For this assessment you must choose one of the following questions:
- Prisons provide a space where individuals can access rehabilitative support, in order to promote desistance. Discuss.
- Is desistance an individual responsibility, social responsibility or both? Discuss.
- Critically reflect on the pressures faced by probation delivery that hinder its ability to support rehabilitation, and encourage desistance?
- Imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentences, and/or life sentences offer no space for rehabilitation to be achieved, or desistance to be supported. Discuss.
- The prison system is in crisis. Discuss.
- What is hindering the ability of the probation service to manage individuals appropriately in attempts to avoid a serious further offence?
- Why do women require gender specific service provision when involved in the criminal justice system?
Alternatively, you may want to design your own question around a topic of interest that is not covered above. If you choose to do this you must first discuss this with the module lead to agree your question and ensure you are able to cover the required module learning outcomes.
Each of these questions are designed to assess the following module learning outcomes:
- Critically explore the theory of desistance, and consider the role of prison and probation as institutions in their ability to support and/or challenge this process.
- Understand the concept of rehabilitation within the practice of the criminal justice system, particularly within the institutions of prison and probation.
- Critically examine the management, treatment and control of individuals processed through the institutions of prison and/or probation.
- Analyse the pressures faced within the institutions of prison and probation through case study examples, wider policy and political climates.
- Recognise and value the importance of listening to individuals with lived experience when considering all of the above.
It is therefore important you consider these, and ensure you demonstrate your understanding of them within your work.
How to Approach the Task
Within this written assessment you are required to choose one of the above questions to answer. It is important you structure your written work following a standard essay structure, including, but not limited to, the following components.
Title
Introduction
Signpost your content to the reader.
Introduce any key terms relevant to your chosen question. These might include concepts like rehabilitation, desistance, prison, probation.
Main body
Should elaborate on what is raised in your introduction to develop clear arguments that answer your chosen question.
Organised into clear and well-structured paragraphs that offer critical reflection of different aspects of your chosen question, but link to those that precede and follow on. These need to include strong, and supporting evidence.
Conclusion
Summarise your key arguments, ensuring you have answered the question chosen.
References
Following APA formatting.
