Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2008-2009 (archived)

Module LAW3201: CRIME AND SOCIAL CONTROL

Department: Law

LAW3201: CRIME AND SOCIAL CONTROL

Type Open Level 3 Credits 20 Availability Not available in 2008/09 Module Cap None. Location Durham

Prerequisites

  • Either (1) Law of Obligations (LAW 1023) OR Legal Skills (LAW 1041) and Law of Torts (LAW 1051) and Contract Law (LAW 1071) or (2) Public Law (LAW 1013) OR Legal Skills (LAW 1041) and EU Constitutional Law (LAW 1061) and The Individual and the State (LAW 1081) and UK Constitutional Law (LAW 1091) or (3) Legal Skills (LAW 1041) or (4) Introduction to Law

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

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

Content

  • The module is divided into three parts:
  • Part 1: Theories of Crime
  • Part 2: Data on crime and offending, including the nature and extent of crime, victimisation and offending
  • Part 3: Controlling Crime: Youth Justice

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • 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;
  • Critically evaluate the use of crime data in our understanding of the criminal justice process
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Students should be able to:
  • Demonstrate a sound understanding of the theories of crime and social control;
  • Analyse academic litertaure on crime and social control;
  • Engage in informed debate concerning crime and social control.
Key Skills:
  • 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. The examination tests the ability to focus on relevant legal issues and organise knowledge and argument appropriate to questions raised. The examination questions will provide the means for students to demonstrate the acquisition of subject knowledge and the development of their problem-solving skills.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 20 Weekly 1 hour 20
Tutorials 4 Two per term 1 hour 4
Preparation and Reading 176
Total 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination Component Weighting: 67%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Unseen examination including 15 minute reading time 2 hour 15 mins 100%
Component: Essay Component Weighting: 33%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Assessed essay Max 1,500 words inclusive of footnotes 100%

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