Criminology

This course will enable students to use theories of criminality to analyse criminal situations and make recommendations for policy.

Students also develop the knowledge and skills to research policy in practice, assess campaigns for changes in awareness and examine information to review verdicts in criminal cases.

KS3-4 Pathways (Southfield)
KS4-5 Pathways (Southfield)	WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in CRIMINOLOGY
KS5- Higher & Further Education Pathways	BSc Criminology, BA Criminology, BA Criminology and Criminal Justice, BSc (Hons) Criminology and Psychology, LLB (Hons) Law with Criminology, BA (Hons) Criminology and Sociology, BA (Hons) Criminology, BSc (Hons) Psychology and Sociology, BSc Criminology with Law
Careers	The qualification will support students in developing the knowledge required to be able to consider employment within some aspects of the criminal justice system, e.g. the National Probation Service, the Courts and Tribunals Service or the National Offender Management Service.
KS4 Specification links
KS5 Specification links	www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/criminology-level-3

Unit 1 - Changing awareness of crime

Key questions/concepts

What sort of crimes exist?
Why are some crimes unreported?
How can the media influence perceptions of crime?
How can a media campaign change perceptions of crime?
How effective are media campaigns in changing the law?

Timeframe

September – January

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase	Definition
White collar crime	A crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of their occupation
Ripple effect	The impact of unreported crime ripples through the community and can affect more than the initial victim
Decriminalisation	When certain laws are ignored by society they become impossible to police therefore the government has no choice but to decriminalise them. There are still laws against these behaviours but the consequences for these crimes and the time spent policing these crimes has been reduced
Moral panic	Increased anxiety for the public about an issue believed to be a threat to the moral standards of society. This is often impacted by media coverage.
Campaign for change	A sustained effort by a group or individual to improve society in one specific area.

Wider reading

Criminology Book One for the WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate & Diploma Paperback by Rob Webb and Annie Townend
WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate & Diploma Criminology Paperback by Carole A. Henderson
WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate & Diploma Criminology: Study and Revision Guide Paperback by Carole A Henderson (Author), Laura Neasham
Crossing the Line. Lessons from a Life on Duty. John Sutherland

Unit 2 - Criminological Theories

Key questions/concepts

How do we decide what behaviour is criminal?
What is the difference between criminal behaviour and deviance?
How do we explain why people commit crime?
What makes someone a serial killer, or abusive to their own families?
Criminologists have produced theoretical explanations of why people commit crime, but which is the most useful?

Timeframe

January - May

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase	Definition
Deviance	Deviance refers to rule-breaking behaviour of some kind which fails to conform to the norms and expectations of a particular society or social group. Deviance is closely related to the concept of crime, which is law breaking behaviour. Criminal behaviour is usually deviant, but not all deviant behaviour is criminal
Labelling theory	Labelling theory suggests that people tend to act and behave as they are labelled by other people. When an individual in the society is labelled as criminal, it compels him to commit more crimes
Biological theories	Theories that explain criminal behaviour by exploring factors within the body, such as genetic inheritance and brain functioning
Social construction	Refers to the idea that societies norms and values shape what behaviours are considered criminal as what is considered a crime is shaped by social processes and changes over time as new behaviours are determined to be illegal and others no longer illegal
Social policy	A plan or action of government agencies which aim to improve or reform society

Wider reading

Criminology Book One for the WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate & Diploma Paperback by Rob Webb and Annie Townend
WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate & Diploma Criminology Paperback by Carole A. Henderson
WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate & Diploma Criminology: Study and Revision Guide Paperback by Carole A Henderson (Author), Laura Neasham
The Prison Doctor: Women Inside. Dr Amanda Brown

Unit 3 – Crime Scene to Courtroom

Key questions/concepts

What are the roles of personnel involved when a crime is detected?
What investigative techniques are available to investigators to help to identify the culprit?
Do techniques differ depending on the type of crime being investigated?
What happens to a suspect once charged by the police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)?
What safeguards are in place to ensure a suspect has a fair trial?

Timeframe

September - December

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase	Definition
Personnel	People employed in an organisation who are involved in a criminal investigation such as the police, scene of crime officers, forensic scientists and pathologists.
Evidence	Information that is presented to the jury to help them decide whether a defendant is guilty or not guilty.
Crown Prosecution Service	An independent organisation that analyses the evidence collected by the police and decides whether it is appropriate for the case to be heard at court.
Magistrates	A civilian volunteer who hears evidence in lower level courts and decides if a crime has been committed and if the defendant is guilty or not guilty.
Miscarriage of justice	Cases where an innocent person is found guilty or a guilty person is found not guilty.

Wider reading

Criminology Book Two for the WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate & Diploma Paperback by Rob Webb and Annie Townend
WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma Criminology Paperback by Carole A. Henderson
WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate & Diploma Criminology: Study and Revision Guide Paperback by Carole A Henderson (Author), Laura Neasham
Forensics: The Anatomy of Crime by Val McDermid

Unit 4 – Crime and Punishment

Key questions/concepts

Why do most of us tend to obey the law even when to do so is against our own interests?
What social institutions have we developed to ensure that people do obey laws?
What happens to those who violate our legal system?
Why do we punish people?
How do we punish people?
What organisations do we have in our society to control criminality or those who will not abide by the social rules that most of us follow?

Timeframe

January - May

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase	Definition
Criminal Justice System	The system of law enforcement that is directly involved in apprehending, prosecuting, defending, sentencing, and punishing those who are suspected or convicted of criminal offences.
Due process model	A model of justice that focuses on the rights of individuals accused of committing crimes.
Crime control model	A model of justice that focuses of reducing crime by increasing the powers of law enforcement.
Social control	The way that the norms, rules, laws and structure of society regulate human behaviour.
Recidivism	When someone who has previously committed a criminal act commits further criminal acts

Wider reading

Criminology Book Two for the WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate & Diploma Paperback by Rob Webb and Annie Townend
WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate & Diploma Criminology Paperback by Carole A. Henderson
WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate & Diploma Criminology: Study and Revision Guide Paperback by Carole A Henderson (Author), Laura Neasham
Breaking Out – Janice Nix

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