Seminar on Criminology

Credits : 4

Lecturer : Thibaut Slingeneyer

Mode of delivery :

Face-to-face , first and second term, 30 hours of theory.

Language of instruction :

French

Learning outcomes :

From a practical analysis approach on an issue specifically criminological, the seminar aims both to introduce the discipline but also to encourage the acquisition of basic methods of academic work.

Prerequisites : None

Co-requisites : None

Course contents :

This seminar discusses criminology from several “commonplaces”. Indeed, unlike other sciences (like quantum physics), criminology seems more directly accessible and everyone allows himself more regularly assumptions or certainties. Among the many commonplaces that exist in criminology, we selected three for this seminar : “Delinquency is increasing”, “Police arrest offenders and two hours later they are out”, and “Prisons have become five-star hotels”. This will take seriously these commonplaces and then we will analyze. The seminar will use during the first semester three chapters of the book “Crimes, justice et lieux communs. Une introduction à la criminologie”.

The second semester will address specifically the prison issue. The seminar will address the jail from various sub-themes: the prison as "total institution", relations between inmates and custodial staff, foreign and jail, drugs in prison, women and prison ...

This seminar will be “critical”. Thus, we adopt the idea of ??Snacken: we need to look at the links between criminal practices (especially prison practices) and the “social, economic, political and structural inequalities, but also inequalities within micro-power relations. (...). This approach leads naturally to study the prison sociology or psychosocial effects of confinement, but also the links between prison and society, between criminal justice and social justice, between prison and selectivity of the criminal justice system”.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods :

Lecture.

Session 1:

- Introduction

- Presentation of practical issues: calendar, method, requirements of the various essays to be set, etc.

- Discussion on a first, introductory text on criminology (as a scientific discipline).

- Presentation of the paper on which the next session is based (students are asked to write a 4 page critical review for the next session).

Session 2:

- Discussion on the paper, on the basis of the student's critical reviews.

- Presentation of an ideal review essay of the paper.

- Presentation of the two separate critical review essays (2x2) pages max) to be submitted at the next session).

Session 3:

- Discussion on the two papers.

- Presentation of the various elements that an ideal review essay should contain.

- Presentation of the task for the following session: students are asked to write a critical synthesis of all three texts previously discussed (5 pages, max).

Session 4:

- Individual tutoring.

- Remarks on the student's critical synthesis. The student is asked to improve their synthesis on the basis of these remarks for session 5.

Session 5:

- Presentation of the various possible topics for the final essay.

- Presentation of the bibliographical references on these topics.

Session 6 :

- Constitution of groups and choice of their topics.

- Then: individual comments on the syntheses (if the student receives less than 13/20).

Session 7:

- Group tutoring.

Sessions 8 and 9:

- Groups' oral presentations of their final essays, and debate.

Assessment methods and criteria :

The seminar is a place for thought and discussion. Active participation is therefore crucial and is encouraged.

Assessment is based on:

- active participation

- the final oral presentation

- written work

Please note,

- attendance is compulsory

- late submission of coursework is penalised

- the seminar takes place one every fortnight (1hour 30)

Recommended or required reading :

Provided during the course.

Other information :

Texts are available in the library or via eSaintLouis.

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