LS4019: CRIMINAL JUSTICE (2020-2021)

Last modified: 05 Aug 2021 13:04

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	Aberdeen	Sustained Study	No
Co-ordinators	Professor Peter R. 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?

Either Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4
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

3000 word essay (40%)

2x 1000 word answers to issued questions in 48 hours (60%)

Resit: Online Exam (100%)

Alternative Resit Arrangements (2020/2021)

Resit failed element in same format

Alternative Resit Arrangements (2019/2020 & C8 Students)

48 hour written exam

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge Level	Thinking Skill	Outcome

Factual	Remember	ILO’s for this course are available in the course guide.