• E4J University Module Series: Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

• Module 7: Alternatives to Imprisonment

• Introduction and learning outcomes

• Key issues

  • Topic 1.  Aims and significance of alternatives to imprisonment
  • Topic 2.  Justifying punishment in the community
  • Topic 3.  Pretrial alternatives
  • Topic 4.  Post trial alternatives
  • Topic 5.  Evaluating alternatives
  • Summary
  • References

• Exercises

• Case studies

• Possible class structure

• Core reading

• Advanced reading

• Student assessment

• Additional teaching tools

• Guidelines to develop a stand-alone course

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• First published in March 2019
  

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  This module is a resource for lecturers  

 

Possible class structure

 

The class is divided into five key parts, to be delivered over three contact hours. The following structure is recommended:

• Introduction, including pre-class exercise ( exercises 1), or invited guest speaker ( exercise 2) [up to 20 minutes].
• Lecture: Topic One - Aims and significance of alternatives to imprisonment  [20 minutes].
• Exercise 3 focusing on the question: What are the main advantages and disadvantages of non-custodial sanctions?'  [up to 10 minutes].
• Lecture: Topic Two - Justifying punishment in the community  [20 minutes].
• Exercise 4 focusing on the question: ' To what extent can non-custodial measures achieve the different aims of criminal punishment?'  [up to 10 minutes].

• Break [10 minutes].

• Lecture: Topic Three and Topic Four - Pretrial alternatives and Post trial alternatives  [30 minutes].
• Exercise 5 on 'you be the judge' from the UK Judiciary [up to 15 minutes].
• Break [5 minutes].
  
• Lecture: Topic Five - Evaluating alternatives  [20 minutes].
• Debate the questions: 'Why are alternatives to imprisonment often not supported by politicians and the media?' and/or 'What barriers need to be overcome to implement effective alternatives to imprisonment?'  [up to 15 minutes].
• Conclusion: Module summary and explanation of the post-class assignment [five minutes].

[Total: 180 mins]

 

Next: Core reading

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