SOC6033 - Justice, Punishment and Human Rights

Objectives:

Assessment tasks are designed to enable students to demonstrate the Learning and Employability outcomes for the relevant level of study. Level Learning Outcomes are embedded in the assessment task(s) at that level. This enables a more integrated view of overall student performance at each level.

Content:

This module allows the students to critically explore concepts, debates, literature and research that relates to Justice, punishment and human rights. These three interlocking elements are vital for a functional and fair justice system. This module will invite students to consider whether the contemporary Criminal Justice System achieves an appropriate balance of these. To do this, the module will be broken down into 2 sections: History of Punishment, and Contemporary Philosophies of Punishment.

For the first semester, the aim is to engage with the historical content when considering human rights, assessing the basis and importance of protecting and maintaining human rights within punishment. Here students will engage with key philosophers, including John Locke, Jeremy Bentham and Michel Foucault.

The second semester will encourage student to consider and critically analyze the philosophies of punishment (Deterrence, Incapacitation, Rehabilitation and Retribution) that underpin the Criminal Justice System. This will build upon the foundations laid down in semester one, in weighing up how this relates to justice and human rights for both offenders and victims.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Lecture/Workshop
Hours: 40
Intended Group Size: Cohort

Guided independent study
Hours: 260

Further details relating to assessment
Assessment 1 is a negotiated presentation. Students will either submit a group presentation or an individual recorded presentation, of either15 minutes for an individual presentation or 20 minutes for a small group presentation on a topic of their choice relevant to semester one (2,000-word equivalent).

Assessent 2 is a negotiated written assessment (2,500-words). Students will be asked to explore how a form of punishment (students will decide which form(s) of punishment) delivers punishment, secures justice, and adheres to human rights.

This assessment will link to the CfSJ, as it will remind students to consider how social inequalities can impact upon experiences within the Criminal Justice System.

Assessment:

001 Negotiated presentation, 15 minutes individual OR 20 minutes groups; end of Semester 1 50%
002 Written assignment, 2,500 words; end of Semester 2 50%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Shaun McDaid
Level - 6
Credit Value - 30
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 6YL

Click here to go back to previous page