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SP22025: Theorising crime, justice and punishment

[Page last updated: 09 August 2024]

Academic Year: 2024/25
Owning Department/School: Department of Social & Policy Sciences
Credits: 10 [equivalent to 20 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 200
Level: Intermediate (FHEQ level 5)
Period:
Academic Year
Assessment Summary: CWPF 50%, EXCB 50%
Assessment Detail:
  • Portfolio (CWPF 25%)
  • Reflective portfolio (CWPF 25%)
  • Closed-book written examination (EXCB 50%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: By the end of the unit students will be able to: 1. Identify and evaluate a range of criminological theories on crime, justice, and punishment 2. Compare and contrast criminological conceptions of crime, justice, and punishment, and assess the merits of these different approaches 3. Apply theoretical and conceptual frameworks to real-world examples and research, and evaluate their appropriateness 4. Evaluate the contribution of key theorists to the development of criminology as a field of study, and as part of this acknowledge the limitations of/problems with canons of thought


Synopsis: Deepen your understanding of criminological theory by exploring and evaluating different theories around crime, justice and punishment. Youll use the key questions in criminology - including the causes of crime, the function of punishment, and the purpose of justice - to explore how different theoretical approaches have been utilised to answer them. The unit encourages you to apply your conceptual and theoretical learning to real-world cases and debates.

Content: The unit explores and evaluates different conceptions of 'crime', 'justice' and 'punishment'. We give due consideration to the key questions in criminology -- concerning the causes of crime, the function of punishment, and the purpose of justice -- and explore how different theoretical approaches have been put to work to answer them. The unit is grounded in contemporary examples and case studies, as students are encouraged to apply their conceptual/theoretical learning to 'real world' cases and debates.

Course availability:

SP22025 is Compulsory on the following courses:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences

SP22025 is Optional on the following courses:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences
  • UHSP-AFB37 : BSc(Hons) Social Sciences (Year 2)
  • UHSP-AKB37 : BSc(Hons) Social Sciences with professional placement (Year 2)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2024/25 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2025/26 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2024/25.
  • Courses and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.