Crime and Law Relevant up-to-date facts, figures, video content and other resources aimed at learners studying all levels of Modern Studies. Scotland has its own legal system, which differs from the rest of the UK. Explore how it works with this resource aimed at learners studying at all levels of Modern Studies. Find resources aimed at developing understanding of crime and law in Scotland. Contents About the resource ............................................................................................................................... 5 Note: Changes since this resource was originally published ............................................................... 5 1. Types of crime .................................................................................................................................. 6 What do we mean by crime? ............................................................................................................. 6 Categories of Crime .......................................................................................................................... 6 Crimes against the person ................................................................................................................. 6 Murder .......................................................................................................................................... 7 Assault .......................................................................................................................................... 7 Hate crimes ................................................................................................................................... 7 Rape and sexual assault................................................................................................................ 8 Crimes against property .................................................................................................................... 8 Theft.............................................................................................................................................. 8 Damage to property and public order offences ............................................................................... 9 Other crimes ..................................................................................................................................... 9 White-collar crime .......................................................................................................................... 9 Blue-collar crime ............................................................................................................................ 9 Traffic crime .................................................................................................................................... 10 Traffic offences and penalties ...................................................................................................... 10 Drug and alcohol ............................................................................................................................. 11 Scottish Government initiatives .................................................................................................... 12 Minimum pricing for alcohol.......................................................................................................... 12 Why do alcohol laws matter? ....................................................................................................... 12 Drug offences ................................................................................................................................. 13 Drugs and young people .............................................................................................................. 13 The Misuse of Drugs Act.............................................................................................................. 13 Drug classification ....................................................................................................................... 13 Legal highs .................................................................................................................................. 14 Drug courts.................................................................................................................................. 14 The impact of crime......................................................................................................................... 14 Supporting victims of crime.............................................................................................................. 14 2. Causes of crime.............................................................................................................................. 15 Collectivists and individualists.......................................................................................................... 15 Social exclusion .............................................................................................................................. 15 Poverty ........................................................................................................................................... 16 Gang culture ................................................................................................................................... 16 Boredom ......................................................................................................................................... 17 Alcohol and drugs ........................................................................................................................... 17 Biological Issues ............................................................................................................................. 17 2 | Crime and law Modern-day criminology............................................................................................................... 17 3. The role of the police ...................................................................................................................... 18 What is the Scottish Police Authority?.............................................................................................. 18 Reserved powers of the police......................................................................................................... 18 4. The Criminal Justice System in Scotland ......................................................................................... 20 Courts and sentencing .................................................................................................................... 20 How is the courts system organised? ........................................................................................... 20 Solemn and summary procedure.................................................................................................. 20 What is the prosecution service?.................................................................................................. 20 How the does the prosecution system work? ................................................................................ 21 Verdicts ....................................................................................................................................... 21 Appeals in Scotland ..................................................................................................................... 21 Types of punishment ....................................................................................................................... 21 Custodial sentencing ................................................................................................................... 22 The purpose of prison .................................................................................................................. 22 Women in prison.......................................................................................................................... 23 Commission on women offenders ................................................................................................ 23 What is the role of prisons in Scotland? ........................................................................................ 23 Non-custodial sentencing ............................................................................................................. 23 Youth justice ................................................................................................................................... 24 Young offenders in Scotland ........................................................................................................ 24 Custodial sentencing ................................................................................................................... 24 4. Added Value in Modern Studies ...................................................................................................... 25 What does Added Value look like in Modern Studies? ...................................................................... 26 Who uses social research?.............................................................................................................. 26 How do I choose what to research? ................................................................................................. 26 Types of social research.................................................................................................................. 27 Researching your