CM1S13 - Understanding Criminal Justice 01 Apr 2026 - 16 Apr 2026 | Version 3
Associated Module Information
| Module Code: | CM1S13 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Module Title: | Understanding Criminal Justice | ||
| Faculty: | Faculty of Life Sciences and Education | ||
| Faculty Group: | Policing and Criminology | ||
| Faculty Sub Group: | Post Compulsory Education | ||
| Module Leader: | Ian McKim | ||
| Module Team: | Sara Davies, Michaela Prior, Helen Martin, Marian Buhociu | ||
| First Intended Intake: | Final Year of Intake: | ||
| Date Closed: | |||
| Credit Value: | 20 | Credit Level: | 4 |
| Language: | English | ||
| Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: | |||
| Equivalent Module: | |||
| HECOS codes: | |||
| HECOS Code Weighting: | |||
Document Version Information
| Version | 3 |
|---|---|
| Valid From | 01 Apr 2026 |
| Valid To | 16 Apr 2026 |
Module Aims
This module aims to provide students with:
1. An understanding of the role of criminal justice agencies in the various stages of the criminal process and the administration of sentences
2. An ability to interpret criminal justice agencies' values and practices
3. An understanding of the relationship of social class, gender, age, race and ethnicity in relation to responses to crime and victimisation.
Content Summary
This module will commence by introducing students to main models and frameworks for the evaluation of the criminal justice system. It will then examine the possible path of a person through the criminal justice system, from the exercise of police powers on the street right through to prison based and community sentences and resettlement. In this way, students will be introduced to the main criminal justice agencies. The module will consider their values, practices and patterns relating to social class, gender, age, race and ethnicity in their decisions.
In this way, the module will consider the following topics:
1.Models of Criminal Justice
2.Stop and Search
3.Arrest
4.Police Questioning and Detention
5.The ‘Appropriate Adult’
6.Non-interrogatory Evidence
7.Out of Court Disposals
8.Prosecution
9.Criminal Courts System and Personnel
10.Juries
11.Sentencing
12.Community Sentences and Probation
13.Custodial Sentences and Prisons
14.Release and Resettlement of Prisoners
15.Youth Justice System
Learning and Teaching Methods
| Activity Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 24 |
| Seminar | 24 |
| Independent Study | 76 |
| Directed Study | 38 |
| Formative Assessment - Independent | 38 |
| Total Hours Selected | 200 |
Learning Outcomes
| # | Learning Outcome |
|---|---|
| LO1 | Describe the role of criminal justice agencies in various stages of the criminal process and the administration of sentences |
| LO2 | Describe the values which govern criminal justice agencies including human rights |
| LO3 | Recognise patterns of social diversity and social inequality in relation to responses to crime and victimisation |
Module Requisites
N/A
Assessment Criteria
| Assessment Category | Assessment Type | Description | Duration | Word Count | Weight (%) | Best of? | Pass Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | Written Examination - Closed Book (Unseen) 1 | Short answer exam | 120 | N/A | 50 | No | 40 |
| Written Assignment (CW) | Essay (CW) 1 | The assessment is a traditional essay - a written composition which, on the basis of existing literature, proceeds to sustain a coherent argument. | 0 | 2000 | 50 | No | 40 |
Assessment Matrix
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| LO1 | LO2 | LO3 | |
| Written Examination - Closed Book (Unseen) 1 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Essay (CW) 1 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |