LS4019: CRIMINAL JUSTICE (HONOURS) (2018-2019)

Last modified: 22 May 2019 17:07

Course Overview

This course looks in depth at certain of the main aspects of the Scottish criminal justice process, focussing upon its mainly adversarial nature. Some comparisons are drawn with the inquisitorial processes of continental Europe. Topics addressed include: prosecution systems; the position of the accused; the status granted to the victim; plea-bargaining; the trial process; and appeals. The emphasis is not so much on ‘black-letter law’ but on the principles and policies, often clashing, which underlie the detailed legal rules and regulations governing the relevant institutions and processes.

Course Details

Study Type	Undergraduate	Level	4
Term	First Term	Credit Points	25 credits (12.5 ECTS credits)
Campus	Old Aberdeen	Sustained Study	No
Co-ordinators	Professor Peter Duff

Qualification Prerequisites

One of Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4 or Programme Level 5

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)
Law (LS) (Studied)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

LX4019 Criminal Justice (Studied)

Are there a limited number of places available?

Course Description

Course Aims:

To introduce members of the class to general theories concerning the nature of the criminal process.
To analyse elements of the Scottish system of criminal justice against a background of comparative models of the criminal process.
To compare and contrast the Scottish system of criminal justice with other modern legal systems.
To examine the role of the major participants in the criminal process: the police, the prosecutor, the accused, the victim and witnesses.
To encourage a critical evaluation of Scottish criminal justice.
To encourage research to a standard appropriate to honours-level study.

Content: This course analyses elements of Scottish criminal justice against a background of theoretical and comparative models of the criminal process. It looks at both the trial and pre-trial proceedings. Against this background, the course examines the role of the major participants – the police, the prosecutor, the accused, the victim and the adjudicator(s) – in the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of crime.

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers

Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour exam (66%) and 1 3000-word essay (33%). Resit: None.

Formative Assessment

For MA Legal Studies (LX) students only, a 1,000-word essay.

Feedback

Feedback will be provided on the feedback form within three weeks from the date of submission.

Course Learning Outcomes