LW1CRJ-Introduction to Criminal Justice

Module Provider: School of Law
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Alexandra Cox
Email: a.cox@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

A major element of criminology is studying the processes for preventing and managing crime. This module provides students with an introduction to the main criminological traditions and perspectives when studying criminal justice. The module covers the development, role, organisation and governance of the main institutions and agencies involved in crime control and punishment, the limitations of criminal justice, alternative forms of justice and the experiences of both victims and offenders – particularly in relation to issues of discrimination and diversity.Ìý

Aims:

• Stimulate students’ interest in and enthusiasm for the field of criminal justice studies


• Encourage students to develop a critical understanding of contemporary responses to crime


• Introduce students to key agencies in the criminal justice system, including Crown Prosecution Service, Courts, Prisons, Police, Probation and Youth Justice


• Provide a foundation for understanding and critically evaluating criminal justice research

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

• Identify key concepts relating to the criminal justice, legal and penal systems.


• Thoroughly understand the nature, roles, and obligations of contemporary agencies of the criminal justice, legal and penal systems.


• Understand and be able to apply key criminal justice models and some significant alternatives


• Identify and describe the main research methods used in research on criminal justice as well as some of their limitations.

Additional outcomes:

Students will be able to:

• Identify and understanding official statistics regarding the efficacy of the administration of justice in relation to social inequalities


• Participate in seminar discussions


• Become familiar with bibliographic database software

Outline content:

This module will focus on: criminal law, and the criminal justice process, the history and context of criminal justice system in the UK, including the role of state and non-governmental organisation, the emergence of the police, policing today, the Crown Prosecution Service, Miscarriages of justice, courts and sentencing policy, sentencing provisions and theories of sentencing and punishment, desistance, restorative justice, probation, parole and youth justice.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The module will be taught by a combination of weekly two-hour long lectures and fortnightly 1 hour tutorials. Seminars will be lecturer led and students will be expected to work together in very small groups to produce short presentations to aid discussion. Students will be expected to undertake relevant preparatory reading prior to attending seminars.