Introductory description

This module aims to equip students with a sound theoretical knowledge of youth offending, crime and criminal justice, exploring both historic and contemporary perspectives. The module explores different key debates relating to education, welfare, justice, race, class, gender and the construction of ‘youth’. We investigate a range of concepts pertaining to the complex relationships between young people, identity, youth offending and criminality. We also explore how it relates to intersectionality and the construct of identity within society and beyond. In essence, this module will encourage in depth reflection and critical discussion furthering student’s ability to explore sociological, psychological and criminological perspectives. In addition, students will develop the necessary analytical, theoretical, and critical skills needed to understand crime and some of the causes of crime. We shall ask whether the term ‘youth crime’ and ‘young offender’ in and of itself is problematic? And how can we begin to look at young people who commit crime from a less punitive angle.

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.

This module will explore issues pertaining to youth, crime and justice. It will utilise both historic and contemporary case studies to explore this phenomena. Lectures will introduce the development of laws and legislations in England and Wales as it pertains to children and young people. The age of criminal responsibility, mediatisation, deviance amplification and stigmatisation will be considered. These considerations will include discussions on the impact of race, class, gender and so forth, analysing the way in which these intersections interact and impact the overarching structure of the Youth Justice System (YJS). This module will offer insightful and importantly engaging methods to explore various topics in an open yet critical manner.

Provisional outline 1. An Introduction to Youth Justice in England and Wales 2. Welfare, Punishment, and Justice 3. Criminological and Sociological Explanations of Crime 4. Young People in Custody 5. Guest Lecture (Practitioner Perspective) 6. Reading week – No Lecture or Seminar 7. Young People, County lines and Criminality 8. Media Myths? Crime, Media and Popular Culture 9. Youth Victimology 10. ‘Faith’ on the Frontline.

Learning outcomes

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

• 1. Evaluate the different ways of understanding youth, crime and criminal justice from a political, criminological, sociological and cultural context.
• 2. Display an appreciation of the impact of the mediatised representation of youth crime and Justice, considering cultural criminology and media theories in the understanding of youth crime and social responses to it.
• 3. Demonstrate critical awareness of the responses to youth crime with specific reference to labelling, stigma, punishment, rehabilitation and reentry.
• 4. Analyse understandings of key criminological and sociological theories, concepts and contemporary debates pertaining to youth, crime and criminal justice.
• 5. Develop skills in accessing and evaluating relevant literature for independent study, research, presentations and essay writing.

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Subject specific skills

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

• Evaluate the role of the YJS and critically analyse welfare and punitive approaches.
• Effectively articulate information and present arguments in a clear academic manner.
• Confidently discuss and present historic and contemporary case studies important to the topic of youth, crime and justice and analyse their impact (if any).
• Have an appreciation of the limits of knowledge and various perspectives (sometimes conflicting) presented by scholars.
• Critically evaluate arguments and assumptions, and to explore a wide range of literature in identifying the complexities of a given topic.

Transferable skills

By the end of the module the student will

• Have acquired the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring the exercise of initiative and personal responsibility.
• Use skills to confidently present and speak in public by partaking in seminars, Q&A sessions with guest lecturers and group work.
• Establish external connections with organisations/practitioners who contribute to the module. The development of new skills and professional connections will potentially open the door for future collaborations and employment