Course Resources Archive

The UK government has declared that the victim should be at the centre of criminal justice and this module explores crime from the perspective of primary, secondary and tertiary victims. The first block looks at vulnerable groups and the ways in which victims are supported. The second block looks at the most serious of violent offending, where the victim is silenced. This block takes a critical look at the responses to homicide of criminal justice, media and society to challenge students on their own beliefs and encourage critical analysis of difficult social issues.

Definitions and key concepts in crime and criminology

Exploring the institutions in the criminal justice

Exploring the idea of primary, secondary and tertiary victimhood

Victimology.

Local, national and global responses to homicide.

Exploring Media

Legal concepts

A student passing this module should be able to:

1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the contested nature of what is (and is not) considered to be a victim of crime
2. Identify vulnerable victim groups and recognise the social and political influences which create that vulnerability
3. Show a developed understanding of the contrasting schools of explanations that have emerged in relation to explaining violent behaviour and homicide causation
4. Assess the usefulness and limits of official statistics and other data related to crime and victimisation;
5. Critically discuss links between schools of criminological thought and selected current policies on violent crime

The Library Catalogue contains full details of the current reading list for this module. Further details may also be found in the Module Guide.