Criminal justice: Process and politics
SOCI7001
CPD-LG.34
19:00-21:50
Monday
2nd semester
Lecture venue
Lecture time
Offer semester
Criminal justice refers to those formal mechanisms of a society that are used to enforce its laws, adjudicate criminal offences, and deliver prescribed outcomes for criminal conduct. In other words, criminal justice is the means by which justice is delivered to those who society has deemed criminals. This course will provide a critical overview of what criminal justice is, the politics surrounding criminal justice, and the actors and means by which justice is delivered. The course will also cover those topics and areas where criminal justice systems struggle to appear just and measured, as well as discuss contemporary views on systems that go beyond the traditional notion of criminal justice. The course will cover topics that are both local and global to reflect on how crime and its control is locally situated and universally undertaken.
CLO 1: Analyse the Structure and Function of Criminal Justice Systems: Students will be able to critically examine the various components of the criminal justice system, including law enforcement, courts, and corrections, and understand their roles, responsibilities, and interrelationships within both local and global contexts.
CLO 2: Evaluate the Impact of Political and Social Factors on Criminal Justice: Students will assess how political processes, media influence, and social issues such as racial disparities and bias affect the development and implementation of criminal justice policies and practices.
CLO 3: Propose Evidence-Based Reforms and Alternative Approaches: Students will develop the ability to identify and propose evidence-based reforms and alternative justice approaches, such as restorative justice and problem-solving courts, aimed at improving the fairness, effectiveness, and ethical standards of the criminal justice system.
Tasks
Weighting
Individual Topical Essay on Criminal Justice Issues
30%
Group Presentation on Local Topics
30%
Written Examination
40%
All required and recommended readings will be provided at the beginning of the semester on Moodle.
