This is a broad module covering a range of contemporary issues and debates relating to crime, justice and punishment in the UK and internationally, which will be taught by experts in those areas.
The module will begin with a brief overview of main theories of punishment, drawing attention to current academic and policy debates around these theories. It will then consider how approaches to punishment developed in Western societies (eg. UK, EU countries and USA, but not limited to there).
The module will consider ongoing debates about the criminal justice system in the context of specific groups of people who offend. These debates will be explored in relation to gender, age, 'race' and ethnicity and socioeconomic background. It will also consider the ongoing international trend towards the abolition of the death penalty. Furthermore, students will be invited to explore the proliferation of innovative approaches to punishment, such as restorative justice and specialist courts (eg. drug courts, mental health courts).
Finally, the growing and changing roles of mass and social media in reporting crime and shaping/influencing public opinion and policy around crime and punishment will be considered. The increasing politicisation of crime and justice discourse will be focussed on, as well as concepts such as popular punitivism and 'othering' of specific groups.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module students should be able to:
Critically analyse and synthesise information about a range of theories of punishment.
Demonstrate a contemporary understanding of the evolution of approaches to punishing crime within Western democracies.
Assess, analyse and propose solutions to contemporary punishment debates in the context of race, class, gender, and age.
Showcase a deep understanding of the evolving nature of debates within punishment and society and the socio-political and media factors that drive them.
Assessment
Assessment Methods & Exceptions
Assessment:
Policy brief focussing on a contemporary issue to be chosen from a range of options - 4,000 words.
