Criminology

Criminology is considered as a ‘rendezvous’ but specialist discipline; a study of crime and criminal activity that serves as a meeting point for Social Science disciplines. This module introduces and explores the various disciplinary approaches to the study of crime. However, it will have as its starting point an exploration of common-sense and everyday perceptions and the social construction of crime, as well as the representation of crime and the criminal justice system. The module will also begin to introduce and explore the range and scope of issues and topics examined by the specialist discipline of Criminology.

Contemporary debates on crime and deviance are rarely completely new. The experiences that history can teach us are very useful for understanding current dilemmas and conceptualising social problems and criminal behaviour. In this module students will look at a variety of different historical issues and lessons that can be derived from historical perspectives on crime and deviance largely but not completely focusing upon the 19th century; the module will trace the development of particular aspects of crime and punishment, such as organised crime and slavery, from the 19th century through to the contemporary era.

Amongst others the module will explore the historical origins of juvenile delinquency in Victorian England, violent crime in history, the establishment of the police and the criminal justice system, issues of punishment from transportation through to capital punishment; it will also explore how gender perspectives contributed to associations of particular offences with women.

This module aims to support students in the transition from previous studies or employment into university level study. The module is practical and linked to the other modules that students will be studying throughout their first year at Winchester. Students will explore the start of their professional development also through talks from Careers and engagement with practitioners and voluntary organisations. Alongside the skills development sessions, students will develop independent research skills in a group format. They will design, execute and analyse a small research project through workshops throughout the semester.

Law, Government and Policy offers a foundation approach to the legal and political processes for criminology students. To be able analyse and critically assess crime, law and order approaches within the wider studies of criminology, it is essential for students to have an appreciation of the processes through which legislation is created and the political influences on them. This module aims to take both a practical and theoretical look at the legal system through the analysis of existing policy and legislation along with experiencing the criminal justice system through court visits. The aim is to bring in guest speakers who are legal practitioners to offer an authentic and realistic element to the programme of teaching. The module will be delivered through interactive lectures making use of case studies, practical applications and policy/legislation analysis.

The police are one of the most important parts of the criminal justice system and also one of the most scrutinised. This module will introduce students to the work conducted by the police in England and Wales and focus on key debates on the role of the police with respect to the rest of society.

The module will also examine and explore issues such as policing by consent, the arming of police and contemporary issues such as community policing and the policing of terrorism. Other issues will include the policing approaches to protests and demonstrations. Challenges around police and youth groups and policing culture will be further considered. There will also be some comparisons with police forces outside the United Kingdom.

In this module you will have an opportunity to explore the mediation of crime and ‘deviant’ behaviour. Crime has always been a theme for popular media but in the contemporary world new and old media have become tools for policing and social control. At the same time, critics suggest that that the popular media have an important role in the construction of particular discourses or ideologies of crime and punishment. This module explores these themes using a range of contemporary and established theoretical approaches.

The module itself is divided into two related parts. Part One is aimed to introduce to the main theoretical concepts of ‘crime’, ‘media’ and ‘culture’ in order that you have strong theoretical knowledge and are better able to produce informed academic arguments. Part Two uses case studies of various aspects of crime, media and culture, to encourage you to examine and critically reflect on the inter-related nature of crime, culture and media representations.

Victims play a vital role within the criminal justice system with the ‘state’ often taking the role of representative of the victim within formal justice processes. Victims hold a number of different statuses within society – from the ‘ideal victim’ to the victim who ‘asked’ for what has happened to them. Social, legal and political motivations underpin how victims are both treated and portrayed.

This module seeks to explore, appreciate and understand what role victims have within justice systems, how they are represented by both themselves and stakeholders and what challenges and issues are involved with such roles. Through engagement with academic literature, media reporting and political documentation, students will explore the many facets of ‘victimhood’.

This module explores the sociological and psychological theories of identity and the representation of identity within political and media discourses. It will challenge the notion of identity as fixed, presenting instead a conception of multiple identities which are negotiated through everyday social interaction. Different aspects will be considered such as gender, race and class in order to build a comprehensive understanding of the complexity of identities. The module will draw on case studies, critical discussion and analysis of contemporary criminological issues. Exploring topics such as nationalism, gendered boundaries and religious difference, students will engage with a mix of theory, real life experiences and media analysis. This module will assist in developing critical analysis skills as well introducing a wide range of theoretical perspectives alongside narrative approaches to understanding media and political representations of identity.

What constitutes ‘justice’ and how is this ‘delivered’? How did we come to contemporary concepts of “just punishment”? You will be introduced to the most important philosophical interpretations of the concept of punishment, and will discover the birth, evolution and socio-criminological characteristics of the main form of punishment (prison) and its alternatives.  Finally, contemporary penological approaches to the punishment of offenders will be analysed, from community penalties to restorative justice. You will be invited to practice and maintain a critical approach to the subject, in order to understand that theory and reality in criminal justice practice may be two different things, and to identify where some change in the policies could be needed.

This module considers representations of young people as anti-social and deviant. It explores the concepts of ‘youth’ and ‘crime’ and considers the problem of youth and the problem of crime as social constructions. The risk factors and theories regarding deviant and criminal behaviour (biological functionalism, labelling, conflict, subcultures, conflict and control, as well as recent neuropsychological research) will be evaluated.  Issues of gender, race and class will also figure in appreciating how these factors are constructed.  

Substantive topics include a focus on gangs, the 2011 London Riots and the trajectories of excluded youth; those outside of mainstream school and/or with looked-after status. The Youth Justice system will be explored as part of a consideration of national and international responses to youth deviance.

This module will introduce students to the range of ways by which crime has been conceptualised within Criminology and to critically explore the wide range of theoretical perspectives that those researching crime and criminality view the key issues and challenges from. You will become familiar with a range of key themes that run through the array of Criminological theory and develop a core understanding of how these varied views complement and contradict one another.

The module will be delivered through two sessions per week with a focus on exploring the range of Criminological theories and understanding the role that such positions have in practice, the construction of understanding of the criminal justice and their role in pushing forward reform and change.

The early stages of this module will seek to explore some of the traditions, principles and philosophies of conducting research within social sciences and with a specific focus on criminological research. It will aim to challenge the fundamental understanding of the nature and purpose of criminological research. The teaching will enable students to develop understanding of contextualised, considered and critical application of research within criminological settings. The later stages of the module will focus on the design and proposal for the student’s own Extended Independent Study in their final year. They will experience the initial stages of the research process through deciding on topics, issues, methodological and analytical approaches that they will use.

Underpinning the whole module will be exposure to real life research projects, how they were executed and the decisions and challenges faced. This forms part of the critical understanding of the ‘realities’ and ‘practicalities’ of conducting research. Overall, students will develop a working knowledge of the relevant research skills they will need to complete their Extended Independent Study as well employment post-graduation.

Violent crime often triggers social outcry and political response when targeted towards particular vulnerable groups within society. However, the notion of violent crime moves beyond the obvious offending into areas such chastisement of children, violence in social disorder and domestic violence/abuse. The aim of this module is to explore the range of violent offending currently criminalised within the criminal justice system, the social and political responses to such offending and the treatment of violent offenders.

Drawing on theoretical considerations from sociological, penological and psychological fields of knowledge alongside political, social and media reactions, the module offers a multi-disciplinary view on this particular form of offending.

This module offers students the opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge and understanding to criminal and social justice practices in the UK. The aim of the module is to introduce students to a wide range of employers and career opportunities and allow students to develop reflective and career skills appropriate for criminal and social justice practice. Students will have the opportunity to explore and develop key skills including interviews, applications and personal statements tailored towards a career in criminal and/or social justice.

Stories regarding crime, morality and deviance have existed for centuries within cultures around the world. From folklore and myth to early biblical writings, fairy tales, true crime and crime fiction, such narratives have sought to educate individuals on behaviour and punishment for wrongdoing. Personal accounts of experience of crime and the criminal justice system have remained a central form of these stories and narratives. Popular culture representations attempt to reflect these experiences, alongside societal concerns and attempt to generate debate on contentious subjects such as sexual offending, youth crime and serial killing. These representations often reflect an interplay between (non)-fiction, ‘reality’ and theory within Criminology. The module draws on popular culture representations of crime, morality and deviance with particular focus on the telling of personal accounts. Through engagement with such accounts, students will further their critical understanding of crime, morality and deviance within differing stories and narratives of personal experience.
 

• Comparative Criminal Justice - 15 credits
• Volunteering in Criminology - 15 credits
• Crime Mapping and Geographical Information Systems - 15 Credits
• Digital Crime and Investigation - 15 credits

Following two years of criminological study, the Extended Independent Study (EIS) provides an opportunity for students to develop further study into an area or topic of their own choice and interest, and to undertake a piece of independent research. The student will identify a topic of interest, provide a rationale for the research, devise and submit a research proposal, conduct a piece of research and write up and present the project and main findings following the appropriate scholarly conventions.

There can be a range of approaches and associated outputs from this independent research. For example, students can opt for the traditional inquiry module with a 10,000 word dissertation report. Alternatively, a student can complete an industry problem led project where there is partnership working with an organisation to address a particular issue in their operations. There will be flexibility in the output created to allow for students to make the most out of the research process.

The EIS is a double module which spans Semesters 1 and 2 and provides the student with an opportunity to develop their interests in a specific aspect of Criminology as well as developing their research and communication skills.

• Criminological Investigation: Miscarriages of Justice, The Justice Project - 15 Credits
• Organised Crime - 15 Credits
• Drugs and Alcohol: Use and Control - 15 Credits
• Criminology Independent Project - 15 Credits
• Controlling and Preventing Crime and Deviance - 15 Credits
• Riots, Protest and the Law - 15 Credits
• Understanding Political Violence: The contradictions of Terrorism - 15 Credits
• Criminal Bodies - 15 Credits
• Sport and Crime - 15 Credits
• Crime and Humanity - 15 Credits
• Criminological Psychology - 15 Credits
• Modern Slavery - 15 Credits
• Identity, Equality and Crime - 15 Credits