CM1S018 - Perspectives In Criminology: Power and Society 05 Jul 2023 - 31 Aug 2030 | Version 2

Associated Module Information

Module Code: CM1S018
Module Title: Perspectives In Criminology: Power and Society
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Policing and Criminology
Faculty Sub Group: Post Compulsory Education
Module Leader: Janine Jackson, Allison Turner
Module Team:
First Intended Intake: SEP 2022 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 4
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes:
HECOS Code Weighting:

Document Version Information

Version 2
Valid From 05 Jul 2023
Valid To 31 Aug 2030

Module Aims

1. To provide students with an introduction to sociological theories of crime and deviance.
2. To introduce students to the concepts of power, conflict and criminalisation.
3. To explore how a range of social factors, social processes and social status can impact upon how crime is defined, laws are developed and enforced and how crime is understood and responded to.
4. To develop students’ critical thinking skills by exploring how crime as a concept is socially constructed and affected by power and politics.

Content Summary

This module will introduce and explore sociological understandings of crime and deviance. It will help students explore how crime is socially, culturally and historically constructed and will therefore demonstrate how crime varies from time to time, place to place and is dependent upon context. It will examine the relationship between crime or criminalisation and a range of other social factors such as power, poverty, wealth and status. It will explore the impact of social processes on how crime is defined, laws are developed and enforced as well as how crime is measured and recorded. Throughout the module the concept of power will be utilised to examine how and why people become involved with the criminal justice system as either victims or offenders. Importantly this module will help students to critically analyse the concept of crime and understand how power and politics shape how crime is defined, controlled and addressed. Lastly the module will explore how the dominant power structures involved in the constructs of crime and criminalisation have been, and continue to be, challenged, resisted and subverted.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 12
Practical classes and workshops 36
External visits 16
Independent Study 80
Directed Study 20
Problem / challenge based learning 36
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the sociological understandings of crime and how it is defined, controlled and addressed.
LO2 Demonstrate critical awareness of how crime is socially, culturally and historically constructed and how social factors and social processes impact upon how crime is understood and responded to.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Synchronous Onsite Oral Assessment Oral Assessment (Internally assessed, Onsite) 1 Onsite oral group presentation 15 N/A 50 No 40
Synchronous Onsite Assessment Classroom Test - Time Constrained (Onsite) 1 Onsite computer multiple choice classroom test 60 N/A 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Oral Assessment (Internally assessed, Onsite) 1
Classroom Test - Time Constrained (Onsite) 1

Reading List

Berberoglu, B. 2019 . The Palgrave Handbook of Social Movements, Revolution and Social Transformation. New York: Springer International Publishing

Meyer, D.S., Whittier, N. and Robnett, B. 2002 Social Movements: Identity, Culture and the State. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Newburn, T. 2007 . Criminology. Devon: Willan Publishing.

Rogers, C. and Lewis, R. 2007. Introduction to Police Work. Devon: Willan Publishing.