Criminology
Subject Leader: Mr G. Gartside
Subject Leader Email Address: gareth.gartside@swale.at
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
MARTIN LUTHER KING
Subject overview
Criminology is the scientific study of criminal behaviour on an individual and societal level. The course explores the theories behind why people commit crimes, how society determines what is considered to be criminal behavior, how police investigations work and what happens behind the closed doors of a courtroom. The course combines elements of psychology, sociology and law. Students will learn how to use theories of criminality to analyse criminal situations and make policy recommendations. Students also develop the knowledge and skills to research policy in practice, assess campaigns for changes and examine information to review verdicts in criminal cases. Students follow the complete journey of criminal cases, examining how personnel (such as crime scene investigators, forensic scientists and police officers) gather evidence, evaluate suspect rights, the prosecution processes of the CPS and analyse courtroom trials and potential miscarriages of justice. Students study the philosophy and aims of punishment ( rehabilitation vs. deterrence), assess how social control is maintained and evaluate the effectiveness of agencies such as the police, courts, probation and prison service.
Sixth Form Year 12
Term 1
Topics:
Unit 1. Analyse different types of crime and reasons why certain crimes go unreported and the consequences of this.
Unit 2. Compare criminal behaviour to deviance and explain why crime is socially constructed.
Enquiry questions:
What factors affect the reporting of crime?
Why is crime socially constructed?
Term 2
Topics:
Unit 1. Describe media representations of crime and explain the impact of these representations on public perception of crime.
Unit 2. Explore the biological theories behind criminality and evaluate their credibility. Assess policies that have been formed using these biological theories throughout history.
Enquiry questions:
How does media representation affect perceptions of crime?
How credible are biological theories of crime?
Term 3
Topics:
Unit 1. Examine campaigns used to reduce crime and reflect on their success. Create a campaign to reduce crime and explore different materials that can contribute to success.
Unit 2. Describe individualistic theories of criminality and critique government created policies.
Enquiry questions:
How can campaigns be effectively used to raise awareness of and reduce specific crimes?
How effective are government policies towards crime?
Term 4
Topics:
Unit 1 controlled assessment.
Unit 2. Describe sociological theories of criminality and consider crime prevention policies influenced by these.
Enquiry question: What are the sociological theories of criminality and how effective are crime prevention policies?
Term 5
Topic: Unit 2 consolidation of learning, closing of gaps and revision for the formal Unit 2 exam.
Term 6
Topic: Unit 3. The key personnel involved in criminal investigations, their strengths and limitations. Assessment of the usefulness of investigative techniques used within criminal investigations. The methods used in processing evidence.
Enquiry questions:
What are the strengths and limitations of the personnel involved in criminal investigations?
What are the strengths and limitations of different investigative techniques?
How is evidence processed and what are the impacts of failing to follow procedures?
How is the course assessed?
The assessment below is completed in Year 12.
Unit 1 8-hour controlled assessment (25% of the course).
Unit 2 external exam (25% of the course).
Sixth Form Year 13
Terms 1 and 2
Topics: The rights of individuals within criminal investigations, the requirements of the Crown Prosecution Service for the prosecution of suspects, rules in relation to the use of evidence within criminal cases, key influences affecting the outcomes of criminal cases, the strengths and limitations of the use of lay people in criminal cases, how to examine information for validity and how to draw conclusions from information.
Enquiry questions:
What rights do suspects, victims and witnesses have in criminal cases?
What are the requirements of the CPS and how are these requirements met?
What are the key rules of evidence?
How can the media, social media, political agendas, stereotyping, experts, legal teams, jurors affect the outcome of criminal cases?
What are the advantages and limitations of the use of lay people in criminal cases?
How do we ‘examine for validity’ and use information to draw conclusions?
Term 3
Topics:
Unit 3 controlled assessment.
Unit 4. Describe the process for law-making in the United Kingdom and the organisation of the criminal justice system in England and Wales. Forms of social control, the aims of punishment and how forms of punishment meet these aims.
Enquiry questions:
What is the process for law making in the UK?
What forms of social control exist and how effectively do methods of punishment fulfill their aims?
Term 4
Topic: The role of agencies in social control and the contribution of agencies to achieving social control. The strengths and limitations of agencies in achieving social control.
Enquiry question: how effective are agencies in achieving social control?
Term 5
Topic: consolidation of unit 4 learning, closing of gaps and revision in preparation for the Unit 4 exam.
How is the course assessed?
The assessment below is completed in Year 13.
Unit 3: 8-hour controlled assessment (25% of the course).
Unit 4 external exam (25% of the course).