Module LAW3201: CRIME AND SOCIAL CONTROL

Department: LAW

LAW3201: CRIME AND SOCIAL CONTROL

Prerequisites

• Introduction to Law, Or Law of Obligations, Or Public Law.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To provide students with an introduction to crime and social control.
• In addition, the module aims to encourage students to evaluate established political and socio-economic concepts of crime and social control.
• A further aim is to develop students' critical awareness of both the law in its broader social and political context.

Content

• The module will be divided into two parts: Part 1: Data on crime and offending, including the construction of official statistics, and forms of academic research.
• types of crime from low level delinquency to white collar crimes of the powerful.
• Part 2: State attempts at controlling crime, including both structural and cultural aspects of policing, probation and prison.
• Commercial control strategies, private security and private policing.
• Technology and social control, including CCTV, electronic tagging etc.

Learning Outcomes

• Students should be able to:
• Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the main theoretical approaches to crime and social control.
• Evaluate critically the relevance of theories of control and the subsequent creation of agencies concerned with crime control.
• Demonstrate analytical and critical skills in regard to the social implications of existing perceptions of crime and control;

• Students should be able to:
• Demonstrate a sound understanding of crime and social control;
• Analyse academic litertaure on crime and social control;
• Engage in informed debate concerning crime and social control.

• Students should be able to demonstrate developed research and writing skills, including the ability to work independently and to take responsibility for their own learning.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• The modes of teaching, learning and assessment have been chosen in order to facilitate the achievement of the learning outcomes of the module.
• Lectures will concentrate on developing students' knowledge of the subject area and introducing students to the relevant critical and analytic skills, and their understanding of the subject area.
• The modes of assessment will encourage independent learning and advanced research skills, and will examine students ability to meet learning outcomes of the module.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Mich term: 1 essay, 1500 words max

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University