LW354-6-SU-CO:
Criminology

The details
2020/21
Essex Law School
Colchester Campus
Summer
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Monday 26 April 2021
Friday 02 July 2021
15
21 August 2020

 

Requisites for this module
LW105
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

(none)

Module description

This module provides an introduction to criminology primarily for law students but would also be of interest/suitable for other students who have not studied criminology as part of their degree programme so far. It introduces criminology as a subject, before examining theoretical explanations for criminal behaviour, including explanations based on biological factors, intelligence, and environmental factors. The second part of the module looks at specific contemporary issues in criminology, including: sexual violence, the media, and mental health.

Module aims

This module examines issues of crime and its control from a criminological and socio-legal perspective. In addition, it encourages students to evaluate and critique established criminological, political and socio-economic theories of crime. A further aim is to develop a critical awareness of both crime and the law in their broader social and political contexts.

Module learning outcomes

On completion of the module students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the main theoretical approaches to deviance, crime and its social control; critically evaluate the relevance of theories of control and the subsequent creation of agencies concerned with crime control; demonstrate analytical and critical skills in regard to the social implications of existing perceptions of crime; and demonstrate developed research and writing skills, including the ability to work independently.

Module information

No additional information available.

Learning and teaching methods

This module is taught through a mixture of weekly live webinars, pre-recorded videos, and tutorials. Each week, the module teaching team will first produce and make available on Moodle two 25-minute pre-recorded video lectures. The module teaching team will then deliver a weekly live 50-minute webinar in which they further explore key legal concepts and answer your questions about the topics. These lectures and webinars will subsequently be available online through Moodle so that you can re-watch them as part of your independent study. Alongside this, there will be five bi-weekly 50-minute small group tutorials. The module teaching team will also produce and make available on Moodle short guidance notes. These notes will introduce the material to be covered in the lectures, webinars and required readings. The notes will also contain tips designed both to help you navigate the material to be covered in the lectures and webinars and to equip you to analyse the required readings. You will be expected to have completed the required readings in advance of your tutorials. Your tutorials will enable you to discuss the material covered in lectures, webinars and the required readings, obtain feedback on your pre-class preparation and deepen your understanding of key concepts. To help you prepare in the best possible way for your tutorials, you will be completing regular Multiple-Choice Quizzes on Moodle. The quizzes will be based on the reading set for that week so that the quiz forms part of your preparation for each tutorial. The quizzes will enable you to track your progress, understand what you are doing well, and give you clear feedback to help you manage your studies and your progress.

Bibliography

  • Bowling, Benjamin. (1999) 'Rise and Fall of New York Murder, The', in British Journal of Criminology. vol. 39 (1999) , pp.531-554
  • Newburn, Tim. (2017) Criminology, London: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
  • Trebilcock, Julie D. (2019) Mental Health and Offending: Care, Coercion and Control, London: Routledge.
  • (2017-09) The Oxford Handbook of Criminology: Oxford University Press. vol. 1
  • De Graaf, Gjalt. (no date) 'Causes of Corruption: Towards a Contextual Theory of Corruption', in Public Administration Quarterly: SPAEF.
  • Turner, J.; Kelly, L. (2008-11-29) 'Trade Secrets: Intersections between Diasporas and Crime Groups in the Constitution of the Human Trafficking Chain', in British Journal of Criminology. vol. 49 (2) , pp.184-201
  • Williams, Katherine S. (2012) Textbook on criminology, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Brown, Jennifer. (2011-10-19) Handbook on Sexual Violence: Routledge.
  • (2010) Punishing Costs: How locking up children is making Britain less safe.
  • Carrabine, Eamonn; Cox, Pamela; Fussey, Peter; Hobbs, Dick; South, Nigel; Thiel, Darren; Turton, Jackie. (2014) Criminology: a sociological introduction, Abingdon: Routledge.
  • Jones, Stephen. (2017-09) Criminology: Oxford University Press. vol. 1
  • EBSCOhost ebook collection. (2014) The Oxford handbook of organized crime, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • (2013-01-01) Criminology: Oxford University Press.
  • Cohen, Stanley. (2011) Folk devils and moral panics: the creation of the Mods and Rockers, Abingdon: Routledge.
  • Wilson, James Q; Kelling, George L. (March 1982) 'Broken Windows: The Police and Neighbourhood Safety', in The Atlantic Monthly. vol. 249 (3) , pp.29-38
  • Case, Stephen; Johnson, Philip; Manlow, David; Smith, Roger S.; Williams, Katherine S. (2017) Criminology, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • (2017) The Oxford handbook of criminology, ©2017: Oxford University Press.
  • Law Trove - expand your learning, broaden your mind, https://0-www-oxfordlawtrove-com.serlib0.essex.ac.uk/
  • Tim Newburn. (1999) 'Understanding and Preventing Police Corruption: Lessons from the Literature', in Police Research Series. vol. Paper 110
  • Newburn, Tim. (2009) Key readings in criminology, Cullompton: Willan.
  • Jacobson, J.; Gibbs, P. (2009) Out of Trouble. Making Amends: restorative youth justice in Northern Ireland..
  • David O'Mahony; Jonathan Doak. (2017) Reimagining restorative justice, Oxford: Hart Publishing, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
  • Pettitt, B; Greenhead, S; Khalifeh, H; Drennan, V; Hart, T; Hogg, J; Borschmann, R; Mamo, E; Moran, P. (no date) At risk, yet dismissed: The criminal victimisation of people with mental health problems.
  • McLaughlin, Eugene; Muncie, John. (2013) Criminological perspectives: essential readings, London: SAGE.
  • Jewkes, Yvonne. (2015) Media and crime, London: SAGE Publications Ltd.
  • Jones, Stephen. (2017) Criminology, New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
  • (2017) Redefining organised crime: a challenge for the European Union?, Portland, Oregon: Hart Publishing.
  • Case, Steve; Johnson, Phil; Manlow, David; Smith, Roger; Williams, Kate. (2017-09) Criminology: Oxford University Press. vol. 1

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course. The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students. Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Summative Essay - LW354    80% 
Practical   Multiple Choice Questions    20% 

Additional coursework information

80% Summative Essay 20% Multiple-Choice Quizzes

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Mr Colin Moore, email: c.r.moore@essex.ac.uk.
Law General Office, 01206 872529, lawugadmin@essex.ac.uk

 

Availability
No
No
No

External examiner

Dr Christopher Lloyd
Oxford Brookes University
Senior Lecturer
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 35 hours, 0 (0%) hours available to students:
35 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).

 

Further information
Essex Law School

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