Criminology and Forensic Studies - BA (Hons)

Bucks New University

This module introduces you to the core concepts of ‘crime’, ‘harm’ and ‘justice’, and debates around these that form the foundation of understanding in criminology. You’ll explore key criminological approaches/theories to understanding ‘crime’, ‘harm’ and ‘justice’ and the impact of the historical and social contexts within which they have emerged.

This module has two strands, the first introduces you to issues in contemporary British (and other) societies. You’ll explore debates relating to society, identity and diverse social groups. The second strand is the ‘Academic Skills’ programme which introduces you to the use of academic evidence and integrity as well as other key academic skills.

On this module, you’ll examine the scope of policy and the policy-making process. You’ll discuss what is meant by a ‘social problem’ by examining political ideologies and the shifting relationship between state and citizen. We’ll explore policy issues and how research is used to produce evidence to influence governments and other agencies.

This module covers the core concepts of ‘punishment’, ‘justice’ and ‘victimisation’ and debates around these that form the basis of understanding in criminology and criminal justice. A history of punishment and penology will focus in particular on the question of how and why punishment has changed over time including the ways in which punishment for crime is linked with wider social processes.The key justifications, models and types of punishment in contemporary societies will be explored and discussed, including in terms of their effects and effectiveness in controlling or preventing crime and providing justice for victims and how these fit into society and the Criminal Justice System as a whole. The social processes of criminalisation and victimisation are key to understanding ‘justice’ and ‘punishment’. These core concepts will be explored and discussed in relation to 21st Century societies, in particular the UK.The module will enable you to explore processes of victimisation, the experience of victims of crime, the management of victims of crime within criminal justice processes, the relationship between methods of punishment and victims experience of justice. We’ll introduce you to the key approaches within penology and victimology, exploring recently emerging themes in research and theory into victimisation and punishment.

This module will explore the concept of justice and examine what makes a just society. The idea of justice as fairness and what is meant by a free and equal citizen will be explored throughout the module. Domains of injustice will be explored, for example, injustice within social institutions, injustice in opportunities and injustice in private, family lives. We will also explore contending conceptions of social justice, and the concrete efforts of political parties, charities, social movements and ordinary people to oppose and transform unfair and harmful social arrangements, so as to achieve more just outcomes. Distinctively, we will adopt a ‘hands-on’ approach to addressing these issues, whereby we examine how best to embed our understanding of justice in active, practical strategies to oppose the injustices we encounter and help transform the social world.

This module takes you on a journey through crime scene investigation. It provides you with the awareness and understanding of the roles and responsibilities of various personnel who process a crime scene, how crime scenes are managed and preserved, with a particular emphasis on evidence recovery and handling, while taking into consideration health and safety. This module also offers an introduction to DNA and Fingerprint evidence and the processing of such evidence from crime scenes.