepted in all countries worldwide.

The page also touches on the concept of adultery, defining it as voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and someone who is not their spouse. It mentions that adultery is legal in the United Kingdom due to the Matrimonial Causes Act but illegal in Idaho, USA.

Highlight: The legality of certain behaviors, such as adultery, can vary significantly between different cultures and jurisdictions.