Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE CRL4000

 
TITLE Policy and Crime Prevention Law

 
UM LEVEL 04 - Years 4, 5 in Modular UG or PG Cert Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Criminal Law

 
DESCRIPTION The study-unit focuses on the relationship between theory and concepts and pays special attention to the complex tie between policy and decision making within Malta's legal framework and its criminal justice system. It explores a variety of legal, sociological, demographic and economic perspectives on the position of women and men in society, addresses the contribution of the legal system to the debates on major policy areas, and considers questions relating to the character and quality of evidence presented in these debates. The reading list is intended to give a wide choice as the study unit is very dependent on students being prepared to bring something of their own to the class.

Study-unit Aims

The study-unit aims to assist the students in developing an understanding of different approaches to the gaining of evidence and the development of argument in policy and decision making in criminal justice with reference to both methodological and theoretical strategies.

Learning Outcomes

1. Knowledge & Understanding:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- develop a critical reflexive understanding of the policy process within a legal context;
- comprehend the relationship between policy and decision making in the criminal justice system in the prevention of crime;
- demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the different facets of the broad criminal justice procedure with a focus on Malta's legal framework.

2. Skills:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- exercise critical analysis and reflection in exploring policy initiatives and proposed solutions to the criminal justice system;
- identify appropriate evidence and analyse its relevance to policy-related issues related to Malta's legal system;
- critically evaluate scholarly work and to undertake and present work themselves in a scholarly way;
- communicate effectively in group sessions within a legal background.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings

Main texts:
Camilleri-Cassar, F. (2005) Gender Equality in Maltese Social Policy: Graduate Women and the Male Breadwinner Model, Agenda Publications.
Knepper, P. (2007) Criminology and Social Policy, Sage Publications

Other readings:
Armstrong, D. (2006) ‘Becoming Criminal: The Cultural Politics of Risk’, International Journal of Inclusive Education 10: 265 – 78.
Cook, D. (2006) Criminal and Social Justice, Sage Publications.
Dixon, B. (2006) ‘Development, Crime Prevention and Social Policy in Post Apartheid South Africa’, Critical Social Policy 26: 169 -91.
Laws of Malta http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/LOM.aspx?pageid=27&mode=chrono

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Students taking this study-unit need to have a background in law.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Independent Study

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Classwork SEM2 No 40%
Seminar Paper SEM2 Yes 60%

 
LECTURER/S

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit