Course Catalogue

Justice Studies

The module aims to develop student's critical appreciation and understanding of the capacity of evidence-based research to contribute to practice developments in criminal justice. The module examines the contributions research informed knowledge has, and continues to make to the development of criminal justice practices and encourages students to think critically about the scope to extend further the role of evidence based thinking in developing problem solving solutions in policing and criminal justice.

Outline Syllabus:Setting the scene - identifying the origins and historical development of evidence-based research/practice in criminal justice, with specific attention to policing and probation work - identify the resources of evidence-based practice (the research outputs and portals for accessing good/best practice) - outline and understand the role of mechanisms like the College of Policing and Probation Institute users and generators of evidence-based research - understand the dynamics of criminal justice stakeholders locally generating and utilizing evidence-based practice Users of Evidence-Based Practice and lessons to draw - critically examine and engage with the experiences of agencies across the criminal justice sector and the efforts to engage with and implement evidence-based thinking/practice. Research informed inputs from the fields of youth justice, policing, probation services and community safety. - explore the strengths and weaknesses of developing working cultures geared towards evidence-based practice thinking The Current State of (Research) thinking in Evidence-Informed Approaches - a series of sessions will introduce students to some of the key ideas emerging from research outputs concerned with improving knowledge based practice. These sessions help identify some of the most credible and progressive research evidence being generated and help to develop student's appreciation and understanding of contemporary research evidence (and its generation). Showcasing specific research studies/projects, mapping thematic research area development, and (where appropriate) using invited in researcher-led presentations students are actively engaging with academic research evidence. Some sessions will be operated on a practitioner specific basis, others will involve the group as a collective. The Current State of (Practice) thinking in Evidence-Informed Approaches - a series of sessions will introduce students to some of the key ideas emerging from good and best practice locally, regionally and nationally. The session identifies some of the most innovative and effective examples of practice and does so to develop student's appreciation and awareness of diversified working practice(s). Showcasing specific projects, partnerships, methods of working and ideas and (where appropriate) using stakeholder-led presentations the session is driven by the ambition to develop student's engagement with wider stakeholder/practice communities. Some sessions will be practitioner specific, others will see criminal justice professionals come together as a collective. The Potential of Evidence-Informed Practice in Criminal Justice - a series of research-led sessions will thematically explore the potential of research evidence to help shape criminal justice practice. Covering such topics as diverse as the application of Tom Tyler's notion of 'procedural justice' to police engagement with their publics; the work of desistance theorists on shaping rehabilitative interventions, and the role data analytic approaches from mathematics and forensic computing can play in processing big data and generating efficiencies these sessions are all about challenging students to think differently about the impact of research evidence on practice. - inspired by the sessions concerned with 'potential' the module moves to identify and think through the challenges and potential blockages to impending evidence-informed thinking in criminal justice (whether those challenges be logistical, cultural or practical).

Module Overview:
This module aims to develop your critical appreciation and understanding of the capacity of evidence-based research to contribute to practice developments in criminal justice. It examines the contributions research informed knowledge has made, and continues to make, to the development of criminal justice practices and encourages you to think critically about the scope to further extend the role of evidence-based thinking in developing problem solving solutions in policing and criminal justice.

The module, designed with 'in-service' criminal justice professionals in mind, seeks to develop your knowledge, understanding and ability to critique available research and good/best practice guidance in respect of evidence-informed policy and practice. It seeks to give the officers the platform to critically reflect on their working practices, to examine the extent to which they utilise research-informed methods, and to critically consider the extent to which new ideas/modules can actually be implemented in practice.

Additional Information:This module, designed with 'in-service' criminal justice professionals in mind, seeks to develop the student's knowledge, understanding and ability to critique available research and good/best practice guidance in respect of evidence informed policy and practice. But more than that it is a module that seeks to give the officers the platform to critically reflect on their working practices, to examine the extent to which they utilise research-informed methods, and to critically consider the extent to which new ideas/modules can actually be implemented in practice.