Gwybodaeth Modiwlau
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Seminars / Tutorials | 21 hours; 7x3 hour seminars |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | 3,000 WORD RESEARCH PROJECT ON A STUDENT-CHOSEN ASPECT OF CONTEMPORARY CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORY | 70% |
| Semester Assessment | ONE OF THE FOLLOWING (DECIDED BY THE MODULE COORDINATOR)): A 1500 WORD CRITIQUE OF A CRIMINAL JUSTICE JOURNAL PAPER; OR A 1500 WORD COMPARISON BETWEEN DIFFERING THEORIES; OR A 15 MINUTE ORAL PRESENTATION OF A CRITIQUE OR COMPARISON | 30% |
| Supplementary Assessment | 3,000 WORD RESEARCH PROJECT ON A STUDENT-CHOSEN ASPECT OF CONTEMPORARY CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORY | 70% |
| Supplementary Assessment | IF THIS WAS THE FAILED ELEMENT ONE OF THE FOLLWING (DECIDED BY THE MODULE COORDINATOR)): A 1500 WORD CRITIQUE OF A CRIMINAL JUSTICE JOURNAL PAPER; OR A 1500 WORD COMPARISON BETWEEN DIFFERING THEORIES, IF THIS (OR THE PRESENTATION) IS THE FAILED ELEMENT; OR A 1500 WORD CRITIQUE OF A CRIMINAL JUSTICE JOURNAL PAPER; OR A 1500 WORD COMPARISON BETWEEN DIFFERING THEORIES TO BE RESUBMITTED FOR ANY FAILED ELEMENT OF THE ASSIGNMENT | 30% |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module, students should be able to:
1. Analyse and critically evaluate the relationship between theoretical models and the social and political context within which they have been developed;
2. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding and ability to critically analyse the relationship between grand social theory, criminological theory and empirical evidence;
3. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding and ability to critically analyse the relationship between criminological theory and the development of criminal justice and social policy;
4. Demonstrate an ability to undertake sustained critical analysis of key theoretical constructs and the ways in which these impact on criminal justice policy and practice;
5. Demonstrate an ability to undertake sustained critical analysis of key theoretical constructs and the ways in which these interact with other theories and ideas.
Content
The relationship between criminological theory and general social theory, including the philosophical foundations of criminological classicism and positivism.
Week 2:
The social and cultural contexts of the various contexts within which the various theories have been generated (USA, UK, Netherlands, Australia).
Week 3 and 4:
The context and meanings of one criminological theory a week will be examined. We will choose two of these topics to focus on:
The Chicago School and the sociology of crime;
Capitalism, social structure and social strain theory;
Urbanism ad theories of sub-cultural deviance;
Social control theories;
Symbolic interactionism and Becker’s labelling theory;
Marxism, radical criminology and left realism;
Rational choice, routine activities and right realism perspectives;
Republican criminology;
Integrated theory;
Feminisms and masculinities theories; and
The applications of theory to the criminal justice system and to social justice
Week 5:
Societies need to establish forms of control and justice and the constructs upon which that might be built - control, due process, regulation. This will be a comparative discussion, looking at how different systems arise and their effects.
Week 6:
The module will also discuss current theoretical debates influencing the contributions, interactions and shape of agencies within a criminal justice system. It will look at combinations of: police; Crown Prosecution Service; courts; legal profession; National Probation Service, prison system/service. It will also consider the effects of voluntary and private agencies on this system.
Week 7:
Focusing on pre-trial decision making, the efficacy of checks and balances in justice processes, human rights considerations, policy and process will form a particular analytical framework. Using key moments of crisis to illustrate the dynamism of the subject there will be an in-depth analysis.
Brief description
The module will explore the philosophical foundations of criminological theory and the way in which it relates to both general social theory and societies need to establish forms of control and justice. It will explore the criminological theories, their origins and how they might be tested. The module will then consider the underlying assumptions and ideas of a criminal justice system by exploring control, due process, regulation etc. The module will also discuss current theoretical debates influencing the contributions, interactions and shape of agencies within a criminal justice system.
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 7