BA (Hons) Community Justice

The module aims to develop learner understanding of probation practitionership, its intersection with theory, and to develop writing and academic skills required to study at degree level.  

The module will provide the foundation for both professional and academic practice enabling learners to progress to the Level 5 and Level 6 PQiP modules. 

This module develops critical insight and context around the criminal justice system and associated policy and theory. The module also critically explores the place of probation within the broader spectrum of the criminal justice system.

To explore the theoretical foundations of criminal justice within England and Wales. To articulate and critically appraise criminal justice policy and practice. Engagement with various agencies across this criminal justice system, including the police, CPS and criminal courts. Multi-agency working. Critical focus of the penal system (Prison, Probation Services and youth services) and their relationship, roles and responsibilities.This module also explores the various challenges that the criminal justice system encounters, including victim engagement and participation and the place of restorative justice. Finally, there is a wider critical examination of the broader harms done by the criminal justice system within its current form.

Initially this module explores the foundations of criminological theory pertaining to the commission of crime and criminal behaviour. Commencing with definitions of crime and criminal behaviour, concepts around free will, the social contract and broader classical criminological thought will be explored. Equally, early positivist theory associated with biological, psychological, and sociological determinism will be critically considered. Broader sociological / criminological concepts exploring control and strain theories will be integrated into the module, culminating in the application of such criminological knowledge to criminal justice practice.

Beyond this, critical criminological explanations around criminal behaviour will be undertaken, exploring labelling and radical theories, gender and theories of masculinity, realist criminology as well as race, ethnicity and social exclusion, amongst others. This modern theoretical focus represents further critical appraisal around crime and criminal behaviour, offering a contemporary understanding of criminal justice practice and effective intervention.

This module considers the concept of punishment and asks why we punish people. It explores the philosophy of punishment alongside penal sociology to inform a response, centring this around the environments of prison and probation settings. It considers penal policy and governmental responses around what has been understood as an evolution of a crisis within these environments and looks to explore the place of justice and barriers therein.The module then develops understanding and insight around the concept of delivering both punishment and justice within this context from a probation perspective. It articulates the priorities and barriers to achieving these goals, within the context of the penal crisis, and reflects on the role and responsibilities of probation practitioners within the process and the attendant tensions.

Initially, the module provides a broad examination of rehabilitation, via a historical overview of how rehabilitation has developed over time and has been applied at different stages of probation practice. Fundamentally, such a synopsis provides insight and understanding around the contested concept and placement of rehabilitation over time and the contributory factors that have led to shape rehabilitation in contemporary probation practice.

Beyond this, the module explores the prevailing role that rehabilitation plays across the various environments of probation intervention, namely the community and custodial environments. This module also outlines the legislative framework, philosophical orientation and key theoretical perspectives associated with the concept of rehabilitation and integrates these concepts with a practical and theoretical context.

Broader notions of supporting and engendering rehabilitation and change within the field of working with people on probation are also explored, covering fundamental areas such as engagement, relationships and rapport, for example, as well as considering a range of barriers that can impact upon this engagement. This will be set against the contemporaneous framework of risk assessment and management and the issues which result from this potentially jarring relationship. Finally, established areas of bias and disadvantage will be explored, and their impact on effective rehabilitation.

The module aims to apply reflective practice to probation practitionership.

This module will integrate the four required modules of learning at level 5 with adult learning theory and models of reflective practice to encourage and develop effective practitionership and professional engagement.

Learners will consider the above from a range of perspectives, including, but not restricted to, the individual practitioner, multi-agency involvement, organisational / sector priorities and people on probation.

Initially, this module considers the role and importance of terminology within probation practice. Personal and professional ‘values’ are then explored, and the enactment of probation values are critically considered. Turning to the concept of ethics, the module reflects on theoretical and philosophical models of ethics and integrity. Ethical decision-making and links to policy/legislation and models to promote ethical decision making are then considered as well as ethical dilemmas and balancing risk, rights and responsibilities.  

 Diversity within practice is then explored, with focus around understanding and respecting difference in a multicultural context. Concepts of intersectionality, identity and subcultural considerations are integrated into this module alongside a better understanding of tolerance and its role in respecting diversity. Finally, developing methods to proactively challenge discrimination and inappropriate behaviour represent important aspects of this module.   

The current module builds on and develops level 5 learning around the place of rehabilitation and change within the context of punishment, the criminal justice system and Probation practice, by developing in depth understanding around concepts, theories and knowledge in this area. Commencing with a ‘re-evaluation’ of rehabilitation, the module looks to explore a more traditional risk and offence focused approach to rehabilitation and contrast with theory more centred around the person. Concepts around Risk – Need – Responsivity and the place of risk assessment and management within this contact, alongside desistance and the Good Lives model, and person-centred approaches are considered and evaluated within the context of probation practice.   

The module also critically considers the skills, competencies, attitudes and attributes required to support effectual rehabilitation as well as exploring the various models and theories that have been promoted and endorsed to accompany effective probation practitionership. Approaches such as the Transtheoretical model and ‘stages of change’, alongside ‘motivational interviewing’ and ‘pro-social modelling’ represent some examples in this area of consideration. Equally, the context and backdrop to such approaches, such as initial assessment, enforcement and recall, and their application, all present considered and nuanced approaches within this module.  

The roles of various agencies involved as well as the political landscape that can shape and influence the direction and effectiveness of rehabilitation will also be explored within the module. Finally, focus on social issues, probation cultures as well as considering rehabilitative approaches employed across the globe will be considered, to shape understanding and critical thinking around current probation practice and its relationship with rehabilitation in England and Wales.  

Risk assessment, risk management, and public protection all represent central concerns of the Probation service and fundamental aspects of the role of practitioners. As such, a deeper and broader understanding of this area is essential for probation practitioners. Initially, this module will develop a broader understanding of the concept of risk. It will explore the place and impact of risk assessment and management over time, especially concerning the advent of the risk society and the new penology at the end of the 20th Century and the implications of this on probation practice and intervention currently. It will look to explore the nature and place of risk, risk assessment and risk management across the criminal justice system conducted by probation practitioners and articulate the various models and approaches that have been ushered in to guide and structure risk based practice.

The module then turns to how risk assessment and management can be understood alongside effective intervention with people on probation. It will deconstruct the involvement of a range of different agencies, both statutory and voluntary, within the assessment and management of risk and critically analyse these agencies' roles in protecting the public. Finally, the module will turn to focus on victims and their involvement within the context of risk assessment and management. The role of probation and practitioners across a range of victim led initiatives and responsibilities will be critically considered.

This module will look to engage with PQIP learners around the role and place of research within criminal justice and the impact and implications for practice.  

Initially developing awareness of the centrality of research in shaping and frequently (re)defining the landscape of practice within the Probation Service, and more broadly within the criminal justice system, the module will explore the evolution of this journey, up until the current day.  

Articulating the need to develop a critical awareness of existing literature in the field, the module will explore the validity and credibility of this literature as well as exploring the methodological and philosophical approaches to research more broadly. Incorporated into this module will be a focus around reflexivity, engaging with awareness of one’s own place within practice and links to research, and how ethics and values are incorporated into this, with a view to critically appraise practitionership.  

The module will consider how theory and practice interface, how research impacts on policy, what influences this process, and whose voices are most prominently heard.

The module assignment will provide opportunities for PQIP learners to consider key areas identified as requiring future research and insight. 

This module will engage learners with the concept of continuous professional development and the importance of reflective practice. Incorporated into the module will be a focus on around reflexivity, engaging with awareness of ones' own place within practice and how ethics and values are incorporated into this, with a view to enabling learners to critically appraise practitionership and the braider workings of the criminal justice system. The module will also focus on career development and career planning, with learners being required to integrate their learning and development into a personal career plan.