Please note: you are viewing unit and programme information
for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.
| Unit name |
Youth Justice |
| Unit code |
SPOL32006 |
| Credit points |
20 |
| Level of study |
H/6
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
|
| Unit director |
Dr. Jo Staines |
| Open unit status |
Open |
| Pre-requisites |
None
|
| Co-requisites |
None
|
| School/department |
School for Policy Studies |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Description including Unit Aims
The unit considers the needs and rights of children and young people involved in offending behaviour and in the youth justice system. The unit includes discussions of theories of delinquency; the history of youth justice system/process; the politicization of youth crime and the demonisation of young people; children and young people as perpetrators of offending behaviour, ranging from anti-social behaviour to grave crimes; diversity and difference; current practice within the youth justice system, including restorative justice and early intervention programmes; international perspectives on youth crime; and specific current issues such as children and young people's involvement in gangs. Children and young people's rights and views are considered within each lecture, as appropriate.
The objectives of the unit are to develop students’ awareness and knowledge of:
- how children and young people are perceived and treated by the youth justice system in England and Wales
- theoretical, policy and professional approaches to the needs and rights of children and young people involved in offending behaviour
- international differences in the ways in which children are perceived and treated by criminal legislation.
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Identify the needs and rights of children and young people involved in offending behaviour
- Apply these important considerations to situations where children and young peoples circumstances and experiences cause them to be subject to youth justice interventions
- Critically assess policy and professional responses to working with children involved in the youth justice system
- Synthesise different theoretical, policy and professional approaches to youth offending
- Critically evaluate cross-national differences and similarities in perceptions of and the treatment of children within youth justice systems
Intended Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will have:
- Gained a sound grasp of the needs and rights of children and young people;
- Gained an understanding of how these important considerations apply when children and young people’s circumstances and experiences cause them to be subject to processes of law or legislation;
- Become better prepared to consider whether future professional training in these areas of the law is a possible career option for them.
Teaching Information
The unit will be taught via lectures, seminars and guided individual study. The seminars will include presentations by students, group discussion and various exercises designed to enhance the teaching and learning of the topics covered.
Assessment Information
Formative assessment by:
an essay maximum 2 000 words.
Summative assessment:
by 3 hour unseen exam
Reading and References
- Cavadino M, Dignan J and Mair G (2013) The Penal System: An introduction (5th ed) Thousand Oaks: Sage
- Friday C and Ren X (eds) (2006) Delinquency and Juvenile Justice Systems in the Non-Western World, New York: Criminal Justice Press
- Goldson B and Muncie J (2006, eds) Youth, Crime and Justice: Critical issues, Los Angeles Hill,
- M., Lockyer, A. and Stone, F. (2007) Youth Justice and Child Protection, London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
- Muncie J (2009) Youth and Crime (3rd ed), London: Sage
- Newburn T (2007) Criminology, Collumpton: Willan
- Staines J (2015) Youth Justice, Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan
