SC6054 - Punishment and Prison (2025/26)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2025/26 | ||||||||
| Module title | Punishment and Prison | ||||||||
| Module level | Honours (06) | ||||||||
| 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 2025/26(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) | No instances running in the year |
Module summary
The module will focus on critical consideration of the principles of punishment and the role of imprisonment in the criminal justice system and wider society. Looking at prisons within a ‘real world’ context, issues with penal policy and practice will be considered. The needs of specific minority and vulnerable groups of offenders (including women, young people, ethnic minority and mentally disordered offenders) will be considered. Comparative penal perspectives will be explored by considering a number of international perspectives, including the American/Scandinavian examples.
Via the workshops, reading and discussions you will:
- Develop an understanding of the aims and principles of punishment and prisons via an exploration of the operation of prisons and the role of imprisonment within the criminal justice system and wider society.
- Explore comparative penal perspectives and develop understanding of diversity within penal policy and practice.
- Enhance analytic skills and critical awareness through consideration of both official rhetoric and evidence together with the limitations of penal policies and practice in a 'real world' context.
- Develop your ability to research, analyse, and communicate arguments relating to punishment, penal policy and practice.
Prior learning requirements
Available for Study Abroad? YES
Syllabus
The syllabus will cover:
Historical/philosophical perspectives on punishment: critically considers major historical and contemporary developments in punishment and penology (LO 1).
Prison works?: Considers evidence and encourages debate regarding criminal justice policy and practice, exploring dilemmas such as competing aims of public protection and the importance of rehabilitation (LO 2,3).
Mass Imprisonment: Explores the expansion of prison systems globally with a focus on the US, and considers the significance and consequences of the expansion of prison systems to levels above the historical and comparative norm (LO 3,4).
Supermax (solitary confinement): looks at the use of solitary confinement within the US prison system and beyond, considering the psychological/physical impact of long-term solitary confinement on prisoners (LO 2,3,4).
Women in prison; Youth and Imprisonment; Race, ethnicity and imprisonment; Mental health and imprisonment: these sessions consider the purpose and potential impact of punishment and imprisonment strategies and practices (including issues regarding diversity and experiences of discrimination, both direct and indirect) (LO 2,3,4).
Assignment workshop: assists you with expressing and defending, orally and in writing, evidence-based arguments on punishment and prisons (including Harvard referencing) (LO 1,2,3,4).
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
The module is based on weekly workshops which involve a more interactive approach than the traditional lecture format. Each 3-hour session will explore key topics via presentations (including use of a range of media), group debates and seminar activities. You are expected to attend and engage in all sessions. In addition, you are expected to undertake 6-7 hours independent reading/study per week to develop your knowledge and critical thinking skills; to support your engagement in the sessions and the completion of assignments.
The sessions, particularly the assignment workshop, offer the opportunity for reflective learning, whereby you are encouraged to consider the knowledge gained via workshops/reading and the development of critical thinking. A range of learning/teaching styles are adopted across the module and you are encouraged to consider content and delivery styles for inclusion in the module. Further resources, including links to videos, podcasts, websites, cases/places of interest are provided via Weblearn and you are encouraged to engage in online discussion forums with your peers.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
- Identify the aims of punishment and the principles and practice of imprisonment.
- Critically analyse penal policy and practice and the role of imprisonment within the criminal justice system and wider society, also how issues of diversity impact upon penal policy and practice and evaluate comparative penal perspectives.
- Critically assess the limitations and consequences of penal policies and practices.
- Express and defend, orally and in writing, information and evidence-based arguments on punishment and prisons.
Assessment strategy
The module is assessed via one piece of coursework. The 3000-word briefing paper/report allows you to demonstrate your knowledge and critical thinking skills developed throughout the module. You will be offered a choice of questions/topics which are closely linked to module content and the learning outcomes outlined above. In your briefing paper/report you will demonstrate your ability to express and defend, in writing, information and evidence-based arguments on punishment and/or prisons. You must achieve an overall minimum mark of 40% to pass the module. The assignment workshop will assist you with the preparation and completion of assessments. Tutorial support will also be offered throughout the module by way of tutor availability during office hours, seminar/workshop discussions and via email.
Bibliography
Key Reading: