Module overview
Young people engage, and always have, in activity which is wrongful and harmful. How, as a liberal democratic society, should we respond to that behaviour? This is the central concern of this module. Through discussion of recent research, legislation and policy documents the module considers the present approach to youth justice in England Wales and draws upon theoretical and empirical scholarship, and some historical and comparative policy material, to subject that policy and practice to critical scrutiny.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- the roles of non-legal or non-criminal agencies in dealing with youth crime.
- the concepts of youth and childhood in historical, sociological and legal discourse;
- the historical background to and political foundations of contemporary youth justice policy, and the popular and media discussion of that policy;
- the nature, extent and aetiological theory in relation to youth crime;
- the role of the personnel within the youth justice process;
- the key legislative provisions governing the response to youth crime within the youth justice process;
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- demonstrate independence of mind in the presentation and defence of an argument, both orally and in writing.
- critically evaluate law, policy and procedure and appraise the impact of new law on the working practice of practitioners;
- assess the importance of political principles and values and the relationship between law and policy;
- construct arguments clearly and coherently in writing and/or orally through seminar discussion;
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- manage your time effectively.
- distinguish relevant from irrelevant materials;
- think critically, develop coherent arguments orally and/or in writing, communicate arguments to a group of peers and defend your position under challenge;
- locate and analyse relevant legal, political and other primary and secondary source materials;
- identify and analyse key policy issues;
Syllabus
- The nature and extent of youth crime
- The aetiological explanations for youth crime
- Historical, sociological and legal conceptions of childhood
- Doli Incapax
- Approaches to youth justice policy
- The law and practice of diversion
- The structure, personnel and legal powers of youth courts and Crown Courts in dealing with young offenders
- Community sentences
- Custodial sentences
- Restorative Justice
- Approaches to youth crime in comparative jurisdictions
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
This module is taught through weekly two-hour seminars. The emphasis in these seminars is on reflective and critical analysis and discussion of policy, law and practice in relation to each topic covered on the syllabus. This may take the form of small group discussions, as well as structured and guided open forum discussion. Where appropriate you are required to engage in role play exercises in order to appraise existing law and policy and design new proposals from a variety of political, policy-maker and practitioner perspectives.
You are provided with module materials using Blackboard. These materials include a module outline, a statement of the learning outcomes, a summary of recent year's results and a statement explaining and responding to the feedback from the previous year's students.
In addition each weekly seminar has a document explaining the topic to be discussed, a brief outline of the critical issues that arise within that topic and a set of questions to consider on the topic and discussion or role play tasks that you should prepare for, to be completed in the seminar. You are required to research the topic using a variety of authoritative academic and official sources from both the library and the internet. Prescribed reading lists are not provided but a core text is recommended which you are advised to use as a starting point for their research.
Preparation for and participation in seminars will develop:
- Your knowledge, understanding and critical evaluation of law, policy and theoretical principles in the field of youth crime and youth justice
- Your ability to construct arguments clearly and coherently orally through seminar discussion
- Your ability to demonstrate independence of mind in the oral presentation and defence of an argument
- Your ability to work in groups as a participant who contributes effectively to the group's task.
- Your ability to effectively manage your time
Type | Hours |
---|---|
Wider reading or practice | 20 |
Seminar | 20 |
Preparation for scheduled sessions | 60 |
Completion of assessment task | 50 |
Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
General Resources
Resources. A core text is not recommended for this module (although many readings in the early part of the module are taken from John Muncie's text, Youth and Crime, Sage). A module handbook and Blackboard site is provided with key resources for each seminar. You are also expected to use the library and the internet to research beyond these resources for particular exercises. This research will include accessing official statistics and quantitative research data on youth crime and justice, official reports, consultation papers and white papers from government websites and/or the Ford Collection, as well as reading academic journal articles and scholarly texts in the subject.
Textbooks
J. Muncie. Youth and Crime. Sage.
Assessment
Formative
This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.
Feedback
- Assessment Type: Formative
- Feedback:
- Final Assessment: No
- Group Work: No
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Coursework | 100% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Coursework | 100% |
Repeat
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Coursework | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External