SA217
Psychology of Crime and Criminal Justice
This information is for the 2014/15 session.
Teacher responsible
Dr Michael Shiner OLD2.49
Availability
This course is available on the BSc in Social Policy, BSc in Social Policy and Criminology, BSc in Social Policy and Economics, BSc in Social Policy and Sociology and BSc in Social Policy with Government. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit and to General Course students.
This is a recommended course for BSc Social Policy and Criminology.
Course content
The course examines the contribution that psychology has made to our understanding of crime and criminal justice. It explores what psychological theory and research have to tell us about the causes of crime and the ways in which we respond to such behaviour.
Particular attention is paid to the development of individual criminality and criminal careers; drug and alcohol related crime; varieties of criminal behaviour including violence, sexual crime and stalking; mental disorder and crime; victims and victimisation; fear of crime and public attitudes towards punishment; offender profiling and criminal investigation; eye witness testimony and legal decision making; rehabilitation and imprisonment.
Teaching
9 hours of lectures and 9 hours of classes in the MT. 10 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the LT.
In addition one revision class will take place in the ST.
Formative coursework
One essay per term (MT and LT) will be required.
Indicative reading
J.R. Adler and J.M.Gray, Forensic Psychology: Concepts, Debates and Practice, 2010; PB Ainsworth, Psychology and Crime: Myths and Reality, 2000; J.Brown and E.Campbell, The Cambridge Handbook of Forensic Psychology, 2010; C.R. Hollin, Psychology and Crime: An Introduction to Criminological Psychology, 2013; J McGuire, Understanding Psychology and Crime, 2004 F. Pakes and J. Winstone, Psychology and Crime: Understanding and Tackling Offending Behaviour, 2007.
Assessment
Exam (100%, duration: 3 hours) in the ST.
Student performance results
(2011/12 - 2013/14 combined)
Classification | % of students |
---|---|
First | 3.5 |
2:1 | 57.6 |
2:2 | 36.5 |
Third | 0 |
Fail | 2.4 |
Key facts
Department: Social Policy
Total students 2013/14: 35
Average class size 2013/14: 17
Capped 2013/14: Yes (30)
Lecture capture used 2013/14: Yes (LT)
Value: One Unit
Course survey results
(2011/12 - 2013/14 combined)
1 = "best" score, 5 = "worst" scoreThe scores below are average responses.
Response rate: 75.3%
Question |
Average | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reading list (Q2.1) |
1.7 | ||||||
Materials (Q2.3) |
1.5 | ||||||
Course satisfied (Q2.4) |
1.5 | ||||||
Lectures (Q2.5) |
1.3 | ||||||
Integration (Q2.6) |
1.4 | ||||||
Contact (Q2.7) |
1.7 | ||||||
Feedback (Q2.8) |
1.7 | ||||||
Recommend (Q2.9) |
|