Modules

Core Module Information
Module title: History of Crime, Correction & Reform
SCQF level: 09:
SCQF credit value: 20.00
ECTS credit value: 10
Module code: SSC09112
Module leader: John Burnett
School School of Applied Sciences
Subject area group: Social Science
Prerequisites

There are no pre-requisites for this module to be added
Description of module content:

This module introduces students to the field of historical criminology, examining how crime, deviance, and social control have been understood, experienced, and contested across the modern period. Beginning with foundational debates around the concept of 'criminal classes' and the construction of criminal underworlds, the module traces the development of punishment from public execution and transportation to the rise of the modern prison system. Students will explore the reform and professionalisation of policing alongside popular resistance to and cultural representations of law enforcement. The module then turns to key social dimensions of crime and criminality, analysing how gender, patriarchy, and sexuality shaped experiences of and responses to offending — with particular attention to the figure of the prostitute — before considering the intersections of race, ethnicity, and immigration with crime and criminal justice. Further sessions examine the moral panics surrounding juvenile delinquency, hooliganism, and street gangs, situating youth crime within broader anxieties about urban life and social order. The module concludes by addressing collective forms of transgression, exploring protest movements organised around land rights, labour disputes, and nationalist struggles, and asking how the boundary between crime and political resistance has historically been drawn and contested.
Learning Outcomes for module:

Upon completion of this module you will be able to

LO1: Critically reflect on contentious issues and debates on key themes in historical criminology.

LO2: Critically evaluate the extensive secondary literature on the histories of crime, policing and punishment.

LO3: Demonstrate an awareness of how to analyse primary source material relating to crime, correction and reform.

LO4: Demonstrate an appreciation of the importance of theory and historiography in the writing of history.

LO5: Engage in source criticism, discussion and understanding of the scope and variety of sources in exploring historical aspects to crime, correction and reform.
Full Details of Teaching and Assessment
2026/7, Trimester 2, In Person, Edinburgh Napier University
VIEW FULL DETAILS
Occurrence: 002
Primary mode of delivery: In Person
Location of delivery: SIGHTHILL
Partner: Edinburgh Napier University
Member of staff responsible for delivering module: John Burnett
Module Organiser:


Student Activity (Notional Equivalent Study Hours (NESH))
Mode of activityLearning & Teaching ActivityNESH (Study Hours)NESH Description
Face To Face Lecture 14 Lectures will trace the development of crime, punishment, and social control across the modern period, examining key themes including policing, gender, ethnicity, and youth, before turning to the contested boundary between crime and political protest. Short extracts from documentaries will be used to highlight specific aspects and connect with the questions you’ll discuss in tutorials. [LOs 1-4]
Face To Face Tutorial 7 You will be expected to have completed the set reading in advance and to come ready to contribute your own analysis and perspectives on the discussion questions provided. These sessions are an opportunity to test your interpretations, challenge assumptions, and develop the critical thinking and communication skills that are essential to the study of historical criminology at university level. [LOs 1-4]
Face To Face Practical classes and workshops 12 A series of interactive two-hour workshops in a computing lab will take you through the key tasks linked to the assessment. Building on the preparatory work from the online practical sessions, your tutor will guide you in evaluating media sources, identifying the historical context for each primary source, analysing key themes, and finding the readings you need for your evaluative report. [LOs 4-5] You will also be introduced to some digital archives used for researching HCCR topics.
Online Guided independent study 147 Your guided independent study time involves going over lecture, tutorial, practical demonstration seminars, and workshop notes after classes, engaging in independent reading beyond the essential and recommended readings, and working on the different parts of the assessment. [LOs 1-5]
Face To Face External visits 6 As part of this module, you will have the opportunity to visit key archives like the National Library of Scotland or the National Archives of Scotland, based in Edinburgh.
Independent Learning Seminar 14 A series of online practical seminars will focus on tasks to help you complete the assessment successfully. These will feed into the face-to-face workshops that follow through formative assessments. Guidance will be provided on the key aspects of the primary sources you’ll need to engage with, and on how to find the reading material required for the assignment. [LOs 1-5]
Total Study Hours200
Expected Total Study Hours for Module200


Assessment
Type of Assessment Weighting % LOs covered Week due Length in Hours/Words Description
Report 100 1~2~3~4~5 Week 13 , WORDS= 2500 words Working independently, you will choose one of the primary sources made available by the tutor and prepare an evaluative report. Your critical reflections and analysis will be outlined in a 2500 word report worth 100% of your mark, submitting your final copy to Turnitin by week 13. [Covering LOs 1- 5]The report has three core sections: first, reflect on newspapers as a historical tool — thinking about bias, tone, readership, and how your chosen newspaper fits into the broader media landscape of its era. Second, place your article in its historical context, explaining what was happening in society at the time and how that shaped both what was written and how it would have been received. Third, focus on 3–4 specific aspects from the newspaper source you’ve chosen to analyse, grouped under clear thematic headings, and use authoritative academic sources (with proper page numbers in your citations) to offer some critical evaluation and analysis.
Component 1 subtotal: 100
Component 2 subtotal: 0
Module subtotal: 100

Indicative References and Reading List - URL:
SSC09112 History of Crime , Correction & Reform
 

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