Students have the option of taking either, or both, of two half course units.
Part I examines the seminal ideas surrounding crime and punishment which developed in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, and focuses in particular on the introduction of concepts of certainty, leniency and proportioning into the practice of punishment. The reformist thinking of writers such as Beccaria, Howard and Bentham is examined with emphasis being placed on the practical effects of their proposals and the changes produced in the methods of punishment used at this period. Part II, offered in the spring term, examines more recent theories of punishment and connects the theoretical discussions with practical issues facing contemporary penal systems. A feature of this section of the course is the presentation of research from leading practitioners involved in the prevention, control and management of offenders and offending behaviour. Click here for a course outline and reading list.