Module SXY-4015:
Key Issues in Criminology

Overview

The module will discuss key issues of criminology related to aspect such as: - The relation between citizens and police - The role of media in shaping public understanding of crime and legal institutions, or professions - The reaction of the public on newly defined crimes, such as "modern slavery" - The cooperation of statutory and voluntary sector in preventing and addressing crime, e.g. on the field of safeguarding children - Offences committed by "normal citizens", such as drink driving and driving under the influence of prescription drugs.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -50-59%Students should be able to describe, evaluate and analyse the substantive topic/s and present written work that is generally comprehensible and focuses on the question asked. They should show a basic understanding of the topic. -good -60-69%Good students should be able to explain with accuracy and critically discuss the appropriate theoretical and empirical issues of the substantive topic and locate these within a wider criminological context. Good students should show evidence of consulting a range of complex material and a good understanding of the topic. -excellent -70%+ Excellent students should be able to engage in critical analysis of a wide and complex range of material and summarise the arguments with accuracy; relate an understanding of key concepts to perspectives within and beyond the discipline of criminology and criminal justice. They should present work of a high level of accuracy and fluency, and that shows an excellent understanding of the topic.

Learning Outcomes

• Analyse, systematically understand, and critically assess positive and negative aspects of policies aiming to address crime.

• Analyse, systematically understand, and critically assess the definition of crimes, their social causes and consequences and the reaction by citizens and state authorities alike.

• Apply criminological theory to empirical phenomena and critically assess their explanatory power.

• Be able to confidently present a criminological topic, based on complex concepts, and independent work, and with some originality.

• Convincingly discuss a criminological topic in written form, based on complex concepts, and independent work, and with some originality..