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Drawing upon research expertise in this area at De Montfort University, this course examines the theory and practice of how the criminal justice system operates. It assesses the efficacy of the law's processes to achieve justice for the victims of criminal behaviour and those accused of criminal offences.

You will learn to critically appraise aspects of criminal law, practice and procedure to formulate, evaluate and adapt solutions to contemporary problems. Through various assessments, including presentations, case study analysis, individual exercises, report writing, and essay writing, you will independently develop and present legal arguments with a theoretical and conceptual basis to support positions. In addition, you will deepen your understanding of the methodologies which can be used to pursue a career in criminal justice research.

Each module on the programme examines a different stage in the criminal justice process. The combination of the modules provides a straightforward narrative journey through the criminal justice process, culminating in a research-led portfolio or academic dissertation piece. 

Key features

• You will be taught by legal experts who have a wealth of experience. These will include barristers, solicitors, professors and practitioners from the international legal arena.
• You will benefit from the block teaching delivery mode. The block teaching approach widens participation in the context of legal study. A more concentrated weekly schedule allows you to focus on one subject at a time instead of several at once. This means that you will be able to focus closely on each subject and absorb your learning material in more depth whilst working more closely with your tutors and coursemates.
• In our Critical Issues in Sentencing and Punishment module, you will examine current sentencing policy and how it is formulated, critically evaluating its theoretical underpinnings and assessing its efficacy in achieving justice for the victims of crime, defendants and society as a whole.
• You can expand your knowledge of the law in dedicated learning spaces, including access to a crown court – a site of trials since the Middle Ages, a training courtroom and a simulated Judge's Chambers suite. In addition, the university's Hugh Aston Building has a dedicated law library exclusively for law students, allowing you to practise scenario-based learning.
• You will develop and apply values, skills, knowledge and behaviours that will enable them to contribute to the development of a just, peaceful and sustainable world.