Course Details in 2025/26 Session

Module Title	LH Human Rights & Criminal Justice System
School	Birmingham Law School
Department	Law
Module Code	08 22359
Module Lead	Natasa Mavronicola
Level	Honours Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 1
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-30 hours Tutorial-6 hours Guided independent study-164 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	This module examines the impact of human rights law (both domestic and international) upon different stages of the criminal justice process in England & Wales. Therefore the module covers both the relevant legal regimes governing different stages of the criminal justice system England and Wales whilst focussing specifically on the human rights law issues which arise in those contexts. In any one year the module will typically cover the following topics: - police powers and the human rights of persons subjected to the exercise of those powers in the investigatory stage of crime; - the law regulating the conduct of other pre-trial processes and the impact of human rights in those contexts; - the right to a fair trial in a criminal context; - aspects of the laws governing sentencing and punishment and the human rights of persons in relation to such decisions; and - the law regulating the treatment of prisoners and the protection of their human rights in that context
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Identify, explain and evaluate the law conferring powers and regulating decision making at different stages of the criminal justice system covered in the module Identify, explain and evaluate the impact which human rights law has on the exercise of powers and decision making at different stages of the criminal justice system covered in the module Identify the issues, and explain and engage in informed debate (including arriving at justified conclusions) about the impact which human rights law should have on the exercise of powers and decision making at different stages of the criminal justice system covered in the module Undertake research within the field identifying primary and secondary source materials relevant to the topic(s) being explored in the module Make appropriate use of relevant primary and secondary source materials to support explanations, evaluations and conclusions about the law and practice in areas of the criminal justice system examined in the module.
Assessment	22359-02 : Essay : Coursework (100%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessments: One 3,500 words essay (100%) Reassessment: Resit failed component(s)
Other	None
Reading List