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2019/20 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

LAW2420 Youth Crime and Justice

20 creditsClass Size: 120

Module manager: Dr Richard Peake
Email: R.Peake@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2019/20

This module is mutually exclusive with

LLLC2062Young People, Crime and Policy Responses

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module explores the nature and extent of youth crime and the sources of our knowledge about youth offending and its prevention. It considers social and legal constructions of youth as well as children and young people as victims. It provides an analysis of the youth justice system in England and Wales and contemporary youth justice debates.This module is taught by lectures and seminars in semesters 1 and 2.

Objectives

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students should:
- be able to understand explanations of youth crime;
- have a good knowledge of the youth justice system;
- have an understanding of children and young people as suspects and offenders in the youth justice process;
- be able to understand children's and young people's experiences as victims;
- be able to reflect critically on the nature and social consequences of youth offending and youth justice.


Syllabus

This course will explore the nature and extent of youth crime and the sources of our knowledge about youth offending. It will consider different explanations of youth crime and its prevention. It will also examine contemporary knowledge about children and young people as victims. It will provide an overview of children's rights in the context of crime and criminal justice. The youth justice system in England and Wales will be outlined and evaluated from policing, through the cautioning/final warning system to pre-trial procedures and processes and the operation of the Youth Court. Children and young people will also be considered as witnesses in court. The sentencing system for young people will be considered including the role of Youth Offending Teams, community sentences, custodial sentences and youth offender institutions. The relevance of restorative justice as a response to youth offending will be examined. Consideration will be given to different approaches to youth justice provided by other jurisdictions. Throughout the course issues of age, gender and race will be explored through the lens of youth crime and justice.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Lecture221.0022.00
Seminar81.008.00
Private study hours170.00
Total Contact hours30.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)200.00

Private study

66 hours: Reading selected materials for lectures @ 3 hours per lecture;
32 hours: Preparing for seminars @ 4 hours per seminar;
72 hours: Preparation for assessments.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Essay and seminar performance.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Portfolio4 x 1,000-word portfolio tasks100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)100.00

Two topics will be covered in each semester and will be covered in seminars, therefore enabling the student to complete tasks incrementally.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 30/04/2019

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