Skip to content

Teaching Responsibility

LJMU Schools involved in Delivery:

LJMU Partner Taught

Learning Methods

Lecture

Seminar

Module Offerings

6503HASS-JAN-PAR

6503HASS-SEP-PAR

Aims

This module will explore theoretical, political, practical and policy issues which have informed and continue to inform the purpose and operation of the criminal justice system and penal system within England and Wales. It will critically examine the aims and objectives of punishment and treatment/rehabilitation strategies used within the penal system in dealing with adult and youth offenders. This module examines some of the key issues pertinent to the operation and functioning of the criminal justice and penal systems in England and Wales. It is intended that students will be able to critically analyse and contextualise a number of ideologies, rationales and policies that determine the aims and operation of these systems in relation to the management and handling of adult and youth offenders from the point of sentencing onwards.

Learning Outcomes

1.
Critically evaluate some of the philosophical, moral, social and penological questions and issues raised by the use of punishment within the English penal system.
2.
Analyse political and penal policy responses to some of the contemporary issues faced by the modern English Criminal Justice and Penal systems.
3.
Draw analytical contrasts and comparisons in the purpose and efficacy of range of penal sanctions used by the English Criminal Justice system in response to offending behaviour.

Module Content

Outline Syllabus:Justification and explanations of punishment Philosophical approaches to the justification of punishment Historical and contemporary sociological explanations Punishment and human rights Legitimacy Social justice Custodial and non-custodial sentences History and purpose of prisons and imprisonment Prison population and prison life Alternative punishments - non-custodial sentences Management of offenders Efficiency of custodial and non-custodial sentences Historical and contemporary issues Penal reform Penal policies, social justice and political strategies Offender rehabilitation Historical and contemporary rehabilitation strategies in custodial and non-custodial settings Offender treatment programs and rehabilitation strategies for certain types of offending behaviour and certain offender profiles Bias in the criminal justice system Class Gender Ethnicity Young offenders
Additional Information:None

Assessments

Report