Module SOCI1402: The Criminal Justice Landscape

Department: Applied Social Sciences

SOCI1402: The Criminal Justice Landscape

Type	Open	Level	1	Credits	40	Availability	Available in 2015/16	Module Cap		Location	Durham

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• SOCI1391 Understanding Crime

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• This module is designed to:
• Stimulate students' interest in, and enthusiasm for, the field of Criminal Justice studies by introducing them to current debates within the field.
• Encourage students to develop a critical understanding of current issues in criminal justice.
• Introduce students to key agencies in the criminal justice system including the Crown Prosecution Service (C.P.S.), Courts (Durham Crown Court), Prisons (HMP Durham), Police (guest lecture from a senior police officer).
• Introduce students to multiple volunteering opportunities within the criminal justice system (in conjunction with (C.E.E.D.) the Centre for Education, Employment and Development and actively encourage students to engage in volunteering.
• Equip students with the necessary skills to make a successful application to voluntary organisations including writing an letter of introduction and accompanying professional C.V.

Content

• This module will focus on:
• The history and context of the Criminal Justice System.
• An introduction to the concepts of due process and crime control.
• The role of the various criminal justice agencies in theory.
• The applied nature of the criminal justice system in real world settings e.g. the Crown Prosecution Service, Police, Probation, Secure hospitals.
• Indicative workshop titles:
• Volunteering in the criminal justice system (in conjunction with C.E.E.D.)
• Race, ethnicity and the criminal justice system (in conjunction with the North east Refugee Service)
• Walking tour of criminal justice sites in Durham City
• Crown Court visit
• Prison visit
• Workshop debrief.

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of the module students are expected to be able to demonstrate:
• An understanding at an introductory level of key terms relating to the criminal justice system.
• An appreciation of the ways in which the criminal justice system operates.
• A critical appreciation at an introductory level of the competing demands placed on the criminal justice system.
• A critical insight into key issues of criminal justice.

• By the end of the module student will have:
• an understanding at an introductory level of some of the key terms and concepts associated with the criminal justice system.
• an introductory knowledge of the criminal justice system from a theoretical perspective.
• an understanding at an introductory level of how the criminal justice system interacts with the rest of society.
• an enhanced working knowledge of how the criminal justice system works in applied real world settings e.g. court, prison and policing.
• an understanding at an introductory level of alternative methods of punishment e.g. restorative justice.

• By the end of the module students are expected to be able to demonstrate:
• Basic IT skills relating to the production of summative essays.
• Basic ability to plan workload and time.
• Competency in engaging in library searches.
• Ability to evaluate and interpret information and evidence to a good basic standard.
• Ability to write a competent letter of application for a volunteering or other position within the criminal justice system.
• Ability to create a high quality bespoke CV that can accompany the letter of application.

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

• Lectures: For the first term (Michaelmas) there will be 10 (ten) weekly lectures which will provide an introduction to key issues in the criminal justice system.
• Seminars/workshops: In the first term (Michaelmas) fortnightly seminars provide an opportunity for students to explore in greater depth and collectively the themes and issues arising from lectures and associated reading together in their small groups, through discussions, set tasks, debates and presentations. In the second term (Epiphany) there will be series of workshops (5 x 3hours) that will include site visits to Durham Crown Court, H.M.P. Durham, a ‘walking tour’ of sites of criminal justice in Durham city, a workshop on volunteering opportunities in the criminal justice system and a final ‘debriefing session’ all of which will help foster a wider appreciation of the criminal justice system.
• A compulsory formative assignment to be submitted at the end of Michaelmas term provides an opportunity for students to develop the skills and abilities required for future summative assessment by completing an essay.
• The summative assessment will allow the student to be more critically reflective based on their overall experience of the module as a whole.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total/Hours
Lectures	20	Weekly in the 1st and 2nd term	2 hours (1st term) and 1 hour (2nd term)	30
Seminars	20	Weekly* in the 1st and 2nd term	1 hour	20	■
Workshops	5	In 2nd term only as directed by the host criminal justice agencies	5 hours* includes court/prison visits/ walk around Durham criminal justice sites (this will be 4 hours per workshop/visit plus a one hour debrief session following visits).	25	■
Preparation, Reading and self-directed learning				325
Total				400

Summative Assessment

** For both the C.V. and covering letter elements advice through a workshop will be given by staff from C.E.E.D. (Careers, Employment and Enterprise Centre). C.E.E.D. will also grade this component.

Component: Creating a Curriculum Vitae		Component Weighting: 20%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Creating a Curriculum Vitae and accompanying Covering letter of 500 words	None. Guidance will be provided**	100%	Yes
Component: Exam		Component Weighting: 50%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Written paper - 2 questions answered from a range of options	2 hours	100%	Yes
Component: Essay		Component Weighting: 30%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Essay	1200 words	100%	Yes

Formative Assessment:

One compulsory 1,500 word essay.

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■ 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