Criminology and Criminal Justice
Crime is a fascinating subject. The number of books, movies and television programmes devoted to it, attest to people’s interest in the problem. So too does the extensive and often sensational coverage that crime receives in the media.
But, as this subject reveals, crime is a complex issue. While studying towards a major in Criminology and Criminal Justice, students will learn that it is considerably more complex than the superficial and romanticised portrayal it often receives in fictional writings and the media.
The study of Criminology and Criminal Justice will equip students who have an interest in deviance, conflict, crime and victimisation - and communities in general - with the knowledge needed for creating and maintaining a safe society.
Crime and victimisation have severe consequences for the sustained development of a society, the economy and ecology. This subject provides expert knowledge of crime and victimisation to deal effectively with crime, conflict and victimisation and to promote a democratic and just society with a human rights perspective as set out in the South African Constitution and Bill of Rights.
How do I complete a major in Criminology and Criminal Justice?
After completing the two first-year units, students must complete a minimum of two units at the second year level and a minimum of four units in the third-year level.
Note that some of the units listed can be taken at either second
or third year level.
First year:
- Understanding Crime
- Criminal Justice in Action: police, courts and corrections
Second / third year:
- Victimology
- Crime and Punishment
- Forensic Criminology: Victim and Offender Profiling
- Child Justice: Human Rights, Law Reform and the Socio-criminology of Deviance
- Criminal Behaviour
- Gender and Crime
Unit Summary
Understanding Crime (CRI 1001)
This unit is designed to help students understand crime and to be able to critically analyse and evaluate the various facets of crime. It does this by analysing issues such as: what constitutes crime; how society decides that certain actions should be criminal; what causes people to commit crime; the seriousness of the crime problem; why society views corporate crime differently to ‘ordinary’ crime; why crime is characteristically viewed as a public phenomenon; how the media reports crime; the value of crime statistics and how they are used and what effect the images of crime have on our perceptions of the crime problem and how this should be addressed.
Criminal Justice in Action: Police, Courts and Corrections (CRI 1002)
This unit explores the major organs of the criminal justice system. The functioning of the major tiers and role-players of criminal justice is appraised recognising the importance of new emerging forms of justice such as restorative justice. Current scholarly debates surrounding the workings and outcomes of the system and its component parts are analysed and evaluated.
Crime and Punishment (CJC2040/3040)
This unit focuses on both formal and informal responses to crime and punishment. Analyses refer to sentencing, punishment and corrections, including community based approaches. Theories and perspectives of punishment, justice and crime reduction are appraised providing a critical understanding and specialised knowledge of the evolution, elements, aims and applications of punishment within a local and international human rights framework.
Victimology in South Africa (CJC2271/3271)
This unit entails an introduction to victimology with an exposition of the concepts victim/survivor, empowerment, prevention and redress with reference to various schools of thought and current scholarly debates. Victimisation is studied within a domestic and comparative context focusing on the socio-economic, political and cultural dimensions of victimisation. Within a human rights framework, analyses refer to the abuse of power, institutional and structural victimisation and victim/offender homogeneity, sequences and victim recidivism. Through the application of victimisation theory and perspectives to particular contexts, victimisation vulnerability is assessed.
Child Justice: Human Rights, Law Reform and Socio-Criminology of Deviance (CJC2/3XX)
This unit entails a critical introduction to the study-field of child justice in South Africa with an exposition and analysis of the concepts legal relativism and child offenders as victims. Child justice is studied within particular socio-economic, cultural and political contexts scrutinising within a human rights framework, sentencing practices, state service delivery and statutory provisions rendering in practice the opposite than the envisaged constitutional protection. This course concludes with measures for purposes of redress, focusing on minimum standards for child justice and reform, child justice indicators and structural interdicts to ensure state delivery.
Sex and Crime (CRI2140/CRI3140)
This unit examines the gendering of crime and the role gender and gender stereotypes play in the operations of the criminal justice system. The subject uses key critical feminist and cultural theories to explore how social norms of femininity and masculinity produce particular gendered understandings of crime and criminality. It provides practical interpretative skills to enable students to apply these theoretical insights to the criminal justice system, to popular and media representations of crime and to the development of public policy. Topics include: the gendered nature of crime; gender and policing; femininity, masculinity and violence; family violence; constructions of rape.
The Criminal Mind (BHS2340/BHS3340)
This unit introduces students to biological, psychological and social models of criminal behaviour and explores the application of these approaches to understanding the diversity of criminal behaviour. The critical evaluation and application of these theories to various categories of crime and behaviour will provide students with the opportunity to explore and analyse individual and social influences on criminal behaviour.
Forensic Criminology: Victim and Offender Profiling (CJC2/3XX)
This unit refers to the importance of the crime case study method and the presentation of material to the criminal justice system informed by scientific rigour. Within a legal framework analyses are presented on the reliability and validity of input variables. Analyses refer inter alia to behavioural evidence, pre-sentence evaluations and victim impact statements. Credibility is of crucial importance and psychological factors in eyewitness testimony, scientific data collection techniques, and the role and functions of the expert witness, are presented in concert with court protocols and universal ethical principles.
See also:
|
