Researchs in Criminal Politics [ LCRIM2505 ]

Participation in this course requires basic knowledge of criminology and criminal law. As a minimum requirement, students must have completed a minor in criminology - at UCL- or an equivalent course elsewhere.

The definition of criminal policy as a means of combating criminal phenomena will be considered in relation to the concepts of public and penal policy. We shall examine how the concept of a criminal policy has evolved, alongside the development of general State intervention mechanisms with reference to, contemporary scientific literature and on the basis selected policy documents.

Concrete examples of actual criminal policies will be studied. These will provide the opportunity to highlight the more specific concepts employed in the field of criminal policy (prevention, effectiveness, expertise, criminology, etc), along with the use of scientific knoledge in defining and implementing these policies.

In addition, they will allow students to assess the research methods used alongside the available methods, and to examine the role of the researcher and the expert in the process of evaluating criminal policies.

- To master the key theoretical skills required to analyze the formulation and implementation of criminal policies.

- To understand how criminal policies are developed and how they evolve.

- To understand the role played by scientific knowledge in both the formulation and implementation of criminal policies.

- To understand the key relevant methodological tools available for research and evaluation in this field.

- To familiarize students with concrete examples of research undertaken in this field

Assessment will be continuous, based on individual and group work submitted by the students.

During the course, students will be encouraged to contribute (either individually or in small groups) to the theoretical analysis process and will be taught how to analyze specific criminal policies, and how to create a research model in an unexplored field. There will be some formal teaching, but other sessions will be interactive and may include contributions from guest lecturers. Students will also be expected to present their work in some sessions.

On the basis of theoretical analysis of the different meanings of terms such as "criminal policy", the course's initial aim is to consider certain patterns of criminal policy postulated by Mireille Delmas-Marty in France and by Luigi Ferrajoli in Italy, amongst others.

The course will go on to examine specific practices developed in the "fight againt crime". This will be based on the results of research carried out in certain European countries, or focusing on European or international policies. This will allow us to further students' knowledge of the research tools used to understand or serve as a basis for criminal policies.

The course programme will be drawn up together with the students. A recommended reading list will be provided, possibly including a number of compulsory texts.