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.

The module provides a sophisticated analysis of the institutions, procedures and process that make up the criminal justice system in England and Wales. The module examines the legal, criminological and philosophical themes that are central to understanding the interaction between the different stakeholders.

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

1. Demonstrate a critical, scholarly and up-to-date analysis of criminal justice in England and as well as a providing a critique of 'the punitive state'.
Knowledge & Understanding

2. Apply the methods and techniques that they have learned to review, consolidate, extend and apply their knowledge and understanding to the legal and non-legal factors which affect the operation of the criminal justice agencies and identifies the policy issues involved in the control of crime and the pursuit of justice
Application

3. To provide a critical analysis of The purpose and role of the criminal justice system in the 21st century. To consider different models of criminal justice and the underlying theories and perspectives which underpin them.
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 To combine the relevant legislation with research findings and policy initiatives, and appreciate how enquiry in to the criminal justice system is a blend of socio-legal analysis.
Enquiry

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

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.

Module Study Guide

Access to appropriate primary and secondary legal resources

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

Andrew Ashworth. (2015) Sentencing and Criminal Justice (Law in Context)
by Cambridge University Press; 6th edition

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

Davies, Croall & Tyrer on Criminal Justice 2015
by Prof Malcolm Davies. Pearson; 5th edition

Law Trove: Criminal Justice & Criminology