There are no pre-requisites for this module to be added

This module provides students with a critical introduction to the study of criminal justice institutions, practices and participants. It will examine some of the main elements of responses to crime and victimisation, focusing on theories of punishment, imprisonment, community justice, offender ‘management’ and youth justice. It will also focus on current developments and emphases in criminal justice practice with topics such as desistance, the reintegration and resettlement of offenders, victim-centred justice, restorative justice, privatisation of criminal justice, treatment of offenders and evaluation of interventions. Critical analysis and evaluation of theory, policy and practice will be embedded throughout the module.

An indicative topic outline for the module is as follows:
1. Understanding Punishment
2. The Criminal Court
3. Imprisonment
4. Community Punishment
5. Women in the Criminal Justice System
6. Youth Justice
7. Mental Health and the Criminal Justice System
8. Victim-Centred Justice
9. Rehabilitation and Resettlement of Offenders
10. What next for Criminal Justice

LO1: Critically appraise the theoretical foundations of criminal justice practice.
LO2: Debate the appropriate ways of responding to and supporting participants in the criminal justice system, drawing on national and international evidence.
LO3: Critically reflect on the role of power in the delivery of criminal justice.
LO4: Critically assess the effectiveness of criminal justice interventions.
LO5: Critically reflect on contemporary national and international developments in criminal justice policy and practice.
LO6: Recommend alternatives to existing criminal justice practice.