Understanding Crime, Justice and Punishment

Aims
The aims of the module are summarised as follows:

• To critically explore the main sociological and criminological perspectives on crime, justice and punishment

• To investigate the historical emergence of theoretical thought in relation to crime and subsequent development within particular perspectives

• To critically assess and the strengths and limitations of particular concepts associated with different theoretical perspectives

• To explore how key theoretical concepts and ideas relate to criminal justice practice

• To critically understand these perspectives as they relate to social divisions (class, ‘race’, gender, sexuality and age)

Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students should be able to:

• Demonstrate critical awareness of the historical and contemporary significance of criminological concepts deployed to explain crime, justice and punishment

• Exhibit understanding of the ways in which crime, justice and punishment are contested within and outside of academic thinking

• Distinguish between different conceptual frames of reference and compare and contrast their strengths and weaknesses

• Situate theoretical thought within the world of policy and criminal justice practice

• Demonstrate how criminal justice theory and practice intersect with social fractures, inequalities and social divisions