CM2S042 - Inside Justice: Unresolved Major Crime 01 Sep 2022 - 31 Aug 2028 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: CM2S042
Module Title: Inside Justice: Unresolved Major Crime
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Policing and Criminology
Faculty Sub Group: Post Compulsory Education
Module Leader: Cheryl Allsop, Daniel Welch
Module Team:
First Intended Intake: SEP 2022 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 5
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes:
HECOS Code Weighting:

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2022
Valid To 31 Aug 2028

Module Aims

To equip students with a comprehensive knowledge of the effectiveness of different types of investigative techniques, technologies and forms of evidence used in major crime investigations
To equip students with a comprehensive knowledge of how miscarriages of justice and unsolved cases can occur and what can be done to prevent them

Content Summary

This considers how major crime investigations can go wrong (either as a miscarriage of justice or cold case) and what can be done to prevent them from occurring. Students will be introduced to key policing and investigative concepts, forms of evidence drawn on in major crime investigations and how these processes and procedures can lead to miscarriages of justice. Students will also be critiquing criminal justice responses to miscarriages of justice and undetected crimes.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 12
Practical classes and workshops 32
Independent Study 34
Directed Study 48
Active/Simulation Based 26
Problem / challenge based learning 48
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of the effectiveness of different types of investigative techniques, technologies and forms of evidence used in major crime investigations
LO2 Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of how miscarriages of justice and unsolved cases can occur and what can be done to prevent them

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Case study 1 A case study based on either an unsolved major crime or a potential miscarriage of justice 0 2500 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Case study 1 ✔ ✔

Reading List

Adler, J.R. (ed) Forensic Psychology: concepts, debates and practice Cullompton: Willan Publishing

Allsop, C. (2018) Cold Case Reviews: DNA, Detective Work and Unsolved Major Crimes Oxford: Oxford University Press

Birzer, M.L. and Roberson, C. (2012) Introduction to Criminal Investigation Boca Raton: CRC Press

Brookman, F. (2021) Understanding Homicide London: Sage

Brookman, F., Maguire, M., Pierpoint, H. and Bennett, T. (Eds) (2010) Handbook of Crime, Cullompton: Willan Publishing

Burnett, R. (2016) Wrongful Allegations of Sexual and Child Abuse Oxford: Oxford University Press

Canter, D. (ed) (2008) Criminal Psychology: Topics in Applied Psychology London: Hodder Education

Gill, P. (2014) Misleading DNA Evidence Reasons for Miscarriages of Justice
Kidlington: Oxford

Howe, M.L., Knott, L.M., and Conway, M.A. (2018) Memory and Miscarriages of Justice Abingdon: Routledge

Innes, M. (2003) Investigating murder: Detective work and the police response to criminal homicide Oxford: Clarendon Press

McCartney, C. (2006) Forensic identification and criminal justice: Forensic science justice and risk Cullompton: Willan Publishing

McConville, M., and Wilson, G. (eds)(2002) The Handbook of the Criminal Justice Process. Oxford: OUP

Maguire, M. And Norris, C. (1992) The conduct and supervision of criminal investigations Royal Commission on Criminal Justice Research Report 5. London: HMSO

Monckton-Smith, J., Adams, T., Hart, A.G. and Webb, J. (2013) Introducing Forensic and Criminal Investigations London: Sage

Morewitz, S., and Sturdy Colls (2016) Handbook of Missing Persons Switzerland: Springer International Publishing

Naughton, M. (2012) Rethinking Miscarriages of Justice Basingstoke: Palgrave

Newburn, T., Williamson, T. And Wright, A. (Eds) (2007) Handbook of Criminal Investigations, Cullompton: Willan Publishing

O’Brien, M. (2008) The Death of Justice Talybont: Ylolfa

O’Connell, M. (2017) Delusions of Innocence Eastbourne: Waterside Press

O’Neill, M. (2018) Key Challenges in Criminal Investigations Bristol: Policy Press

Poyser, S., Nurse, A. and Milne, R. (2018) Miscarriages of Justice Bristol: Policy Press

Robins, J. (2018) Guilty Until Proven Innocent London: Biteback Publishing

Rossmo, D.K. (2009) Criminal Investigative Failures Boca Raton: CRC Press

Roycroft, M., and Roach, J. (2019) Decision Making in Police Enquiries and Critical Incidences: What Really Works Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan

Shalev Green, K., and Alys, l. (2018) Missing People a Handbook of Research Abingdon: Routledge

Stelfox, P. (2009) Criminal Investigation: An Introduction to Principles and Practice, Cullompton: Willan Publishing

Tong, S., Bryant, R.P. and Horvath, M.A.H. (Eds) (2009) Understanding Criminal Investigations, Chichester: Wiley Publications

Williams, R. and Johnson, P. (2008) Genetic Policing: The use of DNA in Criminal Investigations Cullompton: Willan Publishing

Zalman, M. and Carrano, J. (2014) Wrongful Conviction and Criminal Justice Reform Abingdon: Routledge