Systems of social control can possess a different character depending on whether you are a proponent of regulation or the subject of it. In this unit you will explore the ideas of conformity and delinquency through the lens of regulatory and systems theories in order to understand the impact of the criminal justice system on non-conforming members of society. Regulatory standards change over time and you will consider the history of moral and social regulation and achieve an appreciation of the influence of changing social mores on the criminal justice system, on outsiders and on marginalised communities. These mechanisms of control, both formal and informal, involve an intersection of criminal justice with other disciplines and agencies such as mental health or public planning. In contrast you will also examine the role of other regulatory systems, such as human rights and civil liberties, in protecting individuals from authoritarian control. During this unit you will debate a gamut of different issues including regulation of sexuality, drug use (illicit and legal drugs), control of youth cultures, hate crime, causing offense and supporting terrorism.

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Student feedback Student Unit and Teaching Evaluation

Students enjoyed the guest lectures throughout the Unit and found them beneficial for their learning

A range of guest lectures from industry experts including criminologists, psychologists, practitioners and activists will be included in the Unit in order to present a diverse array of voices and perspectives.

Feedback from Student Unit and Teaching Evaluation Student feedback

Students found the Unit content engaging and interesting

The contemporary criminological topics will be reviewed and updated where necessary to maintain the cutting edge and engaging content of the Unit.

Feedback from Student Unit and Teaching Evaluation

Assessment feedback scores are lower than 2023 and need to be improved

These links between assessment content and feedback will be explicitly highlighted after each round of assessment. Dedicated portions of the workshop will be used for this.

Feedback from Student Unit and Teaching Evaluation

Some students did not engage with the unit leading to a high AF rate.

The College's best practice guidance will be employed to contact non engaging students early on in the term (week 2 or 3) in order to discuss any barriers to engagement. The flipped learning model will continue to be used along with strategies to encourage student participation in class or via Moodle in order to create positive student networks within the Unit and to encourage an inclusive learning environment.