This module is not currently running in 2024 to 2025.
This is a level 6 module that explores contemporary issues in criminal justice focusing mostly on the British context. The curriculum provides the opportunity for Kent students to connect with real world criminal justice issues, including imprisonment, and for Swaleside students to place their own experiences of the criminal justice system in a wider academic context.
The curriculum will be divided into four parts as follows:
• Part one: Prison security training; separate introductory meetings; first joint meeting and introduction to reflective writing and facilitated learning.
• Part two: Substantive topics of criminological interest e.g. what causes crime; do prisons work; how should we regulate drugs; how should victims be treated within the criminal justice system.
• Part three: The development of a group project between small groups of Kent and Swaleside students. This project will be related to one of the substantive topics from part two and will culminate in a group presentation.
• Part four: Closing ceremony and debriefing providing a final space to reflect on the overall learning experience.
Total contact hours: 30
Private study hours: 120
Total study hours: 150
BA Criminology and associated programmes
Main assessment methods
Coursework (100%)
Reassessment methods
Reassessment Instrument: 100% coursework
Cohen, S., (2001) States of Denial: Knowing about Atrocities and Suffering (chapter 1 and extracts)
Nutt, D, King, L and Phillips, L (2010), Drug harms in the UK: a multicriteria decision analysis, The Lancet, 376 (9752): 1558-1565.
Pompa, L (2013) One brick at a time: The Power and Possibility of Dialogue Across the Prison Wall The Prison Journal.
Roberts, J.V. and Hough, M. (2011) Custody or Community? Exploring the boundaries of public punitiveness in England and Wales. Criminology and Criminal Justice 11: 181-197.
The intended subject specific learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
8.1 demonstrate knowledge of the prison as a key institution in the criminal justice system;
8.2 demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of theoretical debates relating to justice;
8.3 demonstrate up to date knowledge and a critical understanding of a selection of issues in criminal justice;
8.4 demonstrate knowledge of the principles that underlie criminal justice policies;
8.5 demonstrate identification, use and application of criminological theory to analyse crime and the response to crime;
8.6 critically evaluate social science arguments and evidence;
8.7 seek solutions to crime and criminal behaviour.
The intended generic learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
9.1 gather, process and offer a critical reflection from their class engagement and interaction;
9.2 demonstrate succinct and focussed writing skills relating to the production of critically reflective papers;
9.3 plan workload and manage time;
9.4 reflect on the development of interpersonal/teamwork skills;
9.5 demonstrate experience of giving presentations;
9.6 demonstrate an ability to communicate ideas and arguments, particularly in spoken form;
9.7 demonstrate sensitivity to the values and interests of others and the dimensions of difference.
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