Sociology of Imprisonment
| Module title | Sociology of Imprisonment |
|---|---|
| Module code | SOC3098 |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Professor Abi Dymond (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 30 |
|---|
Module description
This module is an introduction to sociology of imprisonment. You will be introduced to the classic texts on the lived experiences of prisoners and prison staff, as well as the more recent sociological perspectives on the prison experience. You will also consider the extent to which imprisonment reaches beyond prison walls, shaping ex-prisoners' lives after they are released and affecting families of prisoners and the communities they come from. This module will encourage you to question the widely accepted “boundaries” of imprisonment and consider how punishment – and imprisonment especially – reaches into many facets of social life.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module aims to provide you with an introductory knowledge of prison sociology. In aims to teach you what the prison experience entails, but also to think more broadly and question accepted academic perceptions of imprisonment and punishment more generally. It will thus help develop your critical thinking skills and encourage you to engage in socio-political discussion.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate a clear and detailed understanding of prison sociology.
- 2. Critically assess the utility of prison sociology in thinking about the purpose of prison and its effectiveness as a method of punishment for a criminal offence.
- 3. Demonstrate a clear and detailed understanding of different sources of data and critically assess their reliability and utility in debating whether imprisonment is an effective method of punishing offenders
- 4. Critically engage with academic discourses about the boundaries of punishment.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the explanatory frameworks and their application to criminology.
- 6. Engage with a wide range of sociological sources (academic, biographical, documentary).
- 7. Clearly present research and policy in your arguments.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 8. Present an argument orally and in writing in a clear, coherent, organized and effective manner;
- 9. Analyze and critically assess sources of qualitative and quantitative data;
- 10. Demonstrate you can work independently, within a limited time frame, and without access to external sources, to complete a specific task.
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
What is 'prison sociology'? - An introduction to the module.
Prison Discourses – how and to what extent has the nature of imprisonment changed since the 1950s?
The Prison Experience – discuss what the ‘pains of imprisonment’ are, and whether their nature has changed in the last five decades.
Society of Prisoners – consider what social life within a prison is like, and what it tells us about the effectiveness of prison as a method of punishing offenders.
Beyond Prison Walls – consider how imprisonment reaches beyond prison walls, affecting ex-prisoners' lives after their have served their sentence, and affecting their families and communities.
The politics and policies of imprisonment.
Experiences of particular types of prisoners
Oversight, monitoring and accountability
Theoretical and conceptual perspectives on imprisonment
Contemporary debates in imprisonment
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 11 | 11 x 1 hour lectures |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 11 | 11 x 1 hour seminars |
| Guided Independent Study | 40 | Reading assignments and preparing for the tutorials |
| Guided independent study | 20 | Preparing for essay assignment |
| Guided independent study | 15 | Additional reading/research |
| Guided independent study | 53 | Preparation for and completion of all exams |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| A short, essay based, unseen mock exam, conducted during a tutorial | 20 minutes. | 1-5, 7, 8, 10 | Feedback will be given by peers, supported by the tutor. This will give students the opportunity to hone their exam technique, and to informally practice / develop skills around giving and receiving feedback. Additional support will be provided by the tutor during office hours |
| Participation in seminars | Active participation based on readings | 1-9 | Verbal |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written examination | 50 | 1 hour | 1-5, 7, 8, 10 | Written |
| Essay | 50 | 3,000 words | 1-9 | Written |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written examination | Written examination, 1 hour | 1-5, 7, 8, 10 | August/September re-assessment period |
| Essay | Essay, 3,000 words | 1-9 | August/September re-assessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic reading:
Sykes, G. (2007), The Society of Captives: A Study of a Maximum Security Prison.
Crewe, B. (2009), The Prisoner Society.
Ewald, A., and Uggen, C. (2012), 'The Collateral Effects of Imprisonment on Prisoners, Their Families, and Communities', in The Oxford Handbook of Sentencing and Corrections (ed. J. Petersilia and K. R. Reitz).
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | none |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 10/02/2016 |
| Last revision date | 23/01/18 |
