CM4S160 - Working with Adults who Offend  01 Sep 2023 - 31 Aug 2029 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: CM4S160
Module Title: Working with Adults who Offend 
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Policing and Criminology
Faculty Sub Group: Criminology
Module Leader: Rachel Brown
Module Team:
First Intended Intake: Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 7
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100483 - criminal justice 100484 - criminology
HECOS Code Weighting: 50 50

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2023
Valid To 31 Aug 2029

Module Aims

This module will consider ethical and effective practice with adults who are involved within the Criminal Justice System. As part of this process, students will critically analyse the theories that underpin offending behaviour, with specific focus on probation, prisons, and punishment. Students will also be required to critically assess the rehabilitative practices used for adults who offend, in order to promote their rehabilitation and desistance from crime in criminal justice context.

Content Summary

The module will aim to cover a range of areas relating to Probation, Prisons and the concept of punishment when working with adults who offend.

To understand the concept of risk, risk assessment tools and how we respond to risks and needs on a case by case basis.

To understand the importance of multi-agency work for both intervention and for meetings such as MARAC and MAPPA.

To understand diversity within the Prison and Probation Service looking at BAME, gender, sexuality, religion etc.

To understand safeguarding procedures in both settings with regards to vulnerable adults and child protection.

To Understand sentencing, enforcement procedures, parole processes resettlement from custody to the community and licence conditions.

To look at specific punitive elements such as community payback, fines, curfews, GPS tags, recall, breach etc.

Skills for working with people who commit offending behaviour.

To understand and apply theories related to offending behaviour such as desistance, deterrence, retribution, Pro-social modelling, Risk, Needs, Responsivity, Good Lives Model.

To understand the range of interventions offered across Prison estate and the Probation Service.

To have knowledge of specific cohorts within the system such as IOM, Wisdom, Personality Disorder Pathway, and the Women’s Pathfinder.

To understand the roles and responsibilities of people working within HMPPS.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Practical classes and workshops 28
Independent Study 150
Directed Study 20
Active/Simulation Based 2
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Critically analyse the concepts, themes and discourses that underpin responses to offending behaviour by adults.
LO2 Critically analyse the theories utilised within the criminal justice system to promote rehabilitation and desistance from crime

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Professional Discussions 1 Oral presentation of a case study 25 N/A 100 No 60

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Professional Discussions 1

Reading List

Bain, A. (2019). Skills for success: Understanding routes to desistance. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 58(7), 644-660.

Bonta, J. (2023) ‘Training Community Supervision in the Risk-Need-Responsivity Model of Offender Rehabilitation: A Review and Implications’, Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 62(1), 39-58.

Burke, L. & Gosling, H. (2022) An Introduction to Penology, Punishment, Prisons & Probation. London: Sage.

Burrell, A. (2022) ‘The reflective practitioner in transition. Probation work during reintegration of probation services in England and Wales’, Probation Journal, 69(4), 434-451.

?Massin, I. & Booth, N (eds) (2023) The Routledge Handbook of Women’s Experiences of Criminal Justice. New York: Routledge. 

Ugwudike, P., Graham, H., McNeil, F., Raynor, P., Taxman, F, S, & Trotter, C. (eds) (2019) The Routledge Companion to Rehabilitative Work in Criminal Justice. Routledge

Vanstone, M. & Priestley, P. (eds) (2016) Probation and Politics. Academic reflections from former practitioners. London: Palgrave Macmillan