School of Sociology and Criminology  
 
 
CRI-20022 Mental Health and Offending  
Co-ordinator: Miss Samantha Weston   Tel:34336  
Teaching Team: Ms Jeanette  McCormick, Ms Deborah  Tagg, Dr Tony  Kearon, Miss Jo-Anne  Watts, Miss Claire  Lewendon, Miss Samantha  Weston, Mrs Angela  Joines, Mrs Catherine  Crutchley  
Lecture Time: See Timetable...  
Level: 2 Credits: 15 Study Hours: 150  
School Office:
 
 
 
Programme/Approved Electives for

Criminology Dual Honours (Level 2)
Criminology Major (Level 2)
Criminology Minor (Level 2)
Criminology Single Honours (Level 2)

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Yes

Barred Combinations

None

Prerequisites

None

Description

Are mentally disordered offenders "mad" or "bad"? Should they be "treated" or "punished"? What is the relationship between "mental health" and offending? These are just some of the questions that this exciting new second year module will introduce you to as we explore the key debates, theoretical perspectives and differing responses that surround forensic mental health.

The module begins by introducing students to the variety of different ways in which mental health has been classified, understood and responded to. We start by tracing the history of the asylums and psychiatry through to the deinstitutionalisation of the mentally ill and move towards 'care in the community'. Subsequent political and public responses to a small number of high profile offences by the mentally ill in the 1990s are considered before the current framework of services for mentally disordered offenders is outlined. This will enable students to engage with the development of criminal justice and health responses to mentally disordered offenders and consider the theoretical and practical challenges that are raised by our attempts to identify and target so called 'dangerous' people. The problems surrounding treatment and making accurate predictions of risk will also be explored.

Aims

Enable students to apply new and existing subject knowledge and understanding in criminology and related disciplines to the field of forensic mental health. This will require students to develop an understanding of how mental illness, mental disorder and personality disorder and their relationship to offending behaviour can be understood. The module also aims to enable students to develop an understanding of the different social, political and medical approaches to forensic mental health and the complexity of challenges facing a wide range of multi-disciplinary agencies (and professionals) tasked with governing offenders with mental disorder.



Intended Learning Outcomes

Apply new and existing subject knowledge and understanding in criminology and related disciplines to the field of forensic mental health will be achieved by assessments: 1 2
Identify the range of perspectives through which mental illness, mental disorder and personality disorder and their relationship to offending behaviour can be understood will be achieved by assessments: 1 2
Evaluate the development of different social, political and medical approaches to mentally disordered offenders health

will be achieved by assessments: 1 2
Identify the reasons for, and potential problems with, defining and predicting dangerous and risky behaviours

will be achieved by assessments: 1 2
Understand the complexity of challenges facing a wide range of multi-disciplinary agencies (and professionals) tasked with governing offenders with mental disorder will be achieved by assessments: 1 2
Compare and contrast the punishment/treatment dichotomy apparent within criminal justice theory and practice. will be achieved by assessments: 1 2


Study hours

21 hours contact (10 x lecture, 10 x seminar, 1 x consultation)
40 hours tutorial preparation
27 hours independent study
60 hours assessment preparation
2 hours examination



Description of Module Assessment

01: Essay weighted 50%
2,500 word essay
A 2,500 word essay from a list of essays provided by the module leader. Essay questions will relate to the first half of the module.

02: Unseen Exam weighted 50%
2 hour unseen exam
A 2 hour unseen exam. Students answer 2 questions. Exam questions will relate to the second half of the module.


Version: (1.06B) Updated: 03/Oct/2013

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