Module Directory

This introductory module aims to provide a brief history of criminological ideas, an overview of the criminal justice system in Britain, and an examination of the current debates in crime and control.

The module engages with taken-for-granted notions about the meaning and causes of crime and ideas about criminals. In particular, it examines different forms of crime, the relationship between the crime problem and wider questions of social order and power, the role of criminal justice, and the effectiveness of penal sanctions in dealing with crime and deviance.

The aims of this module are:

• to have an understanding of the social context of everyday crime and crime control;


• to be familiar with and be able to critically assess the key sociological and criminological concepts that have been used for studying crime, deviance and control;


• to be aware of some of the key contemporary debates surrounding the politics, efficacy and images of crime and control;


• to identify the specific research tools that sociologists and criminologists have employed to study crime and deviance, and be able to locate and critically evaluate crime data.

The first year Introduction to Crime, Law and Society course is offered in the Department of Sociology as a full-year course. The key aim of this course is to provide a critical introduction to the problem of, and responses to, crime. The course engages with taken-for-granted notions of the meaning and causes of crime and ideas about criminals. In particular, it examines different forms of crime, the relationship between the crime problem and wider questions of social order and power, the role of criminal justice, and the effectiveness of both penal sanctions in dealing with crime and deviance.

By the end of the module, students will be expected to be able to:

1. have an understanding of the social context of everyday crime and crime control;

2. be familiar with and be able to critically assess the key sociological and criminological concepts that have been used for studying crime, deviance and control;

3. be aware of some of the key contemporary debates surrounding the politics, efficacy and images of crime and control;

4. identify the specific research tools that sociologists and criminologists have employed to study crime and deviance, and be able to locate and critically evaluate crime data.

The module assumes no prior knowledge and is open to students from a wide range of academic backgrounds.

This module will be delivered via:

• one lecture per week and a one class (face-to-face).
• Class and lecture times should appear on your teaching timetable.

There will also be various quizzes and readings added to the SC104 Moodle page. Please familiarise yourself with Moodle as this will be your central resource for studying all of your modules.

The lectures provide an overview of the substantive debates around the topic of the week, while the classes will give you the opportunity to reflect on your learning and actively engage with your peers to develop your understanding further.

You are strongly encouraged to attend the classes as they provide an opportunity to talk with your class teacher and other students. The classes will be captured and available via Listen Again. However, if you want to gain the most you can from these classes it is very important that you attend and engage. Please note that the recording of classes is at the discretion of the teacher.

You are also strongly advised to do the allocated reading each week before you attend class. Please note that you should be spending up to eight hours per week undertaking your own private study (reading, preparing for classes or assignments, etc.) on each of your modules (e.g. 32 hours in total for four 30-credit modules).