University of the West of England

MODULE SPECIFICATION

Code: UPSNQQ-15-3 Title: Poverty, Inequality & the Social Causes of Crime Version: 1

Level: 3 UWE credit rating: 15 ECTS credit rating: 7.5

Module type: Standard

Owning Faculty: SSH Field: Sociology and Criminology

Valid from: September 2009 Discontinued from:

Contributes towards: Awards up to BA/BSc

Pre-requisites: None

Co-requisites: None

Excluded combinations: None

Learning outcomes:

On completion of the module students are expected to demonstrate:

    1. Detailed understanding of the key concepts and theories of poverty and inequality. (Components A and B)

    2. Critical awareness of competing definitions and measurements of poverty. (Components A and B)

    3. In-depth comprehension of the exclusionary processes producing social polarisation and how this impacts on crime, criminality, and the criminal justice system. (Components A and B)

    4. Critical awareness of the influence on policy and practice produced by a focus on the social causes of crime and criminality. (Components A and B)

Syllabus outline:

The lecture and seminar series will focus on the following indicative list of topics:

    • Defining poverty: Debates and issues

    • Conceptualising Poverty: Deprivation, exclusion, polarisation

    • Measuring poverty

    • Social Polarisation and Crime: The Underclass Debate, Forms of Marginality, Crimes of the Rich and Powerful

    • Crime as a form of Resistance & Rebellion

    • Social Inequality in the Criminal Justice System

    • Tackling the social causes of crime: Implications for Policy and Practice

Teaching and learning methods:

The outlined lecture programme will be supported by a seminar programme consisting of a mixture of student presentations and group discussions. Discussion of these topics will take place via weekly hour long lectures and seminars.

Reading Strategy:

The key readings for each seminar will be provided in the form of a web-link to a relevant resource from the module's website on UWE-Blackboard. To facilitate further reading and research the handbook will contain details of books, journals and websites relevant to the topics covered by the module. In addition, the module's website will also have further links to digitised materials, relevant articles, websites and audio-visual resources.

Indicative Reading List:

Alcock, P. (2006) Understanding Poverty Basingstoke: Palgrave.

Garland, D. (2001) The Culture of Control: Crime and Social Order in Contemporary Society. Oxford: OUP.

Hagan, J. & Peterson, R.D. (1995) (Eds) Crime and Inequality Stanford: Stanford University Press.

Hills, J., Le Grand, J. & Piachaud, D. (2002) (Eds) Understanding Social Exclusion Oxford: OUP.

Hills, J. & Stewart, K. (eds) (2005) A More Equal Society? New Labour, Poverty, Inequality and Social Exclusion Bristol: The Policy Press.

Lister, R. (2004) Poverty Cambridge: Polity Press.

Matthews, R. & Young, J. (2003) The New Politics of Crime and Punishment Cullompton: Willan.

Pearce, F. (1976) Crimes of the Powerful London: Pluto Press.

Taylor, I. (1995) Crime in Context: A Critical Criminology of Market Societies Cambridge: Polity Press.

Tombs, S. & Whyte, D. (2003) (Eds) Unmasking the Crimes of the Powerful: scrutinizing states and corporations New York: Peter Lang.

Assessment

Weighting between components A and B A: 40% B: 60%

First Assessment Opportunity

Component A (Controlled conditions)

Description of each element Element weighting

Individual Presentation (15-20 minutes) 40%

Component B

Description of each element Element weighting

Project (2000 words) 60%

Second Assessment Opportunity: attendance at taught classes is not required

Component A (Controlled conditions)

Description of each element Element weighting

Individual presentation (15-20 minutes) 40%

Component B

Description of each element Element weighting

Project (2000 words) 60%

SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT) ATTEMPT: attendance at taught classes is not required.

Specification confirmed by …………………………………………………Date ……………………………

(Associate Dean/Programme Director)

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