• E4J University Module Series: Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

• Module 6: Prison Reform

• Introduction and learning outcomes

• Key issues

  • Topic 1: Introducing the aims of punishment, imprisonment and the concept of prison reform
  • Topic 2: Current trends, key challenges and human rights
  • Topic 3: Towards humane prisons and an appropriate resort to alternative sanctions
  • Summary
  • References

• Exercises

• Case studies

• Possible class structure  

• Core reading

• Advanced reading

• Student assessment

• Additional teaching tools

• Guidelines to develop a stand-alone course

•  

• First published in July 2019
  

•  

 

  This module is a resource for lecturers  

 

Possible class structure

 

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

• Introduction, including pre-class exercise ( Exercises 1 or 2), or invited guest speaker ( Exercise 3) [up to 20 minutes].
• Lecture: Topic 1   - Introducing the aims of punishment, imprisonment and concept of prison reform [25 minutes].
• Exercise 4 (quiz on the history of prison reform) or Exercise 5 as a link to Topic 2 of the Module (key questions focusing on the profile of the national prison population) [up to 15 minutes].
• Break [10 minutes].
• Lecture: Topic 2 - Current trends, key challenges and human rights [30 minutes].
• Exercise 6 (role play on the topic 'living in prison') or Exercise 7 (focusing on 'working in prison') [up to 20 minutes].
• Break [10 minutes].
• Lecture: Topic 3   - Towards humane prisons and alternative sanctions [25 minutes].  
• Exercise 8 (class debate on the abolition of imprisonment) [20 minutes].
• Conclusion: Module summary and explanation of the post-class assignment [5 minutes].

 

Next: Core reading

Back to top