Most people who are sentenced for crimes are not sent to prison but punished in the community. This module explores and explains the history, philosophies, current practices and policy debates surrounding community justice. Community justice is a specific area within criminal justice that focuses on the punishment and rehabilitation of offenders in the community. There is good evidence to show that community punishments can often be more effective than custodial sentences in preventing re-offending with some categories of offenders.

Topics covered include:



1: An introduction to community justice

2: Historical background

3: Probation services

4: Community Justice models

5: Community Sentences

6: MAPPA and MARAC

7: Working with service-users

8: Approved Premises

9: The voluntary sector

10: Case studies

The preparation and delivery of a pre-sentence report in the simulation magistrates court in front of role players. The preparation of the report weighted at 50% 2000 words and the delivery of the report in the court within a fifteen-minute time slot weighted at 50% Learning Outcomes 1-4

In light of the significant advancements in immersive learning environments at our institution, particularly with the establishment of the Ashley 2 Simulation Suite, it is proposed to update the current teaching and learning strategy for the Community Justice module. This will involve integrating the use of our state-of-the-art immersive courtroom and other simulation facilities into the module's curriculum, thereby enhancing the experiential learning aspect of the course.



The objective remains to enable students, through negotiation with tutors and practitioners, to identify and focus on specific aspects of community justice that align with their individual learning and development needs. The project component of the module, a pivotal element of the coursework, will now encourage students to utilise the immersive courtroom and related facilities. This approach aims to deepen their understanding of key aspects of community justice and offender management functions studied in the module, while also addressing work-related problem-based learning. This immersive environment is designed to augment students' knowledge and skills, significantly contributing to their potential employability in the field.



The structured learning strategy for this module entails a commitment of 200 hours, which includes tutor contact, directed and independent study, and preparation for assessment tasks. With the inclusion of the immersive facilities, these hours will now encapsulate hands-on experience in a simulated real-world environment.



Whole group sessions will introduce general concepts and legal principles, supplemented by innovative teaching materials and the integration of Microsoft 365 and the Blackboard VLE platform. These sessions will now also include demonstrations and activities within the immersive courtroom, guiding students towards practical application of their theoretical knowledge.



Smaller group blended sessions will continue to be preceded by independent learning, with the added dimension of practical exercises in the immersive facilities. These sessions are designed to assess understanding, develop analytical skills, and apply criminological principles to realistic scenarios. The immersive environment will enrich these sessions, facilitating active participation and interaction among students and between students and tutors. This approach will employ a variety of teaching methods, emphasising the development of essential skills such as intellectual rigour, communication, problem-solving, research, teamwork, negotiation, presentation, referencing, judgement, and the appropriate use of IT, all within the context of a simulated real-world environment. The integration of the immersive courtroom and simulation facilities into the Community Justice module represents a transformative step in our teaching strategy, offering students a dynamic and engaging learning experience that closely mirrors real-world scenarios and professional practices in community justice and offender management

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the history, philosophies, current practices and policy debates surrounding the provision of community sentences and community justice.

Knowledge and understanding; Enquiry; Communication;



2. Apply the argument that community sentences should not be viewed merely as ‘alternatives’ to prison but understood as representing a different sphere of penal regulation

Application; Enquiry; problem solving; Communication



3. Examine cases to establish whether community sentences have several advantages over imprisonment. Provide a critical analysis of the advantage or not as the case may be.

Learning; Application; Analysis



4. Engage in directed research of secondary data on reoffending, electronic monitoring, mandatory drug treatment, recall and incarceration.

Research

Focquaert, F. Shaw, E., Waller, B. N. (2021) The Routledge Handbook of the Philosophy and Science of Punishment London: Routledge.
Burke, L., Carr, N., Cluley, E., Collett, S., & McNeill, F. (Eds.). (2022). Reimagining Probation Practice: Re-forming Rehabilitation in an Age of Penal Excess (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003172031


Canton, R. Dominey, J. (2018) Probation. Abingdon: Routledge


Mair, G., & Burke, L. (2011). Redemption, Rehabilitation and Risk Management: A History of Probation (1st ed.). Willan. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203805961



Ugwudike, P., Graham, H., McNeill, F., Raynor, P., Taxman, F.S. and Trotter, C. (eds.) (2019) The Routledge Companion to Rehabilitative Work in Criminal Justice. Abingdon: Routledge.

A flat lecture/workshop computer lab/room flexible enough for small group work and a computer and projector for tutor led PowerPoint presentations.

Access to the immersive court room

Teams/Blackboard Virtual environment will be available to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook

You will learn about the probation service and how community sentences are facilitated by both public and private sector organisations. You will reflect on how community justice is essential to cutting crime, tackling reoffending, supporting victims and keeping the public safe. You will consider the efficacy of combining the right sentences with new technology. You will learn how probation staff work more closely with local authorities and the NHS to help offenders find a stable home and medical treatment so that they can access employment and education.