Imprisonment: Key Criminological and Sociological Themes
| Module title | Imprisonment: Key Criminological and Sociological Themes |
|---|---|
| Module code | CRI2007 |
| Academic year | 2025/6 |
| 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 and debates around it. 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 have the opportunity to discuss contemporary issues and policy debates pertaining to imprisonment. This module will encourage you to question the widely accepting “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 and the broader literature. It 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 discussions.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate an understanding of the literature around imprisonment
- 2. Analyze practical issues and contemporary debates of relevance to imprisonment in England and Wales
- 3. Engage with a range of sources, including some that are found independently.
- 4. Attempt to critically engage with academic discourses about imprisonment.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Demonstrate an understanding of various literatures and their applications to criminology
- 6. Construct and present clear arguments on a specific criminology topic in writing
- 7. Discuss research and policy issues.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 8. Present an argument in writing in a clear and organised manner
- 9. Analyse and attempt to critically assess relevant literature.
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:
Distinctions between imprisonment and detention, and examples of each.
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.
The experiences of female and Black and Minority Ethnic Prisoners.
Other forms of detention, such as immigration detention.
Use of force in prison and places where people are deprived of liberty.
Monitoring and oversight of prisons and places of detention.
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.
Approaches, rationales and justifications for prison – and / or arguments for defunding and abolition.
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 activity | 22 | 11 x 2 hour weekly lecture/seminar (or 1 hour lecture + 1 hour seminar) |
| Guided Independent Study | 28 | Reading assignments and preparing for the tutorials |
| Guided Independent Study | 50 | Preparation of essay |
| Guided Independent Study | 50 | Preparation of analysis of seminar activity |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timed essay | 25 minutes (equivalent to approximately 400 words) | 1-9 | Feedback will be given by peers, supported by the tutor; and feedback from tutor. |
| Essay plan | 400 words | 1-9 | Written feedback from tutor. |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 100 | 2,200 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay (2,200 words) | Essay (100%) | 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).
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
- ELE –
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 5 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 18/02/2025 |
| Last revision date | 18/02/2025 |
