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School of Law, Politics and Sociology

Issues in Crim Law & Crim Justice (910M3)

Issues in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice

Module 910M3

Module details for 2022/23.

30 credits

FHEQ Level 7 (Masters)

Module Outline

This module will provide an introduction to key contemporary issues in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice with a view to enabling students to understand the main challenges facing the English and Welsh criminal justice system at the present time. Topics will include issues which highlight the contemporary problems facing both substantive criminal law and the justice system, including youth justice and the age of criminal responsibility, overcriminalisation, for example by new `inchoatetype offences in response to the threat to security, the relationship between personal autonomy and the criminal law, the difficulties in securing convictions for certain types of offences such as sexual violence and child abuse, the impact of gender upon both the substantive criminal law and criminal justice, prison overcrowding, and access to justice. The topics discussed will be viewed from an interdisciplinary perspective, being placed within the context of human rights, social and political developments. Discussion of a wide variety of topics will help inform student choices when selecting their optional modules for the Spring term.

Module learning outcomes

Analyse and critically evaluate a range of contemporary issues which presently affect English and Welsh Criminal Law and Criminal Justice.

Show a clear understanding of basic concepts, rules and principles of Criminal Law and Criminal Justice and the way in which these relate to international standards.

Evaluate critically proposals for reform to both Criminal Law and Criminal Justice.

Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of the contextual social and political background to the development of Criminal Law and Criminal Justice.

TypeTimingWeighting
Distance ExamSemester 1 Assessment50.00%
Essay (2000 words)Autumn Semester Week 11 Fri 16:0050.00%
Timing

Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.

Weighting

Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.

TermMethodDurationWeek pattern
Autumn SemesterSeminar2 hours11111011111
Autumn SemesterLecture1 hour11111011111

How to read the week pattern

The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.

Dr Tanya Palmer

Assess convenor
/profiles/278428

Dr Simon Flacks

Assess convenor, Convenor
/profiles/574282

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