"Punishment in Britain has always been about deterrence, not reform" — evaluate

Question 5 (16 marks)

"Throughout history, punishment in Britain has been about deterrence, not reform." How far do you agree?

Mark scheme (AO1 + AO2 + AO4, 16 marks):

For deterrence: Public executions, Bloody Code, transportation, stocks and pillory — all designed to terrify would-be criminals. For reform: Elizabeth Fry's prison campaigns; Separate System (1842); Probation Act 1907; community service orders 1970s; rehabilitation programmes today; abolition of capital punishment 1969. Turning point: 19th century shift — from purely deterrent punishments to idea of reformation.

Level	Marks	Description
4	13–16	Balanced sustained argument; evaluates changing ideas over time; justified conclusion
3	9–12	Explains both sides; some evaluation
2	5–8	Some explanation, limited balance
1	1–4	Mainly descriptive