CRIM3401 Criminology in Practice

In this topic, students will examine and analyse a range of major approaches to understanding crime and will be invited to reflect on potential applications in practice. The approach taken requires students to look thematically at criminological explanations as well as to study one or two types of crime. Students will be expected to read beyond the course syllabus for their research essay and to show competence in the analysis of case studies by using adequate criminological theories. They will also be expected to develop an understanding of the policy implications of the different theories examined. Students will be expected to develop knowledge that links theory to practical and empirical cases.

This topic aims to provide students with an overview of criminological research and an appreciation of how knowledge and assumptions about crime are expressed in policy and practice.

1. Summarise a range of key theoretical debates and schools of thought in criminology and socio-legal studies and give examples of their application
2. Outline and explain the key policy issues in a range of contemporary criminological areas
3. Critique the policy arguments arising from the above issues
4. Conduct research using tools relevant to criminological theory
5. Analyse a particular research theme in the field using authoritative sources
6. Discuss and explain ideas and debates within contemporary criminology