Applied Criminology

foreign languages
optional courses

Being familiar with criminal law and criminal procedure.

Good knowledge of English (both written and spoken). Being ready to ACTIVELY participate in discussions is a MUST.

Classroom
Self-reading

The course presents the wide scope of issues in Criminology, with the specific stress put on practical applications of the criminological knowledge.

The course is designed to deal with the broad range of topics and issues in Criminology. The course covers numerous theories, experiments, research outcomes and findings of Criminology and involves the input of such diciplines as History, Psychology, Sociology, Ethnography, Geography, Media-studies etc. The theoretical background is continually transferred into the advanced approach to crime study and applied, practical use of Criminology in real life Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice work. As in the case of the Criminology lecture for Polish students (by Prof. Monika Platek), the course refers to criminal/legal policy and provides an understanding of how to read and evaluate criminology theory and research, and how theory and research can be applied to policy.

List of Topics:

1. An introduction to Criminology. When, why and what for would you ever need it?

2. Criminological research methods and their practical applications.

3. Criminology in context: domestic violence.

4. Criminology in context: juvenile justice.

5. Popular misconceptions and moral panics about crime. The fear of crime.

6. How to apply Criminology? Criminal statistics.

7. Issues in Applied Criminology: Victimology.

8. How to apply Criminology? Case analysis.

9. Critical issues in Criminology: war on drugs.

10. Crime and the Media.

11. Special topics in Criminology: international perspective.

12. Person in a prison environment. Stanford Prison Experiment and the Lucipher Effect.

13. Criminology in context: human trafficking.

14. Cultural Criminology and its practical applications.

15. Restorative justice in practice.

M. Maguire, R. Morgan & R. Reiner: „Oxford Handbook of Criminology” (2007)

Steven Briggs: „Criminology for Dummies” (2009)

E. McLaughlin & J. Muncie: „The Sage Dictionary of Criminology”

P. Zimbardo: „The Lucifer Effect: How Good People Turn Evil” (2008)

J. Ferrell, K. Hayward & J. Young: „Cultural Criminology: An Invitation” (2008)

E. Leyton: „Hunting Humans”.

D. Cullen: „Columbine”.

As a result of the course completion, the student:

Knowledge:

1. Is familiar with the terminology of various sub-disciplines of Criminology

2. Understands the role, value and necessity of Criminology for the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice.

Abilities:

1. Can discuss critical issues in Criminology.

2. Knows how to explain verious theories on the aetiology crime to non-lawyers.

3. Is able to critically analyse criminological literature

4. Is able to evaluate, assess and employ the criminological knowledge into practical work in various Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice related applications and situations.

Active participation in the course, plus the obligatory essay (final paper) on the Criminology-related topic selected by the student and consulted with the course instructor.

N/A