LW349-7-SP-CO:
Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice: Law, Policy and Practice
2023/24
Essex Law School
Colchester Campus
Spring
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Monday 15 January 2024
Friday 22 March 2024
20
19 October 2023
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
MSC L30812 Criminology and Socio-Legal Research
This module will appeal to students seeking an in-depth and critical knowledge of the law, policy and practice of key aspects of the criminal justice system in England and Wales.
The module will begin with an overview of the criminal justice system in England and Wales. The importance of the presumption of innocence and the defendants right to a fair trial will also be addressed.
The significance of the political context in the development of criminal justice policy, and recent trends and themes in criminal justice policy will be examined. This overview will link to later discussions on the particular aspects of the criminal process explored. Specific aspects of the criminal process, ranging from pre-trial to post-trial stage, will then be examined in-depth.
1. To provide students with knowledge and understanding of the law, policy and practice of specific aspects of the criminal process in England and Wales.
2. To encourage students to engage critically with the literature and other evidence, and to develop reasoned judgments and arguments based on their engagement with this material.
3. To encourage students to communicate effectively in both oral and written format.
4. To encourage an appreciation of the social and political context in which the criminal justice system operates.
At the end of this module students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of key aspects of the criminal justice process in England and Wales, including an awareness of current debates on these topics
2. Demonstrate an ability to analyse and evaluate differing opinions on the law, policy and practice of the criminal process
3. Understanding of the limits of existing knowledge and how this influences analysis and interpretations based on that knowledge
4. Provide reasoned arguments based on academic writings and other research-based evidence
5. To present these arguments in a coherent manner, both orally and in writing
Indicative Syllabus
Week 16 Introduction to Module
Week 17 Policing 1: Stop and Search
Week 18 Plea Bargaining
Week 19 Juries
Week 20 Gender and CJ – sexual offending
Week 21 Policing 2: Police and Crime Commissioners
Week 22 Policing 3: Policing, Public (Dis) Order and Protest
Week 23 Imprisonment
Week 24 Sentencing
Week 25 Preparation for Essays
This module is taught via weekly seminars. You will also need to answer a set of MCQs on Moodle before your seminar. The seminars will not cover everything you need to know in order to answer the MCQs and participate in the seminar. You must complete the required readings in order to be able to complete the MCQs and to engage fully in the seminars. Seminars will be interactive – students are expected to fully participate. Students will be expected to take an independent approach to their learning and seminars will be heavily focused on group workshops and wider class discussions on the readings set.
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Law Trove - Expand your learning, broaden your mind (no date). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. Available at:
https://www-oxfordlawtrove-com.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/.
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Sanders, A., Welsh, L. and Skinns, L. (2021a)
Sanders & Young’s Criminal Justice (5th edn). 5th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Available at:
https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/he/9780199675142.001.0001.
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Liebling, A., Maruna, S. and McAra, L. (eds) (2023)
The Oxford Handbook of Criminology. Seventh Edition. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. Available at:
https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/2467346.
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Case, S.
et al. (2021)
The Oxford Textbook on Criminology. Second Edition. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. Available at:
https://www.oxfordlawtrove.com/view/10.1093/he/9780198835837.001.0001/he-9780198835837.
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Hucklesby, A. and Wahidin, A. (2013)
Criminal Justice. 2nd edn. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1093/he/9780199694969.001.0001.
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Rutherford, H.
et al. (2022)
English legal system. Fifth edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Available at:
https://doi-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/10.1093/he/9780192858856.001.0001.
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Sanders, A., Welsh, L. and Skinns, L. (2021b)
Sanders & Young’s Criminal Justice (5th edn). 5th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Available at:
https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/he/9780199675142.001.0001.
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‘Lammy Review: Final Report - An Independent Review in to the Treatment of and Outcomes for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Individuals in the Criminal Justice System’ (no date c). Available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lammy-review-final-report.
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Malloch, M. and McIvor, G. (2013b) ‘Gender and Criminal Justice’, in
Criminal Justice. 2nd edn. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, pp. 247–266. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1093/he/9780199694969.003.0012.
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Sanders, A., Welsh, L. and Skinns, L. (2021c)
Sanders & Young’s Criminal Justice (5th edn). 5th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Available at:
https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/he/9780199675142.001.0001.
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Parpworth, N. (2014) ‘Reforming Police Powers of Stop And Search: Voluntary Action’,
The Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles, 87(4), pp. 234–244. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1350/pojo.2014.87.4.677.
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Neil Parpworth (no date a) ‘Stop and Search and Police Legitimacy: Part 1’,
Criminal Law and Justice Weekly (formerly Justice of the Peace) [Preprint], (15). Available at:
https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.journals/cljw180&i=272.
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Neil Parpworth (no date b) ‘Stop and Search and Police Legitimacy: Part 2’,
Criminal Law and Justice Weekly (formerly Justice of the Peace) [Preprint], (16). Available at:
https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.journals/cljw180&i=290.
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‘PACE Code A 2023’ (no date). GOV.UK: Home Office. Available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pace-code-a-2023.
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‘Best Use of Stop and Search Scheme’ (no date). GOV.UK: Home Office. Available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/best-use-of-stop-and-search-scheme.
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Tiratelli (2018) ‘Does Stop and Search Deter Crime? Evidence from 10 Years of London-Wide Data’,
British Journal of Criminology, 58(5). Available at:
https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.journals/bjcrim58&i=1219.
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Welsh, L., Skinns, L. and Sanders, A. (2021b)
Sanders & Young’s Criminal Justice. 5th Revised edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Available at:
https://doi-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/10.1093/he/9780199675142.001.0001.
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CPS (2018) ‘The Code for Crown Prosecutors (2018).’ Available at:
https://www.cps.gov.uk/publication/code-crown-prosecutors.
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Mc Glynn, C. (2018) ‘“Under the Radar”: The Widespread Use of Out of Court Resolutions in Policing Domestic Violence and Abuse in the UK’,
British Journal of Criminology, 58(1), pp. 1–16. Available at:
https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.journals/bjcrim58&i=3.
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Porter (2019) ‘Prosecuting Domestic Violence in England and Wales: Crown Prosecution Service “Working Practice” and New Public Managerialism’,
Social and Legal Studies, 28(4), pp. 493–516. Available at:
https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.journals/solestu28&i=492.
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Sanders, A., Welsh, L. and Skinns, L. (2021d)
Sanders & Young’s Criminal Justice (5th edn). 5th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Available at:
https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/he/9780199675142.001.0001.
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Rebecca, H. (2019) ‘Constrained Waiver of Trial Rights? Incentives to Plead Guilty and the Right to a Fair Trial’,
Journal of Law and Society, 46(3). Available at:
https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.journals/jlsocty46&i=429.
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Helm, R.K. (2019) ‘Conviction by Consent? Vulnerability, Autonomy and Conviction by Guilty Plea’, 83(2), pp. 161–172. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1177/0022018318822223.
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‘The Disappearing Trial: The Global Spread of Incentives to Encourage Suspects to Waive their Right to Trial and Plead Guilty’ (2017), 8(3), pp. 309–322. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1177/2032284417722281.
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 |
Presentation (LW349 Criminal Justice) |
|
20% |
| Coursework |
Essay (LW349 Criminal Justice) |
|
80% |
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
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Karen Brennan, email: kbrennan@essex.ac.uk.
Law Education Office, pgtlawqueries@essex.ac.uk
Yes
No
Yes
Dr Steven Cammiss
University of Birmingham
Associate Professor
Available via Moodle
Of 25 hours, 15 (60%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
10 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
Essex Law School
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