SS7077 - Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice (2016/17)
Module specification | Module approved to run in 2016/17, but may be subject to modification | ||||||||||
Module status | DELETED (This module is no longer running) | ||||||||||
Module title | Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice | ||||||||||
Module level | Masters (07) | ||||||||||
Credit rating for module | 20 | ||||||||||
School | School of Social Sciences | ||||||||||
Total study hours | 200 | ||||||||||
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Assessment components |
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Running in 2016/17(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
The module aims to identify and consider the key themes, debates policies, and agencies associated with contemporary criminal justice, with a particular focus on England and Wales
Prior learning requirements
Undergraduate degree or experience in criminal justice
Module aims
The module seeks to identify and critically assess contemporary developments in criminal justice, and the criminal justice system: whilst there is a particular focus on England and Wales, the module also considers the international context, and the growth of trans-national policy migration.
Students with experience of a particular area of the criminal justice system will be able to formalise and consolidate their knowledge of agencies and policy, and to place their work within a broader theoretical framework. The module will enable such students to critically integrate and evaluate their existing knowledge and skills. All students will develop their skills of critical reflection and analysis, and apply such skills to a fuller appreciation of contemporary criminal justice.
A key element of the module is the provision of lectures by guest speakers; these speakers will be representative of varied criminal justice, and associated, agencies, such as the Home Office, police, prison and probation services.
Students will enhance their knowledge of criminal justice through relevant scholarly activity, and through reference to the appropriate academic literature and policy documentation.
Syllabus
1) Introduction to Criminal Justice System, Crimes notified, To Courts, To Punishment
2) What Are Deviance, Harm and Crime; How Is Crime Measured?
3) Explanations of Crime - Deficit Models: Biological and Psychological theories
4) Explanations of Crime - Deficit Models: Socio-economic Explanations
5) Explanations of crime – Critical and Cultural Criminological Perspectives
6) Victims and Culpability
7) Introduction to Policing
8) Policing and Minorities
9) Trends in Youth Justice, care and control
10) Courts
11) Punishment- Sentencing
12) Review
Learning and teaching
Each week, this module will be delivered through a one-hour lecture, and a one hour seminar or workshop.
Learning outcomes
1. Critically evaluate developments and dominant paradigms in contemporary criminal justice, including relevant theoretical perspectives on the nature, causes and consequences of crime.
2. Assess changes in the structure and functioning of agencies in the criminal justice system
3. Use reflection and analysis to understand and develop their own area of expertise within the criminal justice system (as applicable)
4. Utilise relevant research findings in the analysis of criminal justice trends
5. Be conversant with theoretical and conceptual frameworks as they apply to criminal justice and the criminal justice system
Assessment strategy
Assessment consists of one 4,500 word essay, which will be representative of the module syllabus. Both pieces of assessment are worth 100% of the total marks. The assessment is predicated upon thorough academic analysis, and appropriate student reading and research.
Bibliography
Audit Commission (2002) 'Route to Justice: improving the pathway of offenders through the criminal justice system', London: Audit Commission
Brown J and Heidensohn F (2000), 'Gender and Policing: Comparative Perspectives': Basingstoke: Macmillan
Brown J and Waters I (1996), 'Force versus Service', in Waddington D and Critcher C. (eds), Policing Public Order: Theoretical and Practical Issues (1996), Hampshire: Avebury
Carrabine E, Cox P, Lee M and South N (2002) ‘Crime in Modern Britain’, Oxford University Press
Cope N (2004) ‘Intelligence Led Policing or Policing Led Intelligence?’ in The British Journal of Criminology, Vol 44, No 2 (March 2004)
Crawford A and Newburn T (2002) 'Recent Developments in Restorative Justice for Young People in England and Wales: Community Participation and Representation', in The British Journal of Criminology, 42:476-495
Croall, H. (1998) 'Crime and Society in Britain', Harlow: Longman.
Davies M, Croall H and Tyrer J (2005) 'Criminal Justice: An introduction to the Criminal justice System in England and Wales' (third edition), Harlow: Pearson Longman.
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (1999) 'Keeping the Peace: Policing Disorder', London: Home Office
Hopkins Burke R (2004) (ed) ‘Hard Cop, Soft Cop: dilemmas and debates in contemporary policing’, Cullompton: Willan
Keogh AW (2004) ‘Criminal Justice Act 2003: a guide to the new law’, London: Law Society
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (2004), Modernising the Police Service', London: Home Office
Home Office (2001), 'Policing a New Century: A Blueprint for Reform', London: Home Office
Jones T and Newburn T (2007) ‘Policy Transfer and Criminal Justice: Exploring US Influence over British Crime Control Policy’, Maidenhead: Open University Press
Leishman, F. Loveday, B. and Savage, S. (2000) ‘Core Issues in Policing’, Harlow: Pearson Longman
Maguire M, Morgan R. and Reiner R (eds) (2007) ‘The Oxford Handbook of Criminology’,Oxford University Press