CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM - 2025/6

Module Overview

This module offers an introduction to the criminal justice systems in England and Wales. It looks at the various agencies involved in criminal justice, how they evolved and how they interact with each other and with offenders and victims. Theoretical conceptualisations of the criminal justice process are outlined. Relevant policy and legal interventions are also assessed.

Module provider

Sociology

Module Leader

ADAMS Maria (Sociology)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

The module is divided into two key sections. The first six sessions provide the history and background to the criminal justice system, looking at differing models of criminal justice and providing an initial understanding of the main components of the modern CJS, including the police, the Crown Prosecution Service, the courts, prisons and probation. The second section of the module focuses on key aspects of contemporary criminal justice, including victims, youth justice, minority groups and their relations with key criminal justice institutions, and restorative justice.
 
Indicative content includes:

• Policing and the police.


• The Crown Prosecution Service and the prosecution process


• The Courts Service and the Judiciary


• Prisons and punishment


• The Probation Service


• Youth justice


• Minorities and the CJS


• Victims and the CJS

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

  The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate:

 

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their in-depth knowledge of theoretical and policy issues relating to the criminal justice system. There are two pieces of coursework the students are expected to submit: 

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

Parliamentary Briefing- 1000 Words- This will be a 1000-word  briefing. The students will be expected to focus on changes in specific institutions like the prison, probation, or youth justice system, and will need to discuss the implications of this. Students will need to focus on the implementation of policies that have led to these changes and how this impacts of those who are a part of the Criminal Justice system. 

Essay- 2000 Words- This will be 2000 word essay. They will be able to choose from nine topics that will be delivered every week. The topics will be based around the aims of this module. 

 

Formative assessment and feedback

Students receive extensive written feedback on both their summative assignments, with the feedback from the first being able to feed into the undertaking of the second. Students are encouraged to see the module leader about their work. In addition to this, students are set a number of formative exercises, including tests, which directly feed into to their assignments.

Module aims

• Examine theoretical models of criminal justice
• Analyse the functions of the core elements of the criminal justice system (CJS), including the police service, the Crown Prosecution Service, the courts, prisons and probation
• Assess how the criminal justice system treats victims of crime
• Examine how offenders are dealt with at different stages of the CJS
• Analyse the relationship between minority groups and key criminal justice institutions and processes
• Assess the impact of relevant policy and legislation
• Analyse the effectiveness of different forms of punishment, including imprisonment, community penalties and restorative justice
• Outline how key skills learnt, and understandings of the CJS developed throughout the module, relate to issues of employability

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to reflect the programme’s key learning and teaching aims by:

 

• Developing students’ in-depth understanding of the role and functions of the criminal justice system;


• Engendering knowledge of  key theoretical conceptualisations of the criminal justice process;


• Developing understandings of the relationship between CJS policy and practice and how this impacts upon minority groups;


• Developing key study skills that relate to employability.

 

The learning and teaching methods include:

 

• Lectures


• Seminars


• Class exercises


• Class discussions


• Independent study

 

Each session focuses on one aspect of the criminal justice system. Sessions are split between lectures which aim to provide a broad introduction to a topic and seminars which aim to allow more in-depth discussion of key issues although interaction between lecturer and students is encouraged throughout. There will also be use of forms of media such as TV, film and radio.

Each session has one piece of primary reading which all students are expected to read. This reading provides the basis for class discussions. Additional reading is strongly encouraged too.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: SOCM008

Other information

The Department of Sociology is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module enhances students skills in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, and Resourcefulness and Resilience.

 

 

Digital capabilities - Students will be required to engage with digital information technologies (such as Surrey Learn, Surrey Search, Google Scholar) to access and utilise academic and media sources for class tasks and assignments. The two assessment requires students to engage with contemporary issues related to the criminal justice system and how this is linked to the theoretical content.

 

Employability - Students will develop a range of transferrable skills including critical thinking, reading and writing skills, analysis and evaluation skills, verbal communication skills, and the ability to construct and support a well-evidenced argument.

 

Global and cultural capabilities –Throughout the module, we will be speaking about different aspects of the criminal justice system and how it lens itself to an international focus. This will help to develop a global understanding about the CJS in comparison to England and Wales.

 

Resourcefulness and resilience - Students will be required to independently plan, research and write assessments, and build their confidence and engagement through participation in seminar discussions and activities, and this will help them to develop these skills.

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.