Dr Sam Hanks

ASC212 Criminological Theory: Content and Application

This module provides students with an understanding of criminology as a theoretical, conceptual and applied discipline. Therefore, the module analyses criminological theories of crime and deviance, and explores the application of the theories in real life cases. The module builds on level 4 understandings of competing theories and perspectives to provide students with deeper a knowledge of Criminology from a theoretical and conceptual perspective. It is delivered through interactive sessions that give students the opportunity to evaluate the extent to which each of the theories applies in real life cases. Students are guided through the processes of applying each theory to topical and sometimes contentious crimes, acts of deviance, and punishments.

ASC222 Developing and Planning a Research Project

Developing and Planning a Research Project is available as an optional 10 credits module to all Criminology and Criminal Justice Single Honours students, Joint Honours Social Policy and Criminology students and Joint Honours Criminology and Sociology students. It is important to note that Developing and Planning a Research Project is a pre-requisite to ASC324 Dissertation; therefore if you want to take the Dissertation in your final year then you must select this module. Students need to achieve a 2.1 or above in the assessment of this module in order to be eligible to undertake an empirical research project in their third year dissertation. The module builds on the knowledge and skills gained form the ASC208 Research Methods module and introduces students to the research skills required to develop a rigorous research project. A mixture of lecturer-led and independent learning methods will be used to prepare students for the task of completing their dissertation. All teaching materials will be available through Canvas. Other relevant material will also be made available through Canvas.

ASCM17 Understanding Criminological Theory

This module aims to introduce students to the main explanatory approaches used in criminology, with an appraisal of the aspirations, scope and limitations of each. The focus is on how criminologists have used different paradigms of explanation, what insights these have generated, how they have informed research, debate and policies concerning crime, and the extent to which they have received empirical support.

ASCM21 Prisons: Past, Present and Future

In the modern period the prison has held a central symbolic position in the criminal justice system and in the treatment of offenders. This module will examine the history of prisons and imprisonment, and current issues in prison policy and research. This course focuses on prisons, exploring their hegemonic function in past, present and future criminal justice practices and plans. It draws on a range of penal abolitionist perspectives to critically question the existence, composition and function of a carceral state. In doing so the course examines the theoretical and practical implications of carceral abolitionism for understanding shifts in criminal justice policy and practice

ASCM44 Developing Criminological Research