The module introduces students to the institutions, procedures and selected elements of the substantive law which play an important part in the criminal justice system. The module examines the legal, criminological and sociological influences that make up the modern criminal justice system.

Issues covered include:

-Themes in the criminal justice system
- The philosophical requirements of a Criminal Justice System
- Prosecution Process
- Police accountability
- Prosecuting authorities
- Human rights
- Miscarriages of Justice
- National Offender Management Service
- Sentencing
- Community sentences
- Victims in the criminal justice system

The learning strategy for this module is based around students committing a total of 300 hours of activities, split between 66 hours of direct contact with a tutor and 234 hours of directed and independent study, together with preparation for and completion of assessment tasks.

WHOLE GROUP SESSIONS
In these sessions, students are introduced to the general concepts underlying the subject, and provided with an outline of the relevant legal principles and cases. Teaching materials, including the use of the VLE platform, supplement the sessions. These sessions guide students towards consolidating their knowledge and understanding

SMALLER GROUP SESSIONS
These are preceded by a period of independent learning. The module materials contain indicative reading for each session, together with subjects for discussion and case studies. The purpose of the smaller group sessions is to help students assess their understanding of a topic, to develop analytical skills, and to learn how to apply legal principles to factual situations. For all smaller group sessions, there are questions to help guide reading and preparation. The sessions encourage active participation and interaction among students and between students and tutors. A variety of teaching methods is adopted in order to encourage the development of essential skills such as intellectual rigour, communication, problem solving, research, teamwork, negotiation, presentation, referencing, judgement and the appropriate use of IT

DIRECTED AND INDEPENDENT STUDY (234 hours)
Independent study includes research and preparation for the work to be undertaken in the smaller group sessions and consolidation of understanding afterwards. Directed study opportunities, such as online tests, are provided to enable students to revise key topics at important stages in the module. Directed and independent study aims to develop a deeper understanding of issues within the Law of Obligations. Students are provided with guidance in their module materials, including via Blackboard. Completion of the tasks encourages students to assess their progress, identify strengths and weaknesses and manage their time more effectively.
Pre-seen guidance to support research for the assessment is provided.

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT:

Teaching Block 1:
1 x Two hour MCT – weighted at 50% ; assessing Learning Outcomes 1-5

Teaching Block 2:

2 hour exam – weighted at 50% ; assessing all Learning Outcomes

To pass the module, students must obtain a composite mark of at least 40%.


Additional Assessment Details

Working towards the assessment tasks will be a key element of the learning, and tutors will be available to guide students through the process. Face to face contact sessions focussed on assessment activities will be scheduled into the timetable.

Module Study Guide

Access to appropriate primary and secondary legal resources

Computing facilities to access material available via Blackboard, and the Web

Criminal Justice Edited by Anthea Hucklesby and Azrini Wahidin (Second Edition OUP 2013)
Journal: Criminology and Criminal Justice http://crj.sagepub.com/

1.Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the key elements of the criminal justice system and their interaction with each other with a specific focus on the offender management process.
Knowledge and Understanding

2. Apply the methods and techniques that they have learned to review, consolidate, extend and apply their knowledge and understanding and devise and sustain arguments and provide reasoned solutions to problems using ideas and techniques, some of which are at the forefront of a discipline.
Application

3. Describe and comment upon legal, sociological and criminological influences in the modern criminal justice system and critically evaluate proposals for reform.
Analysis

4 .Identify key themes in policing, offender management and sentencing in England and Wales and develop appropriate questions to achieve a solution - or identify a range of solutions – to a problem and use decision-making in complex and unpredictable contexts.
Problem Solving

5. Engage in directed research using appropriate strategies.
Enquiry

6. Demonstrate the ability to communicate and analyse information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
Communication