Individual 1,500 word case study focuses on a topic of personal interest to the learner and should: investigate an area of crime, harm and victimisation that goes beyond dominant understandings of victimisation.
It will include appraisal of crime and/or harm perpetrated by powerful actors, using victimological theory.
Students will evaluate and communicate how effective regulatory frameworks are at delivering criminal and/or social justice. Assessing learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3.

In groups, learners will pick from a list of topics and through the medium of a poster, will discuss a victimological concept/theory and critically evaluate the theory/concept. Assesses learning outcome 3.

Using victimological theory, this module investigates concepts such as: conventional victims, non-conventional victims, victimisation, victimology and zemilology; to examine harm and victimisation beyond traditional frameworks; to investigate crime and harm committed by the powerful; and to examine regulatory frameworks and to assess the extent to which they deliver criminal and/or social justice and to acknowledge and understand resistance and redress.

Topics covered on the module are likely to include: crime, harm and victimisation; victimology, victims and zemiology (the study of social harms); non-conventional forms of crime and harm including crimes that go beyond traditional frameworks; crimes and harm committed by the powerful; regulatory frameworks, criminal justice, social justice and injustice; and resistance and redress.

The module will support learners develop their understanding of complex social issues by exploring both conventional and non-conventional crimes and their victims. The use of a case study assessment develops skills in evidence-based reasoning, structured analysis, and presenting findings which are all transferable to roles in criminal justice.

1. Critically analyse crime and/or harm committed by the powerful through a victimological lens.

University Learning Outcome: Analysis, Application

2. Evaluate the efficacy of regulatory frameworks and the extent to which they deliver criminal and/or social justice

University Learning Outcome: Enquiry, Analysis

3. Appraise concepts and theories of victimology

University Learning Outcome: Knowledge and understanding, Learning, Enquiry, Analysis

4. Apply victimology concepts and theories to cases of crime, harm and victimisation

University Learning Outcome: Knowledge and understanding, Reflection, Application

This module will used a mixture of lectures and tutorials/seminars 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.

Corteen, K., Morley, S., Taylor, P., & Turner, J. (Eds.). (2016).  A companion to crime, harm and victimisation. Bristol, United Kingdom: Policy Press.

Dorling, D., Gordon. D., Hillyard, P., Pantazis, S., & Tombs, S. (Eds.). (2008). Criminal obsessions: Why harm matters more than crime, (2nd Ed.). London, United Kingdom: Centre for Crime and Justice Studies.

Gallo, C. and Svensson, K. (2019) Victim Support and the Welfare State. 1st edition. Oxford: Routledge. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429505744.

Krushas, A.E., Kulig, T.C. and Goslar, M. (2025) A Review of Personal Recurrent Victimization: Examining the Literature on Recurrent, Repeat, Multiple, Poly, and Revictimization. Cham: Springer Nature. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-88601-0.

Pemberton, S.A. (2015) Harmful Societies : Understanding Social Harm.

Using victimological theory, this module investigates concepts such as: conventional victims, non-conventional victims, victimisation, victimology and zemilology; to examine harm and victimisation beyond traditional frameworks; to investigate crime and harm committed by the powerful; and to examine regulatory frameworks and to assess the extent to which they deliver criminal and/or social justice and to acknowledge and understand resistance and redress.