Requisites: AND Pre-requisite: [Module SSC07102] Understanding Social Change AND Pre-requisite: [Module SSC07101] Introduction to Sociology 1

This module begins by introducing the concepts of ‘youth’ and ‘crime’ and the shifting meanings attached to these terms, as well as exploring the extent and nature of youth offending. The first half of the module continues by critically examining some of the major theoretical explanations of youth crime e.g. developmental and life course perspectives, positivist approaches, radical and realist perspectives and (sub)-cultural theory. This includes developing an understanding of some of the ways that youth crime is manifest in society, with a focus on gangs, drugs and anti-social behaviour, as well as the victimisation of young people. The second half of the module considers responses to youth crime and the role of the youth justice system in particular. You will examine youth justice systems in the UK, set in a comparative context, and consider the somewhat contradictory discourses that have emerged in response to youth offending e.g. welfare, justice, punitiveness, diversion, prevention, managerial.

Upon completion of this module you will be able to

LO1: Examine the extent and nature of contemporary youth crime.

LO2: Explore the various constructions of youth crime.

LO3: Review and describe the development of youth justice systems in the UK and the Government responses to youth crime.

LO4: Examine different manifestations of youth crime, including gangs, drugs, anti-social behaviour and the impact on victims.

LO5: Develop insight into the key concepts and theoretical approaches that have developed to explain youth offending.