CM3S060 - The Detectives’ Challenge: Investigating Cold Case and Unresolved Major Crime 01 Sep 2024 - 31 Aug 2030 | Version 1
Associated Module Information
| Module Code: | CM3S060 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Module Title: | The Detectives’ Challenge: Investigating Cold Case and Unresolved Major Crime | ||
| Faculty: | Faculty of Life Sciences and Education | ||
| Faculty Group: | Policing and Criminology | ||
| Faculty Sub Group: | Criminology | ||
| Module Leader: | Cheryl Allsop | ||
| Module Team: | Daniel Welch, Helen Martin | ||
| First Intended Intake: | SEP 2024 | Final Year of Intake: | 2029 |
| Date Closed: | |||
| Credit Value: | 20 | Credit Level: | 6 |
| 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 2024 |
| Valid To | 31 Aug 2030 |
Module Aims
To equip students with a comprehensive knowledge of cold case investigations and miscarriages of justice including why cases do not get detected correctly and how this can be remedied.
To provide students with the opportunity to put theory into practice by working on real undetected and/or unresolved cases.
Content Summary
This module considers how major crime investigations can go wrong and end up being a cold case or a miscarriage of justice, before drawing on key policing and investigative concepts, tools, techniques, and expertise to investigate cold cases and miscarriages of justice.
· Understand the nature of cold cases and how they are reviewed
· Define cold cases in the context of criminal investigations.
· Analyse the unique challenges and characteristics of unsolved cases.
· Explore forensic technologies and investigative processes used in cold case investigations.
· Develop systematic approaches for reviewing and reassessing case evidence
· Legal and ethical considerations to be made when revisiting cold cases.
· Understand the implications of advancements in forensic technology on legal proceedings.
· Identify potential overlooked evidence and witnesses through comprehensive case reviews.
· Using the media in cold case investigations
· Understand the importance of collaboration among criminal justice agencies, forensic experts, and expertise from aligned disciplines to advance cold case investigations
· Identify key factors influencing the solvability of cold cases.
· Prepare for challenges associated with presenting historical evidence.
· Cold case closure and impact on victims and victims’ families.
· Develop strategies for communicating case resolutions with sensitivity and empathy.
· Definitions of wrongful convictions and miscarriages of justice
· Causes of miscarriages of justice
· Law governing the criminal appeals process.
· Ethics of investigating wrongful convictions
· How to manage a casefile, and the interaction between law and politics
· Reporting on cold cases and miscarriages of justice
Learning and Teaching Methods
| Activity Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Practical Classes and Workshops | 36 |
| Independent Study | 84 |
| Directed Study (including online independent learning) | 80 |
| Total Hours Selected | 200 |
Learning Outcomes
| # | Learning Outcome |
|---|---|
| LO1 | Able to apply practical knowledge of investigative techniques, technologies, and forms of evidence drawn on in cold case investigations and/or miscarriages of justice. |
| LO2 | Able to prepare and deliver professional reports for clients, and experts in the field. |
Module Requisites
N/A
Assessment Criteria
| Assessment Category | Assessment Type | Description | Duration | Word Count | Weight (%) | Best of? | Pass Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asynchronous Assessment | Report 1 | Students will prepare a written report on their cold case investigation or miscarriage of justice including their findings, considerations made and overall assessment of the case. | 0 | 3000 | 100 | No | 40 |
Assessment Matrix
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| LO1 | LO2 | ||
| Report 1 | ✔ | ✔ | |