This module will enable students to critically analyse and evaluate penal policies and practices along with the political ideology that impact upon penal policy and practice. A particular focus is placed on offender rehabilitation and community initiatives that support reducing offending behaviour in future. Taught contents will include:

- Punishment through time
- Carceral designs
- Young people in custody
- Women in custody
- Toxic masculinity& imprisonment
- Drugs& violence
- Mental health
- Sensorial experiences
- Rehabilitation
- Resettlement & Community initiatives
- Desistance

You will be asked to produce an evaluation report that includes an assessment of a current rehabilitation project (a number of options will be provided by your module leader to select from).

Scheduled learning and teaching sessions will include lectures, workshop activities, discussions, groupwork, and drop-in support sessions prior to assessments. Formative work will assist students to complete assessments.
In addition to traditional classroom-based teaching, the module supports learning through the use of innovative and interactive IT based solutions such as Padlet, and other interactive learning solutions. Formative assessment will include evaluating a rehabilitation project, which is not part of the assessment list, and receiving feedback to apply to the summative assessment. You may also be able to submit part of your assignment for feedback ahead of the deadline.

1. Compare and contrast different multidiscipline approaches to crime control and punishment, and place these in their political and social contexts.

Critical Reasoning & Collaboration

2. Assess the complexities and inter-relationship surrounding state punishment, rehabilitation and desistance.

Knowledge & Understanding

3. Critically evaluate the effectiveness of an existing rehabilitation project that supports people who offend and communicate about the strengths and weaknesses of the approach to a professional audience.

Application & Problem Solving; Communication

4. Analyse the ethical, organisational and societal implications of rehabilitation and desistance-focused interventions, applying relevant evidence to inform professional recommendations.

Application & Problem Solving

Best, D. and White, W.L. (2019) Pathways to Recovery and Desistance: The Role of the Social Contagion of Hope. 1st ed. Policy Press.

Christensen, M.J. et al. (ed.) (2022) Nordic Criminal Justice in a Global Context : Practices and Promotion of Exceptionalism. Routledge.

Cunneen, C. et al. (2023) The Routledge International Handbook on Decolonizing Justice. 1st edn. Taylor & Francis.

Gonçalves, R.A. (ed.) (2023) Correctional Facilities and Correctional Treatment: International Perspectives. IntechOpen.

Hazel, N. et al. (2024) Desistance and Children: Critical Reflections from Theory, Research and Practice. 1st edn. Policy Press.

If you are interested in working with people who offend or understanding punishment, rehabilitation and desistance more broadly, this module is particularly suited for you. It will enhance your knowledge and competences in relation to criminal justice and community initiatives that support reducing offending behaviour. This module will enable you to critically analyse and evaluate penal policies and practices while introducing you to a range of potential criminal justice professions in the statutory, voluntary and non-governmental sectors.