Content and teaching methods

After an introduction to the definition of sentencing, punishment and penology, the first part of the course presents students with the theories of sentencing and punishment developed by 1) E. Durkheim; 2) G. Rusche and O. Kirchheimer; 3) M. Foucault. The presentation outlines the fundamental concepts behind these theories and their interrelations and reveals the conceptual structures underlying these theories on sentencing and punishment. These theories (initial formulations, perlaborations) are then discussed, and their implications and applications within contemporary society are analysed.
The second, more technical, part of the course aims to equip students with some with the tools of critical Penology: basic concepts and formulas of prison demography, notions of diversion, alternatives and diversification and concepts of evaluation of effectiveness (descriptive and critical) and efficiency.

Other credits in programs