Module Information

Module Identifier
LC23020
Module Title
Crime & Punishment in Historical Perspective
Academic Year
2019/2020
Co-ordinator
Dr Lowri Cunnington Wynn
Semester
Semester 2
Exclusive (Any Acad Year)
CT33020 or LC33020
Mutually Exclusive
CT23020
Pre-Requisite
LC12220 or CT12220 TR/CR12430 or GF/LA39220
Other Staff
 

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Seminar 3 x 2 Hour Seminars
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Exam 2 Hours   Unseen exam  50%
Semester Assessment Reflective Narrative Assessment  2500 words  50%
Supplementary Exam 2 Hours   Resit failed or missed exam  50%
Supplementary Assessment Resit Reflective Narrative Assessment  2500 words Resubmit failed or missing element  50%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate a sound awareness and understanding of the impact of social change on issues relating to crime, crime control and punishment.

2. Demonstrate a knowledge of historical and comparative issues in the development of criminal justice policies, processes and institutions.

3. Recognise the value of hisoriographical appraoches in devleoping an understanding of contemporary ssu issues relating to crime and criminal justice.

4.Identify different ways in which criminal justice systems and processes have undergone social, political and legal transformation; interpret how these transformations have impacted contemporary policies, practices and debates.

5. Identify the limitations of available primary sources relating to the various historical periods addressed over the course of the module.

6. Demonstrate a sound knowledge of the principles underlying criminal justice approaches during each of the historical periods addressed over the course of the module.

Aims

This module is designed to partially amalgamate and replace CR30910 History of Criminology and LA3310 A History of Crime and Punishment. Doing so will address a pressing curriculum gap in both Law and Criminology with regards to the influence and relevance of historical antecedents to modern criminal justice systems and processes.

Brief description

This module does not seek to provide a comprehensive description of developments within the criminal law or the penal system. Rather, it seeks to engage with a range of questions with continuing relevance across a variety of historical epochs: What types of behaviour are classed as criminal, and why? What methods of punishment are considered appropriate, and why? What factors precipitate penal change? How are the interests of the victim of crime and those of the wider community reconciled? Some other questions will arise which will inform our capacity to answer such questions: How do we know how much crime there was in the past? How can we tell what people thought about it? Where can we look for information and what are the limitations upon that information?

Students will have the opportunity to study a variety of historical perspectives on crime and punishment. Students will be encouraged to develop an increased awareness of continuity and fluctuations in criminal justice systems, as well as other societal responses to crime and social change.

Content

​The lecture and seminar series’ will explore a variety of criminological, criminal justice and historiographical themes and topics through the lens of a series of historical
periods:

  • Crime and Punishment in the Ancient World
  • Crime and Punishment in the Middle Ages
  • Crime and Punishment in the Early Modern Period
  • Crime and Punishment in the Victorian Era
Delivery:
10 x 2hr lectures
3 x 2 hr seminars
Field trip excursion

Student contact hours - 32hrs

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number Through the critical analysis of research findings students will develop an appreciation of how theory and practice merge within a historical setting.
Communication Oral communication will be encouraged in seminar discussion, group work conducted in the seminar series, and over the course of the fieldwork exercise. Written communication will be developed and assessed within the coursework.
Improving own Learning and Performance Interactive lectures and seminars will encourage the critical and lateral thinking of students. Tasks and exercises set in seminars will facilitate the learning of abstract concepts and application of these to real life settings. The essay assignment will develop organisational skills and encourage students to reflect on the learning and teaching of the module content in a progressive manner.
Information Technology Searches of on-line electronic databases and journals will provide practice in IT skills. The core module content and lecture handouts will be made available on Blackboard.
Personal Development and Career planning ​​Independent study in preparation for lectures and seminars will develop autonomy in student’s learning. Group work and will equip students with the communication skills to engage with others in the work place. The preparation and necessary engagement with the course for the reflective assignment will encourage students to attend all lectures and seminars and actively participate in the tasks.
Problem solving Students will have to consider a wide range of historical issues relating to crime, punishment and criminal justice processes. This will enhance and develop problem solving skills and critical analysis
Research skills Research skills will be developed by accessing and analysing literature on crime and punishment in order to prepare and complete the assessed work.
Subject Specific Skills Students will develop reflective skills and will also be actively encouraged to think critically about the relevance of historical trends in crime and punishment to modern society and criminal justice processes.
Team work Small group work within seminars will foster team working and develop knowledge exchange between students and tutors. The fieldwork activities will further develop students’ capacity for collaborative work

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5