CRI-30048 - Living with 'Aliens': Immigration, Crime and Social Control
Coordinator: Clare Griffiths Tel: +44 1782 7 33597
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office:

Programme/Approved Electives for 2023/24

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None


Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2023/24

Immigration is perhaps one of the most controversial and contested topics of contemporary times. Popular discourse often considers immigration to be a threat to national security and as depleting the country¿s resources. Immigrants are all too often cast as `aliens¿ and `outsiders¿ in the communities they settle; and are constructed as a `crime-prone¿ population. The association of immigration with rising crime, disorder and insecurity has not only featured prominently in popular and political discourse however, it has also been a topic of interest in criminological and sociological literature throughout the last 100 years and continues to be so today.
The aim of this module is to challenge and critically assess the often-assumed association between immigration and rising crime. We will explore some of the most up to date and cutting-edge research on this topic that will allow us to carefully and critically assess both `established¿ theoretical assumptions, as well as common public, media and political narratives.


Aims
- To introduce students to the key literature surrounding 'immigration' and 'crime'.
- To enable students to critically evaluate established criminological and sociological theories of immigration as a disruption to social order and apply to contemporary social environments.
- To enable students to engage critically with theories of social control and how they are applied in research on immigration and crime.
- To appreciate the complex intersections between the criminal justice system and minoritized communities.
- To consider the literature and arguments presented by 'border criminologists' on the criminalisation and securitisation of immigration, and apply to case study examples

Intended Learning Outcomes

Apply the key theoretical perspectives on immigration and its relationship with crime and disorder: 1
Engage critically with theories of social control and how they are applied in research on immigration and crime: 1
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the intersections between criminal justice institutions and minoritized communities: 1
Critically evaluate established criminological and sociological theories of immigration as a disruption to social order and apply to contemporary social environments: 1
Apply broader criminological debates to a case study example of immigration: 1
Use internet sources to locate information relating to case studies and be able to evaluate, summarise and synthesise such information: 1
Demonstrate critical awareness of how immigration is represented in popular discourse relating to crime and disorder: 1
Identify the range of perspectives through which the connection between immigration and crime can be explored: 1
Consider the literature and arguments presented by 'border criminologists' on the criminalisation and securitisation of immigration, and apply to case study examples
: 1

Study hours

12 hours of interactive lecture activity.
12 hours of tutor led small group/seminar activity.
24 hours of directed online asynchronous activity designed to help students prepare for in situ classes and/or reflect on issues covered in
sessions.
102 hours personal study, additional self directed preparation for classes, assessment preparation etc

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Case Study weighted 100%
3,000 word Case Study
A case study where students undertake their own research into a particular immigrant group, immigration period, or location of immigration and critically engage with the way in which this example was associated with crime, disorder and social control. Students will be encouraged to discuss their chosen case study with the module leader beforehand.