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PSY-30156 - Module Specification
School of Psychology
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2024/25 Last Updated: 01 May 2024

PSY-30156 - Vulnerabilities in the Criminal Justice System
Coordinator: Ching-Yu Huang Tel: +44 1782 7 33330
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733736

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

PSY-20046

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25


Aims
This module aims to develop students' knowledge and understanding of individuals' vulnerabilities in the criminal justice system. In particular, students will learn to apply psychological knowledge about human development in the forensic contexts, how individual factors can render some groups more vulnerable in the criminal proceedings, and how to deal with these issues and work with such populations more effectively.

Intended Learning Outcomes

locate, evaluate and synthesise literature from a range of sources in order to apply psychological knowledge to forensic contexts: 1
critically discuss alternative accounts of forensic psychology phenomena: 1
extrapolate ideas and concepts from a range of topics in applied psychology and be able to apply these to interpret authentic criminal cases: 1
critically evaluate published research and reports in the field of forensic psychology: 1

Study hours

20 hours of in situ seminars/workshops
20 hours of asynchronous activities
10 hours to prepare for classes
20 hours to write weekly reflective diary
50 hours to do research and write notes for essay
30 hours to write final report

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Report weighted 100%
Reflective Report
Maximum 12-page (Times New Roman 12pt, double spaced) report. The page limit does not include references. Students will be asked to engage in writing reflective diary each week following the taught sessions, which will contribute to one part of the report. They will then be asked to pick a real criminal case from the Innocence Project website and then discuss the vulnerabilities this case faced in the criminal proceeding. After discussing these issues, students will need to synthesise literatures and sources from the taught sessions and psychological research evidence to write policy recommendations to increase vulnerable population's access to justice. More specific guidance regarding the assessment will be specified in the module guide, and will be provided in the introductory session and also in a dedicated assessment session where students will discuss their ideas in groups and with the module team. In this dedicated assessment session, students can bring a brief plan of their report to get feedback to prepare towards their final report.

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 01 May 2024