Teaching Responsibility
LJMU Schools involved in Delivery:
Justice Studies
Learning Methods
Lecture
Tutorial
Module Offerings
7045LAWCJ-JAN-MTP
Aims
To consider various definitions of crime and the relationship between these and the various sources of power within society.
To discuss and critically analyse the crimes that can occur as a result of imbalances of power in society, on individual, corporate, national and international levels.
To critically analyse the responses to crimes of the powerful, both in the criminal justice process and in wider society.
Learning Outcomes
1.
Critically analyse the social construction of crime, and the various definitions of crime put forward by writers on crime and criminal justice
2.
Demonstrate critically why some crimes are regulated rather than prosecuted
3.
Critically assess the various sources of power within society, and how they assist in the commission of detected and undetected crime
4.
Show critical awareness of the different kinds of wrongdoing that can be considered as 'crimes of the powerful'.
5.
Demonstrate a critical awareness of national and international criminal justice responses to 'crimes of the powerful', and of normative academic evaluations of these responses
Module Content
Outline Syllabus:Critical introduction to the examination of the links between crime and Power
- thinking critically about competing definitions of crime and power
- a historical overview of the links between crime and power
- issues and problems in measuring and researching crimes of the powerful
Analysing major forms of crimes of the powerful
- corporate and occupational crime
- organised crime
- racial, sexual, and domestic violence
Analysing major forms of increasingly international crimes of the powerful
- terrorism and the 'war on terror'
- War Crimes
- Crimes against Humanity
Module Overview:
This module is designed to examine the social construction of crime. It aims to:
This module is designed to examine the social construction of crime. It aims to:
- provide a balance between theoretical perspectives and empirical, practical knowledge about the power imbalances in society
- critically examine the relationship between these imbalances and crime (reported and unreported), as well as the criminal justice system's responses to them
- equip you with the skills required to demonstrate a critical understanding of crimes involving the abuse of social and/or individual power
Additional Information:This module is designed to examine the social construction of crime. It aims to provide a balance between theoretical perspectives and empirical, practical knowledge about the power imbalances in society. It aims to examine critically the relationship between these imbalances and crime (reported and unreported), as well as the criminal justice system's responses to them.
The module therefore aims to equip students with the skills required to demonstrate a critical understanding of crimes involving the abuse of social and/or individual power. Discussion will centre on the different strata of causation and response in this area – at the individual, national and international levels – and a critical understanding of theoretical and empirical debates relating to these issues. Formative feedback will be given to students in the course of the interactive discussions.