BASS Politics and Sociology

Year of entry: 2024

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Course unit details:
Youth, Crime and Justice

Course unit fact file
Unit code	CRIM31101
Credit rating	20
Unit level	Level 3
Teaching period(s)	Semester 1
Available as a free choice unit?	Yes

Overview

This course introduces students to the complex area of youth crime, the contemporary forces that shape youth justice policy, and the ways in which the criminal justice system has responded to it.

Indicative content: (1) Defining & managing 'juvenile offenders'; (2) Explaining youth crime; (3) From theory to practice; (4) Policing youth; (5) Criminal responsibility & sentencing; (6) The youth justice system; (7) Working with young people who offend; (8) Restorative justice approaches; (9) Incarcerating youth; (10) Responding to troubled youth.

Aims

This course unit aims to (1) introduce you to the complex area of youth crime, the contemporary forces that shape youth justice policy and how the criminal justice system has responded to it; (2) prompt you to question and critique established 'knowledge' and practice by considering alternative approaches; (3) allow you to consider the perspectives of key professionals and stakeholders working with young people in conflict with the law.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students will be able to (1) understand different theoretical approaches to young people and crime; (2) present the main elements and legal institutions that comprise the Youth Justice System; (3) critically assess recent policy developments in this area; (4) evaluate the success of interventions with young people; (5) appreciate how different societies construct the youth and crime problem and its solutions.

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching and learning across course units consists of: (1) preparatory work to be completed prior to teaching sessions, including readings, pre-recorded subject material and online activities; (2) a weekly 1hr whole-class lecture; (3) a weekly 2hr workshop; and (4) one-to-one support via subject specific office hours.

Employability skills

Other: (i) analyse, critique and (re-)formulate a problem or issue; (ii) rapidly and thoroughly review/rate argument and evidence from targeted bibliographic searches; (iii) plan, structure and present arguments in a variety of written formats and to a strict word limit, (iv) express ideas verbally and organise work effectively in small teams for a variety of written and oral tasks; (v) obtain, manipulate and (re-)present different forms of data; (vi) manage time effectively; (vii) reflect on and improve performance through feedback.

Assessment methods

Method	Weight
Other	20%
Written assignment (inc essay)	80%

This unit is summatively assessed by a 3000 word essay (worth 80% of the overall mark) plus a group presentation (worth 20%).

Feedback methods

Formative feedback (both individual and collective) will be given on (1) on tasks and contribution in class, (2) developing essay plans. Detailed summative feedback will be given on the submitted essay via Blackboard (Grademark) and on the presentation (prior to the Christmas break).

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures	20
Tutorials	10

Independent study hours
Independent study	70

Teaching staff

Staff member	Role
Jo Deakin	Unit coordinator

Additional notes

Across their course units each semester, full-time students are expected to devote a ‘working week’ of around 30-35 hours to study. Accordingly each course unit demands around 10-11 hours of study per week consisting of (i) 3 timetabled teacher-led hours, (ii) 7-8 independent study hours devoted to preparation, required and further reading, and note taking.

Information: This course is offered to all students university wide including incoming study abroad students.

Pre-requisites: none

Timetable: Please refer to your personalised Criminology timetable

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