SC5056 - Working with Offenders (2024/25)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2024/25 | ||||||||
| Module title | Working with Offenders | ||||||||
| Module level | Intermediate (05) | ||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 15 | ||||||||
| School | School of Social Sciences and Professions | ||||||||
| Total study hours | 150 | ||||||||
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| Assessment components |
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| Running in 2024/25(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) | No instances running in the year |
Module summary
This module offers you the chance to understand the current debates and practices around working with offenders. The module will cover working with children involved in offending behaviour as well as adults and is ideal if you are considering working within youth justice, probation or voluntary sector organisations working with those with offending backgrounds. You will explore debates around enforcement, risk management and public health approaches within the criminal justice sector. A key focus of the module will also be on your understanding how discrimination (including individual prejudice) affects people's experience of the criminal justice system and how to work in an anti-oppressive way.
The module aims are as follows:
● Understand the role of the youth justice system, probation service and voluntary sector organisations when working with offenders.
● Discuss and evaluate the effectiveness of enforcement, public health and risk managements approaches to offender management and crime prevention and desistance.
● Support you to understand risk factors associated with offending.
● Explore the importance of trauma informed practice within the criminal justice system.
● Assess the impact of discrimination on disproportionality and the role of anti-oppressive practice.
● Understand the role of assessment and reporting when working with those involved in offending.
Prior learning requirements
Available to study abroad? YES
Syllabus
Organisations supporting those with criminal histories (LO1)
Here you are introduced to the functions of the various criminal justice agencies including the probation service, youth justice service, victim support, and various voluntary sector organisations. There will be a discussion of their roles, responsibilities and statutory duties, including the legal frameworks that guide their work.
Risk factors influencing criminal behaviour – Neurological development and trauma (LO3)
Here you will be introduced to the concept of risk factors influencing criminological behaviour and then will specifically explore understandings of neurological development that underpin life course theories of desistance. Included will be a discussion of the impact of unsupported neurodiversity, adverse childhood experiences and trauma in the likelihood of someone offending.
Risk factors influencing criminal behaviour – Social and environmental factors (LO3)
This topic will allow you to explore the influence that social and environmental factors have on offending behaviour. This will include a discussion of the impact that family life, education and neighbourhood environment have on offending and desistance
Approaches to desistance - Enforcement and risk management (LO3, 5)
Here you will explore how enforcement and risk management approaches to crime prevention and desistance are delivered and evaluated. You will be challenged to consider the impact of these approaches and evaluate their short and long term effectiveness.
Approaches to desistance - Public health approach and trauma informed practice (LO3, 5)
Here you will discuss the effectiveness of public health and trauma informed approaches to crime prevention and desistance. You will be challenged to understand their impact on service delivery and priorities within the sector.
Tackling discrimination and disproportionality (LO4)
This topic will support you to go beyond understanding that discrimination and disproportionality exists and explore the reasons why and evaluate what is being done to tackle the over representation of certain groups within the criminal justice system. You will be challenged to reflect on your own preconceived ideas and evaluate the impact of unconscious bias and the importance of anti-oppressive practice.
Working with violent offenders (LO1-5)
This topic discusses what needs to be taken into consideration when working with violent offenders. This will include exploring why people commit violent crimes, what can be done to prevent further violent offending and how to safeguard the public and individuals against violent victimisation.
Working with those with substance misuse issues (LO1-5)
Here you will consider the influence that substance misuse has on offending and evaluate the effectiveness of current approaches to addressing this issue. You will then consider the skills needed to effectively support those with substance misuse issues.
Assessments and report writing within the criminal justice system (LO2)
Here you will be offered the opportunity to experience completing the different types of assessments and reports, including initial assessments, risk assessments (including MAPPA), pre-sentence reports and referrals to other agencies, required within the criminal justice system. This topic will act as an assignment support session for you.
Professional skills and personal characteristics for a successful career (LO4-5)
This session will consider the different roles criminology graduates can apply for within the sector, help you understand the skills and characteristics required to forge a successful career working with those with offending histories and how to gain the attributes and experiences they identify.
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
This module is delivered through a weekly three hour workshop.
You will be required to prepare for workshops by reading the core texts and complete online activities prior to the sessions. This will include preparing material to share in the workshop in the form of group presentations.
In addition to this, you are expected to engage in independent study to prepare for and write your assignments. Tutorial space will be made available to feedback on your assignment plans. The teaching methods will include group work, lectures, guest lectures, case study evaluations, workshops, and appraisal of audio-visual material.
Recommended reading will be available to support each session. Additional electronic material and useful websites will be made available via Weblearn.
Learning outcomes
On completion of the module, you will be able to:
1. Understand and discuss the roles of different government agencies and voluntary sector organisations in working with those involved in criminal behaviour.
2. Show competency in assessing risk and identifying recommendations to support desistance.
3. Evaluate the effectiveness of enforcement, risk management and public health/welfare approaches to offender management and supporting those at risk of (re)offending.
4. Analyse the impact of discrimination and prejudice within the criminal justice system and its impact of those it supports.
5. Understand the professional skills and characteristics needed to successfully support those with offending histories.
Assessment strategy
There will be one 2500 word assessment for this module.
The completion of a pre-sentence report based on a case study given in the workshop, The report must include academic and a policy rationale for your assessment and recommendations.