Tags
IJ, GED
Admissions requirements
None.
Description
This course will introduce students to criminal laws and the laws of criminal procedure to come to an understanding of how we define crime and criminals. In studying crime, students will be exposed to different methodologies to collect data and patterns which may be influenced, in part, by actors within the criminal justice system. We will explore informal social control as well as the formal response of different criminal justice systems, from the role of the police, to that of the prosecutor and defense attorney, judges and juries. We continue with a discussion of sentencing and punishment – to include capital punishment and prison, and miscarriages of justice – as the end result for those found criminally liable. Students will be introduced to criminal justice systems around the world and examine and reflect on the ways different countries and jurisdictions deal with the main stages in the criminal justice process. Topics such as globalization, state crime, genocide, international policing and the international criminal court will also be examined.
Throughout the course, students will be exposed to aspects of various criminal justice systems to compare and contrast how different societies and cultures deal with criminal behavior, with particular emphasis on the systems in the United States, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
Course objectives
By the end of the course, students are able to:
Understand basic concepts of substantive criminal law and how crimes can be classified;
Identify the various components and roles in the criminal justice system, and discuss the process involved as an accused moves through the system;
Recognize how various societies address the problem of criminal behavior, including the formal and informal administration of justice;
Compare and contrast the strengths and weaknesses of different criminal justice systems;
Debate various sentencing options and the role of punishment within the criminal justice system;
Understand the emerging concepts in comparative criminal justice, such as (private) security, surveillance, retribution and rehabilitation;
Discuss global trends such as the global drop in crime, the punitive turn, penal populism, privatization, international policing and international criminal tribunals.
Timetable
Once available, timetables will be published here.
Mode of instruction
The course is taught in seminar format, including lectures, class discussion and student presentations. The course draws upon the field of criminology and criminal justice from an international perspective. Students will be required, individually, to present an academic paper on one aspect of the criminal justice system on a country of their choice. Due to the international student body at LUC, students are encouraged to study and discuss the criminal justice system in their own countries. Students will be expected to write two short essays or position papers (no more than 1,000 words each) on a topic assigned by the instructor.
Assessment
There will be a number of assessments for this course. In addition to a final exam comprising both multiple choice, short answer and essay questions, students will be graded on two short position papers, an oral presentation and class participation. In the table below, students can find the learning aim and percentage of the final grade.
IIn-class participation, 10%, Ongoing Weeks 1 – 7
Position paper (2 papers at 15% each), 30%, Weeks 3 and 5
Presentation, 20%, Weeks 4 – 7
Final Exam, 40%, Week 8
Blackboard
There will be a Blackboard site available for this course. Students will be enrolled at least one week before the start of classes.
Reading list
Pakes, Francis (2014). Comparative Criminal Justice. Third edition. Routledge Publishers.
Other readings will be assigned via Blackboard
Registration
This course is open to LUC students and LUC exchange students. Registration is coordinated by the Curriculum Coordinator. Interested non-LUC students should contact course.administration@luc.leidenuniv.nl.
Contact
Alexis A. Aronowitz (a.a.aronowitz@uu.nl)
Remarks
Students should read the first chapter of the book before the first class meeting. It is important that you attend the first day of class. I will be lecturing on material not found in the book.