• 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  

 

Summary

 

Divided into five main sections, this Module provides materials for lecturers to use in teaching on the significance of alternatives to imprisonment in the context of contemporary criminal justice. In so doing, the module first introduces students to key terminology, before engaging in a critical overview of the general purposes of punishment, namely: retribution, incapacitation, deterrence, rehabilitation and reparation. The section on pretrial alternatives focuses on assessing decriminalization and diversion strategies that are aimed at limiting entry into the criminal process, as well as the imposition of alternative measures to pretrial detention. This is followed by an examination of post-trial alternatives, to explore the range of non-custodial sanctions and measures that can be imposed, first at the sentencing stage of criminal proceedings, and secondly, at the post sentencing stage. The Module closes by examining the effectiveness of alternatives to imprisonment and highlighting which groups may benefit most from non-custodial sanctions. Noting the considerable variety, globally, with regards to alternatives to imprisonment, this section closes with examples of innovative and good practice across different jurisdictions.

 

Next: References

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