SC655-7-SP-CO:
Current Controversies in Criminology

The details
2020/21
Sociology and Criminology
Colchester Campus
Spring
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Sunday 17 January 2021
Friday 26 March 2021
20
29 June 2020

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
SC555
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

MA M90012 Criminology,
MSC L31124 Migration Studies,
MPHDML9048 Criminology,
PHD ML9048 Criminology

Module description

Students will be introduced to various approaches to the interpretation and the governance of crime in order to critically examine criminological discourses and policies related to globalisation, migration, crimes of the powerful, online and offline media representation, mass incarceration, and state crimes. Criminology has undergone a striking expansion in recent years, giving rise to the development of a number of distinct specialisms and the invention of an entire tradition within the wider social sciences. This module explores the implications of such growth and differentiation, and the challenges these present.

Module aims

This module aims to provide students with an in-depth and critical understanding of contemporary criminological discourse and the role of criminology in today’s understanding of different forms of crime, control and criminal justice policy in an increasingly globalised world.

Module learning outcomes

The module will allow you to:
- engage with some of the most pressing challenges in contemporary criminological research and criminal justice practice
- analyse these at the local/global level and at the micro/macro level
- gain an insight into the range of contemporary advanced research methods used by practitioners, criminologists and other social scientists
- develop practical research skills (through weekly presentations and other structured seminar tasks) that you will be able to apply in your MA thesis

Module information

Please note that assessment information is currently showing for 2019-20 and will be updated in September.

Learning and teaching methods

No information available.

Bibliography

  • Garbin, David; Millington, Gareth. (2012-08) 'Territorial Stigma and the Politics of Resistance in a Parisian : La Courneuve and Beyond', in Urban Studies. vol. 49 (10) , pp.2067-2083
  • Carrabine, E. (2012-05-01) 'Just Images: Aesthetics, Ethics and Visual Criminology', in British Journal of Criminology. vol. 52 (3) , pp.463-489
  • Jamieson, Ruth. (1999-05) 'Genocide and the Social Production of Immorality', in Theoretical Criminology. vol. 3 (2) , pp.131-146
  • Wacquant, Loic. (2001-01) 'Deadly Symbiosis', in Punishment & Society. vol. 3 (1) , pp.95-133
  • Stumpf, J. (2006) 'The Crimmigration Crisis: Immigrants, Crime, and Sovereign Power', in American University Law Review. vol. 56 (2) , pp.367-419
  • David Garland. (no date) 'Sociological Perspectives on Punishment', in Crime and Justice: The University of Chicago Press. vol. 14, pp.115-165
  • Young, Alison. (2014-05) 'From object to encounter: Aesthetic politics and visual criminology', in Theoretical Criminology. vol. 18 (2) , pp.159-175
  • Rock, Paul. (2014-09) 'The public faces of public criminology', in Criminology & Criminal Justice. vol. 14 (4) , pp.412-433
  • Tyler, Imogen. (2013-11) 'The Riots of the Underclass?: Stigmatisation, Mediation and the Government of Poverty and Disadvantage in Neoliberal Britain', in Sociological Research Online. vol. 18 (4) , pp.1-10
  • Erickson, Richard V. (1991) 'Mass Media, Crime, Law and Justice: An Institutional Approach', in The British Journal of Criminology. vol. 31 (3) , pp.219-249
  • Alessandro De Giorgi. (2015) 'Five Theses on Mass Incarceration', in Social Justice: Social Justice/Global Options. vol. 42 (2) , pp.5-30
  • Aas, Katja Franko; Gundhus, Helene O. I. (2015-01) 'Policing Humanitarian Borderlands: Frontex, Human Rights and the Precariousness of Life', in British Journal of Criminology. vol. 55 (1) , pp.1-18
  • Greer, Chris; McLaughlin, Eugene. (2013-12) 'The Sir Jimmy Savile scandal: Child sexual abuse and institutional denial at the BBC', in Crime, Media, Culture: An International Journal. vol. 9 (3) , pp.243-263
  • Hayward, Keith J. (2016-08) 'Cultural criminology: Script rewrites', in Theoretical Criminology. vol. 20 (3) , pp.297-321
  • Blackman, Shane. (2014-06) 'Subculture Theory: An Historical and Contemporary Assessment of the Concept for Understanding Deviance', in Deviant Behavior. vol. 35 (6) , pp.496-512
  • Pratt, John. (2000-08) 'Civilization and Punishment', in Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology. vol. 33 (2) , pp.183-201
  • Cohen, Stanley. (1993-12) 'Human Rights and Crimes of The State: The Culture of Denial', in Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology. vol. 26 (2) , pp.97-115
  • Loader, Ian; Sparks, Richard. (2010-11) 'What is to be done with public criminology?', in Criminology & Public Policy. vol. 9 (4) , pp.771-781
  • (2020-02-04) Routledge Handbook of Public Criminologies, London: Taylor & Francis Ltd.

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   Report    30% 
Coursework   Essay    70% 

Additional coursework information

Please note that assessment information is currently showing for 2018-19 and will be updated in August 2019

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
Prof Eamonn Carrabine, email: eamonn@essex.ac.uk.
Professor Eamonn Carrabine
Michele Hall, Graduate Administrator, Telephone 01206 873051, Email: socpgadm@essex.ac.uk

 

Availability
Yes
No
No

External examiner

Prof Paul Stretesky
The University of Northumbria at Newcastle
Professor of Criminology
Prof Benjamin Bradford
University College London
Professor
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 780 hours, 1 (0.1%) hours available to students:
779 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).

 

Further information
Sociology and Criminology

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