Why has crime become such an important political issue in recent years? And how has the politicisation of law-and-order transformed the criminal justice landscape? This module explores the way in which criminal justice and criminal justice policy-making has been subject to increasing political scrutiny in recent years. It utilises topics such as terrorism, dangerous offenders, penology and capital punishment to highlight the interaction between popular opinion, research, policy formation and the criminalisation of particular groups within society. Each week on the module, you’ll be introduced to some of the contemporary debates surrounding the creation of criminal justice policy, and the potential unintended consequences that those political decisions can bring about. Focusing on important ideological shifts in the practice of criminal justice, this module equips students to critically engage with the debates surrounding the politicisation of law-and-order.
Lecture/seminars 16 hours, Workshops 16 hours
Essay (2500 words) Worth 80% of the total marks for the module. This Assessment is Pass Compulsory.
500 words Policy Assessment (500 words) Worth 20% of the total marks for the module.
Reassessment Method: Single instrument: 100% written assessment (essay, 2,500 words)
For reading lists see the detailed module information on moodle
On successfully completing the module, students will be able to:
1) Critically assess how and why crime became such an important issue on the political agenda
2) Critically analyse different political perspectives on criminal justice
3) Analyse the implications of political agendas for criminal justice policy making
4) Critically analyse the criminal justice policy making process
5) Apply research evidence to develop a critical understanding of criminal justice policy
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