Researchs in Criminal Politics

lcrim2505  2020-2021  Louvain-la-Neuve

Researchs in Criminal Politics
Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information below is subject to change, in particular that concerning the teaching mode (presential, distance or in a comodal or hybrid format).
6 credits
30.0 h
Q2
Teacher(s)
Devresse Marie-Sophie;
Language
French
Prerequisites

The prerequisite(s) for this Teaching Unit (Unité d’enseignement – UE) for the programmes/courses that offer this Teaching Unit are specified at the end of this sheet.
Main themes
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.
Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

1 - 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
 
Content
On the basis of an understanding of the different meanings of the term "criminal policy", the course aims, first, to present some theoretical models of criminal policy and to illustrate them through research carried out on the subject in various fields (drugs, terrorism, domestic or intra-family violence, etc.).
It will then study specific crime-fighting mechanisms and practices, and will examine various models for the evaluation of these policies. Such an approach will help to develop knowledge about research tools used in order to found criminal policy and to ensure its monitoring and evaluation.
Teaching methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

During the seminar, students will be asked (individually or in small groups) to contribute to theoretical analysis, to analyze examples of specific criminal policies and to consider research hypotheses in various fields. Some sessions of the course will be delivered as ex cathedra courses. Sessions related to the research carried out will be interactive and oriented towards the construction of personal work. Students will be asked to facilitate some sessions by presenting their work.
Evaluation methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

The whole seminar aims at the elaboration of a research project presented in the form of a reasoned plan for an article or a scientific poster.
Other information
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.
Online resources
On Moodle:
Compulsory and optional reading materials
PowerPoints of ex-cathedra sessions
Research and evaluation reports presented as examples
Faculty or entity
ECRI


Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)

Title of the programme
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Aims
Master [120] in Criminology