FIND OUT MORE. Global Protest 316 • Human Rights 317 • Politics 306–307 • Society 294–295 • The State 308–309
Society and Beliefs^311
Every modern state has created a police force to find law breakers,
charge them with crimes, and bring them to court for a trial. The
police are entrusted with enforcing the law, as well as protecting
the rights of citizens.HOW ARE LAW-BREAKERS PUNISHED?
Different legal systems use different punishments
to deter crime and discipline a law-breaker. Legal
systems based on traditional rules tend to prefer
penalties which cause physical injury to the guilty
person (corporal punishment). Modern systems tend
to prefer detention in prison or cash fines.CAN POLICE FORCES PREVENT CRIME?
Police forces invest time in advising citizens how to
prevent crimes – for example, by fitting locks to stop
burglars. Crimes can be prevented if the risk of being
caught is increased. The percentage of crimes in which
a criminal is caught varies. Generally, more resources
are used to solve serious crimes than petty crimes.WHY DO WE HAVE JURIES?
A jury is a panel of usually 12 citizens selected from
the general population. They hear all the evidence and
decide whether they think an accused person is guilty
or innocent. Juries represent the public during a trial,
bringing with them a democratic power to balance the
powers of state officials.
A person accused of law-breaking is tried in a court, a public hall
of justice presided over by a state official called a judge. The court
hears the evidence both against and in favour of the accused. If
the court finds the person guilty, it can impose a penalty.
WHAT IS A THREAT TO PUBLIC ORDER?
One of the reasons that police forces were created – in
the early 19th century – was to maintain public order.
Today, public order usually involves controlling large
crowds, or political protestors, and protecting property.
Police are allowed to use force, if necessary, to
maintain public order.WHY DON’T CITIZENS POLICE THEMSELVES?
In small societies, rule-breakers are usually discovered
and punished by their fellow citizens. In complex,
mobile societies, there are often weaker social links
between people. This makes it harder for communities
to police themselves. Some crimes also require the
work of specially trained detectives.1 CROWD CONTROL IN JAPAN
Large crowds – such as those that assemble at big sporting events,
pop concerts, or a rush-hour tube platform – can be dangerous. These
Japanese policemen are creating a barrier to keep a crowd back, to
protect those in front from being trampled or forced onto the tracks.
COURT
POLICE
PRISON 3
The law sets down which types
of crime deserve shorter or
longer prison terms. The risk of
losing personal and economic
freedoms while locked away in
a prison such as this one can
deter law-breaking. However,
prisons can also brutalize and
dehumanize inmates.4 COURT OF LAW
Some cases are tried in front of
a panel of judges, rather than a
jury of citizens. This trial of a US
serviceman, accused of a crime in
Japan, was too politically sensitive
for a normal jury to hear.1 POLICE IN THE COMMUNITY
This US police officer addresses
school children during a drug
awareness and education
programme. These programmes
show children that there is an
alternative to gangs and violence.COUNTRY PRISONERS PER 100,000 CITIZENS
USA 2,293,000 756
Russia 891,700 629
South Africa 164,300 335
Singapore 11,800 267
UK 92,900 131
China 1,565,000 119
France 60,000 96
Germany 73,000 89
Japan 81,000 60
India 373,000 33PRISON POPULATION