As part of the formal assessment for the programme you are required to submit a Contemporary Debates in Criminology assignment. Please refer to your Student Handbook for full details of the programme assessment scheme and general information on preparing and submitting assignments.
Learning Outcomes: After completing the module, you should be able to:
1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the principal debates and concepts relating to the module’s substantive topics.
2. Demonstrate a critical understanding of how controversial issues in crime, Law and order may emerge, the extent to which there is a historical dimension to these issues and the significance of them for fundamental ideas about the role of the state.
3. Demonstrate the ability to undertake critical analysis and evaluation of concepts and issues, drawing on a range of sources to make considered assessments.
4. Exercise autonomy and initiative in acquiring appropriate resources; take responsibility for own judgements; and be able to engage in rational debate with the opinions of peers and others.
5. Explain complex ideas and arguments clearly to a non-specialist audience.
Guidance Your assignment should include: a title page containing your student number, the module name, the submission deadline and the exact word count of your submitted document; the appendices if relevant; and a reference list in AU Harvard system. You should address all the elements of the assignment task listed below. Please note that tutors will use the assessment criteria set out below in assessing your work. You must not include your name in your submission because Arden University operates anonymous marking, which means that markers should not be aware of the identity of the student. However, please do not forget to include your STU number.
Maximum word count: 4000 words
Write TWO ‘newspaper articles’ (maximum 2,000 words per article, 4,000 words in total) based upon any TWO of the four questions below. Note that the question may be multi-part and you should answer all parts of your chosen questions. You should aim to discuss each of the elements of the question within the article, using academic references throughout.
Question 1 In 2007, Meredith Kercher was found dead and the case of bringing her killer/killers to justice has been a contentious and problematic one, resulting in years of trials and sentences being handed out and then withdrawn up until 2015 whereby an Italian court finally ruled Knox and Sollecito not guilty and that no further action would be taken. Discuss the following within one newspaper article.
a) Critically discuss how a case, like that of the Meredith Kercher case and other miscarriages of justice, might occur.
b) Critically evaluate the impact that a wrongful conviction can have on those convicted, victims as well as the criminal justice system and society
Question 2 Criminal activity has globalised in many forms and for many reasons within the last 20 years. Discuss both questions below within one newspaper article.
a) In what ways has terrorism expanded from a national to a global concern over the last 20 years?
b) What impact has globalisation had upon radicalisation of individuals into terrorist organisations and/or activities?
Question 3 The age of criminal responsibility in Scotland was changed to 12, a move not followed by England and Wales.
Discuss the question below within one newspaper article. Critically analyse whether the age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales is inappropriate at 10 years of age, using Europe and the rest of the world as well as relevant cases to support your argument.
Question 4 Hate crime is on the rise in England and Wales and hate crime reporting has also increased. Discuss the question below within one newspaper article.
Critically discuss the argument that police, policy makers and the criminal justice system are currently doing enough to tackle hate crime and reducing the impact upon victims.
