Postgraduate Course: Criminal Justice and Penal Process (LAWS11041)
Course Outline
| School | School of Law |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course aims to provide students with critical insight of the institutions of criminal justice and to introduce some of the relevant policy frameworks, dilemmas and debates. The jurisdictions of Scotland and England & Wales will serve as the primary model for discussions, but an international, comparative approach is considered throughout. The course also has the aim of providing opportunities for students to practice the research skills necessary to explore and critically assess academic and policy research which informs current criminal justice approaches. Students will have the opportunity to observe criminal courts in action and to carry out their own observations on criminal justice processes. By the end of this course students should be able to describe the conceptual functioning of criminal justice and penal institutions; critically analyse these institutions and explain the rationale of key developments in policy and practice |
| Course description |
Not entered
|
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2015/16, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: 25 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
176 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Two essays of 5,000 words, both worth 50% .
Students will be asked to discuss and critique current policy developments or controversies, drawing on readings and discussions conducted throughout the course.
|
| Feedback |
Each week a small group of students will make a short presentation on the seminar topic. The purpose of this exercise is to encourage the development of research and communication skills. Individual formative feedback on these skills is provided to each student after their own presentation. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Develop knowledge and critical understanding of key theoretical; empirical and policy perspectives on criminal justice.
- Demonstrate critical understanding of the conceptual and practical functioning of key institutions and their practices; the ability to apply theoretical knowledge to relevant areas of policy and practice and to critically engage with current debates and dilemmas.
- Undertake observations of criminal court processes and communicate their findings to the class
- Develop communication skills by working in small groups to research a current criminal justice policy; to present to the class an analysis of the policy; answer questions and continue discussions of the topic; make useful and constructive contributions to other presentations and class discussions
- Independently research and write an academically referenced piece of work that critically engages with criminal justice theory, policy and practice.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
This course provides students with the opportunity to:
* apply theoretical and empirical research to current debates and policy
* Identify and critically evaluate the drivers and motivations of policy reform, implementation and practice
* Develop communication skills, including written and oral presentation skills in small and larger groups
* Independently research and critically evaluate different forms of academic, policy and practice evidence. |
| Keywords | criminal justice,punishment,discretion,diversion,decision-making,prosecution |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Fiona Jamieson
Tel: (0131 6)51 5567
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Karin Bolton
Tel: (0131 6)50 2022
Email: |
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