Course Catalogue

Justice Studies

The module aims to introduce students to emerging paradigms within criminology, which tackle safety and security at both local and global levels, and to explore some justifications for the increasing ‘securitisation’ of social life. Students will explore a variety of social settings where concepts of safety or security are applied. By a process of critical reflection and analysis they will be encouraged to test the success and validity of security provision within these settings and to consider the effects of securitisation processes upon contemporary threats and other regulatory environments. Key theories and policies related to crime, safety and security will be examined and tested and their, ethical and legal implications outlined. Lectures will be supplemented by the provision of guest speakers with experience in security and safety provision in a variety of sectors. Students will develop their understanding of contemporary trends in security and emerging security threats, and how to counter them, through relevant scholarly activity, and through reference to the appropriate academic literature and policy documentation. The module also aims to prepare students for the dissertation.

Outline Syllabus:
1. Introduction to key criminological theories in security 2. Key issues (1) Organised crime 3. Key issues (2) New terrorism 4. Key Issues (3) Cyber crime 5. Key issues (4) Illegal Migration/trafficking 6. Key issues (5) Illegal drugs 7. Key issues (6) Inequality 8. Responding to crime safety and security threats 9. Conclusions: Safety, Security and the new Criminology 10. Ethical issues in research 11. Producing a Literature Review 12. Designing and conducting research 13. Analysing research data

Module Overview:
This module introduces students to evolving paradigms in criminology, focusing on safety and security at local and global levels. It encourages critical analysis of security provision in various settings and the impact of securitization on contemporary threats and regulations. The course covers key theories, policies, ethical and legal considerations, and emerging security trends.

Additional Information:
In the course of this module students will develop their understanding of contemporary trends in security and emerging security threats, and how to counter them, through relevant scholarly activity, and through reference to the appropriate academic literature and policy documentation.