Introductory description

Advanced Theory in Criminology and Social Justice aims to critically engage students with core theories and major advances in criminological theory. Key issues and advances within core areas of theoretical criminology will be explored, including: classicism and neo-classicism; feminist criminology; abolitionism, post-colonial criminology and queer criminology, for example.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Part 1: Context

1. Classical criminology
2. Positivism
3. Critical Criminology
   Part 2:
4. Marxist Criminologies
5. Feminist Criminologies
6. Reading Week
7. Queer Criminology
   Part 3:
8. Post-Colonial Criminology
9. Anarchist Criminology
10. Abolitionism- Module Review

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Main learning outcomes: The module builds upon the knowledge and skills developed in Crime and Society (SO127) and in Criminology: Theories and concepts by: Demonstrating a developed knowledge and understanding of core criminological theory;
• To be able to critically evaluate the distinctiveness, strengths and weaknesses of a variety of theoretical approaches to crime and deviance;
• To be able to critically analyse how advances in theory are made;
• To be able to identify the ontological and epistemological basis of a variety of theoretical approaches and critically account for how philosophical foundations necessarily place limits on the explanatory potential of theory
• To be able to discuss and critically assess criminological explanations of crime ranging from pre-scientific approaches, classical and postclassical conceptions of crime and criminality, individual and sociological positivist theories, social process theories, critical theories, and more recent integrated theories.
• To be able to articulate the connection between criminological theory, public policy, and political ideology.
• To be able to critically evaluate criminological theory and related empirical research;
• To be able to summarize central criminological constructs and methodological approaches for operationalizing and testing these constructs to evaluate criminological theory;
• To be able to evaluate the implications of criminological theory and research for crime policy and practice.

Indicative reading list

Agozino, B., ((1997) Black Women and the Criminal Justice System. Ashgate Publishing

Agozino, B (2006), The Rise of Post-Colonial Criminology in AJCJS, Vol. 2. No.1

Gelsthorpe, L. & Morris, A. (eds) (1990) Feminist Perspectives in Criminology, Milton Keynes: OUP.

Carrabine, E. (2016) Changing Fortunes: Criminology and Sociological Condition, Sociology 50 (5): 847-62

Cain, M. (1990) Towards Transgression: New directions in Feminist Criminology. International Journal of a Sociology of Law, 18 1-18.

Chambliss, W.J. (1976) The State and Criminal Law in Whose Law? What Order in W.J Chambliss and M. Mandoff (eds) Conflict Approach to Criminology. New York: Wiley and Sons.

Cohen, S. (1991) Alternatives to punishment: The abolitionist case. Israel Law Review25729–739. (1991).

De Folter, R. (1986).On the methodological foundation of the abolitionist approach to the criminal justice system: A comparison of the ideas of Hulsman, Mathiesen, and Foucault. Contemporary Crises1039–62.

Dwyer, A., Ball, M., and Crofts, T (2016) Queering Criminology, Palgrave Macmillan.

Ferrell, J. (1998) Against the law: Anarchist criminology. Social Anarchism251–14.

Goldman, E.(1969) Anarchism and other essays. New York: Dover.

Knopp, F. H., Boward, B., & Morris, M. O. (1976)Instead of prisons: A handbook for abolitionists. Syracuse, NY: Prison Research Education Action Project.

Kropotkin, P. (1975).Law and authority inn E.C apouya, & K.Tompkins (Eds.), The essential Kropotkin (pp. 27–43). New York: Liveright. (Original work published 1886)

Mathiesen, T. (1974)The politics of abolition. London: Martin Robertson.

Mathiesen, T. (1986) The politics of abolition. Crime, Law and Social Change1081–94. Miller, J & Mullins, Christopher. (2006).The Status of Feminist Theories in Criminology.. Taking Stock: The Status of Criminological Theory, Advances in Criminological Theory 15. 217-249.

Pepinsky, H. (1978), Communist anarchism as an alternative to the rule of criminal law. Contemporary Crises2315–327.

Tifft, L., & Sullivan, D. (1980).The struggle to be human: Crime, criminology, and anarchism. Orkney, UK: Cienfuegos Press.

Smart, C. (1995), Law, Crime and Sexuality: Essays in Feminism. London: Sage.

Subject specific skills

Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of the well-established principles of criminological theory and social justice.
To apply underlying concepts and principles outside the context in which they were first studied, including, where appropriate, the application of those principles in an employment context

To be able to examine a range of key concepts and theoretical approaches within criminology, and to evaluate their application.

To have an understanding of the key concepts and theoretical approaches that have developed in relation to crime, victimisation and responses to crime and deviance.

Transferable skills

• Develop skills in policy evaluation, cross-comparison and critique across different jurisdictions and cultural contexts.
• Identify and apply key skills necessary to access relevant literature, and other sources necessary for analysis and evaluation in the area of gender, crime and justice.
• Develop skills in orally presenting academic material in an effective manner.
• Evaluate approaches with the use of empirical evidence and research-led learning.
• Demonstrate effective time management skills.
• Work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Manage complex information and demonstrate critical analytical skills.
• Develop skills in policy evaluation, cross-comparison and critique across different jurisdictions and cultural contexts.
• Develop skills in orally presenting academic material in an effective manner.
• Express points of view clearly , respectively and effectively in class discussions.
• Understand the process of knowledge production and engage in a reflexive approach and a critical awareness about one’s own values by using sociological and criminological knowledge.
• Understand the relevance of social context to one’s social location and personal bias in approaching specific social and criminological issues.
• Demonstrate an ability to work independently, collaboratively and to follow deadlines.
• Demonstrate an appreciation of the importance of group discussions, team work and interaction when developing a sociological imagination concerning crime and criminal justice.