For 150 hours, of which 24 will be class contact and 126 hours will be guided independent study. Whole group contact will consist of lectures and workshops.

This module will enable students to critically analyse and evaluate theoretical and philosophical justifications of punishment together with political ideology that impact upon penal policy and practice. In addition, this module will locate this analysis in an appreciation of the consistencies, contradictions and conflicts that relate not only to theoretical discussion but to the less abstract level of policy formulation and actual penal practice. Considerations of class, gender and ethnicity constitute key aspects of the conceptual framework and the principles of ‘security, control and justice’ are critically examined in the operational context. A critical assessment of the ethos of incarceration will be a major theme of this module.

Integrated into this module is a critical analysis of the social situation and internal culture that offenders experience (both community and prison sentenced offenders). Particular attention is directed to the diversity of experience, response and adaptation of those subjected to the varied sanctions within the penal system. Power imbalance, human rights, civil liberties and the relationships of authority, discipline and coercion are central issues within the overall perspective of this module.

The main themes of this module include: philosophical and theoretical contributions to an understanding of punishments, the politics of punishments, policy developments in penal practice, offender rights and responsibilities, the wider instrumental role of prison in the criminal justice process, determining contexts and punishments (for example, gender, race, age, class, disability, etc.), comparative penologies and penal abolitionism.

This module aims to:
• Explore the development of punishment and its justifications in a wider societal context.
• Develop a student’s critical knowledge of penological research and debate.
• Critically analyse the links between crime and its control and to develop a critical understanding of the importance of the wider societal context in understanding penal policy formation, implementation and practice.

This module reflects the subject knowledge and understanding as outlined in the QAA benchmarks (2014) concerning the philosophy and politics of criminalisation, victimisation, criminal justice and modes of punishment. Vocationally it is linked to a range of potential criminal justice professions in the statutory, voluntary and non-governmental sectors, building students’ knowledge and understanding of core functions and debates in the prison and punishment realms

• The library

• PCs with standard suite of University software providing access to e-mail, the internet, word processing, etc.

• Lecture rooms with access for disabled students, and suitable for group work

• The Blackboard virtual learning environment

Assessment one will assess Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3, and 5 and is set three quarters the way through the module at week 29

Assessment two will assess Learning Outcomes 4 and 5 and is set for the end of the module in week 33. The primary source prison poetry will be supplied to students by the module leader

Brooks, T. (2012). Punishment. London, United Kingdom: Routledge.

Cavadino, M. & Dignan, J. (2007). The penal system: An introduction. London, United Kingdom: Sage.

Garland, D. (2001). The culture of control: Crime & social order in contemporary society. Oxford, United Kingdom: Open University Press.

Duff, R. A., & Garland, D. (1994). A reader on punishment. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.

Easton, S. M., & Piper, C. (2012). Sentencing and punishment: The quest for justice. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.

Foucault, M. (1991). Discipline and punish: The birth of the prison. London, United Kingdom: Penguin Books.

Gelsthorpe, L. & Morgan, R. (eds.). (2007). Handbook of probation. Cullompton, United Kingdom: Willan.

Jewkes, Y., Bennett, J. & Crewe, B. (eds.) (2016). Handbook on prisons. London, United Kingdom: Routledge.

Jewkes, Y. & Johnston, H. (eds.) (2006). Prison readings: A critical introduction to prisons and imprisonment. Cullompton, United Kingdom: Willan.

Mair, G. & Rumgay, J. (eds.) (2014) Probation: Key readings. London, United Kingdom: Routledge.

1. On completion of this module, you will be able to provide evidence of a critical awareness of the strengths and weakness of the different theoretical, political positions and penal practice outlined in the module.
Knowledge & Understanding

2. On completion of this module, you will be able to show evidence of a sophisticated understanding of the evolution of penal systems by making comparisons with other historical periods, and/or countries, and/or territories.
Knowledge & Understanding

3. On completion of this module, you will be able to critically evaluate the aims, functions and effectiveness of imprisonment and community sentences (taking account of issues such as rehabilitation, recidivism, resettlement).
Knowledge & Understanding

4. On completion of this module, you will be able to critically evaluate the effect of punishments on offenders, the coping strategies they may adopt, and the adaptations that are made.
Knowledge & Understanding

5. On completion of this module, you will be able to show knowledge and understanding of current penal policy and the punishment of offenders in a good style of written English.
Communication

None

This module will enable students to critically analyse and evaluate theoretical and philosophical justifications of punishment together with political ideology that impact upon penal policy and practice. In addition, this module will locate this analysis in an appreciation of the consistencies, contradictions and conflicts that relate not only to theoretical discussion but to the less abstract level of policy formulation and actual penal practice. Considerations of class, gender and ethnicity constitute key aspects of the conceptual framework and the principles of ‘security, control and justice’ are critically examined in the operational context. A critical assessment of the ethos of incarceration will be a major theme of this module.

Integrated into this module is a critical analysis of the social situation and internal culture that offenders experience (both community and prison sentenced offenders). Particular attention is directed to the diversity of experience, response and adaptation of those subjected to the varied sanctions within the penal system. Power imbalance, human rights, civil liberties and the relationships of authority, discipline and coercion are central issues within the overall perspective of this module.

The main themes of this module include: philosophical and theoretical contributions to an understanding of punishments, the politics of punishments, policy developments in penal practice, offender rights and responsibilities, the wider instrumental role of prison in the criminal justice process, determining contexts and punishments (for example, gender, race, age, class, disability, etc.), comparative penologies and penal abolitionism.

This module aims to:
• Explore the development of punishment and its justifications in a wider societal context.
• Develop a student’s critical knowledge of penological research and debate.
• Critically analyse the links between crime and its control and to develop a critical understanding of the importance of the wider societal context in understanding penal policy formation, implementation and practice.

This module reflects the subject knowledge and understanding as outlined in the QAA benchmarks (2014) concerning the philosophy and politics of criminalisation, victimisation, criminal justice and modes of punishment. Vocationally it is linked to a range of potential criminal justice professions in the statutory, voluntary and non-governmental sectors, building students’ knowledge and understanding of core functions and debates in the prison and punishment realms