Criminology and Criminal Justice

• The lecturers in this area have wide and on-going experience of working in the criminal justice sector and are research active in the areas of work with offending behaviour, youth justice, women and crime and substance misuse.
• Good links with criminal justice agencies and employers such as police, probation trusts, magistrates courts and the youth justice service.
• Innovative and flexible teaching methods are used with part of the course being delivered online.
• Face to face lectures take place two days a week.
• Staff are experienced practitioners and academics who bring issues to life through case studies.

The first year provides an introduction to practice matters relating to working in the community justice system and understanding and engaging with offending behaviour. The range of modules explored in year one provide knowledge and understanding of the causes of crime at a societal and individual level and explores the work of the agencies that make up the criminal justice system.

• Study Skills: To support students for learning and on-going personal and professional development in higher education.
• Criminal Justice and Law: This module will give the student an underpinning knowledge of criminal justice and law. It will focus on key concepts such as the definition of crime and the philosophy of sentencing.
• Drugs, Alcohol and Crime: To consider the range and extent of drugs that are used and appreciate the social context of their use. It will introduce students to the social construction of the 'drugs problem'.
• Working with Offenders: This module will enable students to learn about and practice the skills which are essential to working with offenders effectively and reducing risk of re-offending.
• Crime, Society and Social Policy: This module examines crime within a social context, for example, housing, education and health.
• Essential Psychology

The second year is designed to build directly on the skills and knowledge acquired by students during year one. Students study criminal law and in traditional lecturers and field trips where possible e.g. to prison and court, student learn about advanced issues in effective practice with particular types of offenders. Criminological and research theory is explored to begin the process of developing students’ abilities to think theoretically and critically about the practice of criminal justice.

• Criminology: To enable students to understand the key concepts and theoretical approaches that have developed and are developing in relation to crime, victimisation and responses to crime and deviance.
• Criminal Law and the Criminal Justice Process: This provide students with an understanding of the nature and context of law, primarily focussing on criminal law. This will include the examination of the criminal justice Process including - courts and hearings for adults and young people; the theory and practice of sentencing; prison and community based penalties; and the place of human rights in these processes.
• Social Difference and Inequality: Students will develop a critical understanding of the relationship of social class, gender, race, age, ethnicity, language and other salient aspects of diversity in relation to crime victimisation and responses to these phenomena.
• Criminal Justice in Practice: Study the criminal justice agencies that comprise the criminal justice system in England and Wales and critically analyse their contribution to the management of crime and the protection of the public.
• Research Methods: Gain an understanding and critical appreciation of the nature and appropriate use of research strategies and methods in relation to issues of crime, victimisation, and responses to crime and deviance.
• Crime in Contemporary Society: To provide students with a critical knowledge and understanding of a range of contemporary crimes and criminal behaviours committed within the contemporary society.

In the final year modules develop student’s abilities to apply theoretical and critical perspectives to criminal justice processes and practice. Some degree of choice is also offered in relation to modules options. The socio-political nature of criminal justice policy-making is explored and a critical lens is brought to bear on the criminal justice system.

Students may then chose to explore how guilt and innocence might be negotiated in police and courtroom, the contribution forensic psychology might make to understanding crime, youth justice or multi-agency criminal justice response to crime. Students also complete their own research project, exploring an area of interest to themselves under the supervision of one of the experienced criminology lecturers in the department.

• Research Project: Produce an independently research project based upon primary data. Argue a thesis based upon a comprehensive understanding of criminology theory, good research practice and criminal justice policy. Synthesise knowledge and understandings gained throughout their criminology programme of undergraduate study.
• Multi-Agency Working: The study of criminal justice agencies that comprise the criminal justice system in England and Wales, critically analysing their contribution to the management of crime and the protection of the public.
• Control, Justice and Punishment: A critical evaluation of the social and historical development of justice, sentencing and punishment and social control.
• Youth Justice: Critically examine the meanings attached to childhood, youth and crime and the provision made for children and young people who offend.
• Forensic Psychology: To discover the main aspects of the discipline of forensic psychology.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal academic framework review, so may be subject to change.