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Critical Perspectives on the Criminal Justice System - SOC00015M

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  • Department: Sociology
  • Module co-ordinator: Prof. Ruth Penfold-Mounce
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25

Module summary

The module aims to critically engage students with key components and themes within the criminal justice system. It explores the broader ramifications of social divisions and inequality experiences within the criminal justice processes and system.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2024-25

Module aims

The module aims to critically engage you with key components and themes within the criminal justice system. It explores the broader ramifications of social divisions and inequality experiences within the criminal justice processes and system. This includes examining the ethos of criminal justice through the lens of social divisions and stratification such as, but not exclusively, gender, race and ethnicity and class.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module students should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the central role played by social stratification within the criminal justice system;

  2. Analyse the role of inequality within experiences and perceptions of criminal justice

  3. Engage with the challenges facing contemporary criminal justice system in an increasingly globalised and mediatised society

  4. Critically apply contemporary events to the criminal justice system and process.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Portfolio		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

None

Module feedback

For formative work - group reflection - students will receive written or verbal feedback on how to improve their skills in areas that will contribute towards their summative assessment. The formative assessment provides practice for the summative tasks which is in line with MLO particularly 1-4.

For summative work - essay - students will receive an overall mark and grading according to clearly defined criteria for assessing their knowledge, skills and abilities in line with 1-4. They will also receive written feedback showing areas in which they have done well and those areas in which they need to improve that will contribute to their progress.

Indicative reading

Belknap, J., 2020. The invisible woman: Gender, crime, and justice. Sage Publications.

Duggan, M. ed., 2018. Revisiting the 'ideal victim': Developments in critical victimology. Policy Press Limited.

Kohn, T., Gibbs, M., Nansen, B. and van Ryn, L. eds., 2019. Residues of death: disposal refigured. Routledge


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.