This module is concerned with contemporary issues, developments, practices and research in criminal justice. In line with current policy developments it will address the connections between criminal justice policies and other policy developments and critically examine 'new' policy initiatives including such measures as community crime prevention; developments to involve and protect the victims of crime; moves towards broader conceptualisations of justice, including reconceptualisations of crime as social harm. The module examines contemporary policy developments in sentencing, hate crime, racism in criminal justice practices, amongst other issues.
Total Contact Hours: 44
Private Study Hours: 256
Total study hours:- 300
BA Criminal Justice & Criminology, BSc Social Sciences
Main assessment methods
Essay – 2,500 words: 40%
Seminar Group Presentation – 15 minutes: 10%
Exam: three hours: 50%
Reassessment methods
100% Coursework
Case, S., Johnson, P., Manlow, D., Smith, R. and Williams, K. (eds.) (2017) Criminology Oxford: Oxford University Press
Cavadino, M., Dignan,J. and Mair, G. (2013) The Penal System: an introduction (5th edition) London: Sage Publications
Chakraborti, N. and Garland, J. (2015) Hate Crime: Impact, causes and responses London: Sage
Henham, R. (2013) Sentencing: Time for a paradigm shift London: Routledge
Liebling, A., Maruna, S. and McAra, L. (eds.) (2017) Oxford Handbook of Criminology (6th edition) Oxford: Oxford University
See the library reading list for this module (Medway)
The intended subject specific learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
8.1 Critically evaluate contemporary criminal justice policies and developments.
8.2 Demonstrate an in depth understanding of the complexities of the way the criminal justice
system operates and develops
8.3 Critically assess the competing theories of punishment and social control mechanisms.
8.4 Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the challenges facing the modern criminal justice system
The intended generic learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
9.1Synthesise items of knowledge from different schools and disciplines of enquiry.
9.2 Demonstrate skills in regard to the organisation of information in a clear and coherent manner, through essay writing, and seminar based group discussion.
9.3 Communicate effectively, in terms of organising information in a clear and coherent way, responding to written sources and presenting information orally.
9.4 Conduct basic research by using library, e-journals and other on-line resources.
9.5 Demonstrate an understanding of how theory and research can generate solutions to problems.
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