School of Sociology and Criminology  
 
 
CRI-30040 Risk and Criminal Justice  
Co-ordinator: Ms Helen Wells    Room: CBB1.017, Tel:(73)3748  
Teaching Team:  
Lecture Time: See Timetable...  
Level: 3 Credits: 15 Study Hours: 150  
School Office:
 
 
 
Programme/Approved Electives for

Criminology Dual Honours (Level 3)
Criminology Major (Level 3)
Criminology Minor (Level 3)
Law Single Honours (Level 3)

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Yes

Barred Combinations

None.

Prerequisites

None

Description

Whether the topic is suspected terrorists, sex offenders, electronic tagging, CCTV, or even speeding drivers, the term 'risk' has increasingly come to dominate criminal justice, political and media discourses about crime. But what is the significance of this increasing tendency to conceptualise a wide range of crime problems in terms of 'risk'? What are the consequences for criminal justice agencies, for practitioners, and for the rest of us of an increasing focus on the future and on the prevention of crimes that might (but might not) happen? To what extent should we all be concerned with attempts to control a future that we cannot accurately predict?

Students who select this module will be introduced to some of the main ways in which a concern with the management and minimisation of 'risk' has come to influence our criminal justice system, in terms of prediction, prevention, detection, processing and punishment. The module will also, however, consider the wider significance of viewing a variety of social problems as 'risk issues', including the compatibility of such an approach with the production of 'justice'. The module will offer an insight into a range of topical issues and challenges facing criminal justice which will be of benefit to students wishing to pursue a career in a range of moreand less obvious criminal justice contexts as well as those intending to engage in further academic study.






Aims

To enable students to ..

Critically explore the significance of thinking in 'risk' terms for the theory and practice of criminal justice.

Understand and evaluate the consequences of a concern with risk management for the major criminal justice institutions and for the wider policing of communities.

Explore discourses of 'risk' and their utilisation by both the media and politicians in relation to criminal justice issues.

Consider the consequences of thinking in risk terms for justice, both domestically and globally.

Critically engage with the major criminological and sociological contributions in the area of risk.


Intended Learning Outcomes

Critically explore the significance of thinking in 'risk' terms for the theory and practice of criminal justice.

will be achieved by assessments: 1,2
Identify and evaluate the consequences of a concern with risk management for the major criminal justice institutions and for the wider policing of communities.

will be achieved by assessments: 1,2
Critically evaluate discourses of 'risk' and their utilisation by both the media and politicians in relation to criminal justice issues.

Consider the consequences of thinking in risk terms for justice, both domestically and globally.

Critically engage with the major criminological and sociological contributions in the area of risk. will be achieved by assessments: 1,2
Outline and assess the consequences of thinking in risk terms for justice, both domestically and globally.
will be achieved by assessments: 1,2
Critically engage with the major criminological and sociological contributions in the area of risk.

will be achieved by assessments: 1,2


Study hours

20 hours contact - 10 lectures &10 seminars
40 hours tutorial preparation
30 hours independent study
60 hours assessment preparation



Description of Module Assessment

01: Essay weighted 50%
2500 word essay
Chosen from titles given in module handbook

02: 2 Hour Unseen Exam weighted 50%
2 hr exam, 2 questions
Unseen exam - students will be asked to answer 2 questions


Version: (1.05A) Created: 23/Apr/2012

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.