The course examines the range of legal, political and social responses across the world to what is widely called 'the penal crisis'. Blending a rigorous understanding of fundamental theory with evidence about real world problems, you will analyse recent innovations in theory, policy and practice. Drawing on a range of disciplinary approaches, the course will enable students to develop a rational and just response to crime.
Core Modules include:
- Justice & Penal Decision-Making
- Punishment & Processes of Penal Change
- Research Methods
- Dissertation Research Project of own choice
Choose from a wide range of advanced optional modules including:
- Childhood & Crime
- Surveillance, Technology & Control
- Offender Management
- Restorative Justice
- Homicide
In addition, students may also be able to take options from a range of cognate postgraduate courses including for example:
- Human Rights Law
- Internet Law & Policy
- Mediation & Conflict Resolution
Flexible
- Study full-time or part-time
- Choose to Study for either an LLM or an MSc
- Classes in the early evening
- Option of early completion with a PGDip/Cert
Duration of Course:
Full time study for the LLM or MSc: 12 months
Part-time study for the LLM or MSc: 24 months
This course is for:
- Practitioners working in a wide range of law, justice and welfare areas;
- Professionals developing justice policy;
- Members of the Third Sector;
- Recent Graduates from the UK and around the world.
Normally a good honours degree in law, one of the social sciences, business or humanities. Other qualifications and/or experience may be recognised.
Postgraduate entry requirements are in our prospectus.
Postgraduate entry requirements are in our prospectus.
Postgraduate entry requirements are in our prospectus.
Postgraduate entry requirements are in our prospectus.
"This course provides a remarkable opportunity for understanding, learning and growth that will help inform future action.”
Tim Newell, former Prison Governor of Grendon and Spring Hill Prisons, now working for Restorative Practice with victims of serious crime. Author of Murder and life imprisonment (with Eric Cullen) Restorative Justice in Prison (with Kimmett Edgar).
"I am pleased to endorse this exciting and well thought through new course. It is encouraging to see for the first time the direct, upfront link between Criminal Justice and Penal Change. Imprisonment in all its various dimensions is currently and correctly receiving much more critical and in-depth analysis. One area in particular I welcome an academic as well as a practical focus on risk assessment, defensible decision making, multi-agency partnership working and effectiveness of interventions to address offending behaviour."
D E Gunn O.B.E. M.A. M.Soc.Sc. M.Sc.has been Governor of HM Prisons Greenock, Polmont YOI, Edinburgh and Glenochil. He has been Vice Chair of Scottish Association of Study of Offending since 1998.
"As Chair of the Howard League in Scotland I welcome the growth in interest in penal reform but can see that it needs some focus and further stimulation in order to see it translated into action and change. This course appears to provide both focus and further stimulation. I would expect it to be of great interest to practitioners in various areas of criminal justice, with the diverse methods of study an essential attraction."
John Scott, QC, Solicitor Advocate, Vice President (Crime) of the Society of Solicitor Advocates, Chair of the Howard League for Penal Reform in Scotland and former Chair of the Scottish Human Rights Centre."
Postgraduate entry requirements are in our prospectus.