This¿module¿has two¿assessments:
1. Group presentation.¿¿The students will go to court,¿either a Magistrates or¿Crown Court¿in their group¿and¿observe¿a trial.¿¿Students will then produce a presentation which is presented as a group to the module leader.¿¿The presentation will focus on the roles and¿responsibilities¿within¿the courtroom.¿¿¿This assessment is 15minutes and is weighted at 50%.¿¿This will assess learning outcomes 1 and 2.
Essay¿- students¿will choose¿one¿essay question from a selection of three questions,¿as provided by the module leader,¿and examine and discuss social and contemporary issues in criminal¿justice.¿This¿assessment is 1,000 words and is weighted at 50%.¿¿This will assess learning outcomes 2 and 3.

Introduction to Criminal Justice aims to provide students with a critical knowledge and understanding of the criminal justice process in England and Wales. The module highlights that definitions of criminal justice, processes within the criminal justice system and consequences of criminal justice: both crime and imprisonment,¿are not isolated domains of enquiry; they are¿closely linked¿together. Students are encouraged to critically engage with topics such as the pre-¿and post-trial processes,¿the social patterning of criminal justice,¿and contemporary challenges to the CJS in theory and in practice.¿The assignments encourage key skills for employability, including teamwork and collaborative working and communication in written and verbal form.

1. Outline the key agencies of the criminal justice system in England and Wales and describe their roles

University Learning Outcome: Knowledge¿and¿Understanding, Learning, Enquiry

2. Understand definitions of criminal justice and of the competing aims of the criminal justice system

University Learning Outcome: Learning, Knowledge¿and¿Understanding,¿Application

3. Discuss discretion and differential treatment in the context of the criminal justice process

University Learning Outcome: Application, Analysis, Reflection, Communication

This module will used a mixture of lectures and tutorials/seminar to support student learning. The lectures will introduce students to key topics, whilst tutorials/seminars will provide an opportunity for discussion, application of learning and collaborative tasks. Students will be further supported in these sessions with support for their assessments.

Students will also be expected to independently study, which will involve a mixture of directed and independent learning.

Classroom
Access to local court

Cunneen, C. et al. (2023) The Routledge international handbook on decolonizing justice. Milton: Taylor & Francis Group.

Gough, D. and Pycroft, A. (eds) (2019) Multi-Agency Working in Criminal Justice 2e Theory, Policy and Practice. Second edition. Chicago, IL, USA: Policy Press.

Harding, J. (2017) An introduction to criminal justice. London: SAGE.

Turner, J. and Corteen, K. (2022) Crime and Criminal Justice: Past and Present. Policy Press.

The Introduction to Criminal Justice module looks at the organisations and¿professionals who¿attempt¿to deliver¿'criminal¿justice'. The module offers a brief overview of the nature and development of the¿criminal¿justice 'system', the various¿agencies that this 'system' is¿comprised¿of and their formal roles and responsibilities in the delivery of 'justice'. Agencies examined vary from year to year but could include the Home Office, the Ministry of Justice,¿the Police Service,¿the Courts and Crown Prosecution Service, and¿Her Majesty’s Prison¿and¿Probation Service.¿The module also examines the work of various Inspectorates who oversee/monitor¿these agencies, along with the voluntary sector and private sector organisations involved in addressing crime and disorder. On this module you learn about the formal roles of these agencies, their core functions, aims¿and responsibilities, their similarities and common purposes,¿differences¿and potential contradictions. The module also examines the wider factors that have influenced the nature and organisation of these agencies and the relationships between them (including the historical/social context; the organisational/managerial context i.e. the emphasis on performance,¿process¿and best value, along with how political ideologies inform policy). It concludes by exploring contemporary¿issues in criminal justice¿and¿methods in seeking¿‘justice', such as restorative justice, problem solving approaches and specialist courts.