Advanced questions of criminal law and procedure

Teacher(s)

Guillain Christine;

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

Learning outcomes

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

With regard to the programme’s learning outcomes framework, this course contributes to the development and acquisition of the following:  Deepening knowledge of criminal law through themes connected to current events  Analysing institutional and political issues underpinning the functioning of the judiciary, using different sources  Developing analytical, reflective, and argumentative skills from concrete situations  Mastering written and oral communication  Prioritising an interdisciplinary approach to law

Content

Course Content
This face-to-face course consists of a lecture analysing, concisely, legal texts, doctrine, and case law relating to criminal law disputes or mechanisms not addressed (or not in depth) in the 2nd-year Bachelor criminal law and criminal procedure courses, or that are linked to current events.
Each session focuses on a specific theme (alternative sanctions, drugs, terrorism, recidivism, criminal records, Covid-19, prisons, municipal administrative sanctions, criminal policy, etc.) and examines its legal, political, and institutional implications. Documentation related to the topic is provided to students in advance to allow preparation.

Teaching methods

Teaching Methods

• The course consists of lectures centred on the study of legal, doctrinal, and case law texts relating to the selected themes. Experts and professionals are regularly invited to illustrate the subject matter, and visits to relevant sites are organised during the year (depending on feasibility and student numbers). Significant emphasis is placed on interaction.
• Students are also regularly invited to debates with key actors in the justice system, to review documentation provided, listen to podcasts, or watch documentaries.

Evaluation methods

Assessment Methods
Type of assessment (and possible arrangements)
Assessment is based on active student participation and the completion of a written assignment. Depending on the number of students, the work may also be presented orally in class.
The written assignment consists of drafting, over ten pages, a project or a bill on a topic in criminal law or criminal procedure. The aim is to reform existing legislation with a view to improvement, adopting the perspective of a minister or a member of parliament. The student’s viewpoint must be substantiated, like the explanatory memorandum of any bill or project, with a structured argument designed to convince of its relevance.
A document available on Moodle contains detailed instructions for the written assignment (both content and form).
Students are invited, from the beginning of the course, to choose the topic of their work (examples from previous years are available on Moodle). Individual meetings with the instructor are organised to discuss the topic’s relevance and guide the student towards appropriate sources. The topic must be finalised by the Easter break, and the paper must be uploaded to Moodle by 15 May 2026 at 11:59 pm (or 14 August 2026 at 11:59 pm for resit students).

• In the case of justified lateness, the deadline will be extended by the number of days corresponding to the duration of the medical certificate, with a maximum of 10 days.
• In the case of unjustified lateness, 2 points will be deducted for each 24-hour period begun. A delay of more than 5 days, the submission of an inauthentic work, or failure to submit will result in a mark of absence (0A).

Language of assessment

• French

Assessment criteria (available on Moodle)
The evaluation takes into account class attendance and participation, as well as the written assignment and oral presentation (if applicable), as follows:

• 15 points for the final paper (2 points for form, 13 points for content)
• 3 points for class attendance and participation
• 2 points for the oral presentation of the paper (if no oral presentation, these points are added to the written assignment)

Grading is based on an evaluation grid available on Moodle
Additional Notes

• The paper must comply with the referencing rules taught at UCLouvain Saint-Louis Bruxelles.
• Students are subject to the Code of Ethics and Deontology applicable to users of UCLouvain’s information services.

Use of AI
The use of AI is not prohibited in written assignments but must be responsible and in line with academic and scientific integrity practices, according to the document “Responsible Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence”, approved by the Faculty Council in Law. Students must sign an “integrity pledge.” 
If students use AI, they must indicate, in a separate document, which parts involved AI use, specifying whether it was for research, drafting, or proofreading. Students using generative AI to draft text are also asked to evaluate and comment on the AI’s output.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism will result in a 0T for all university work (Articles 107 et seq. of the General Regulations on Studies and Examinations). For further information on plagiarism, consult:
https://uclouvain.be/fr/etudier/uss/lutter-contre-le-plagiat.html
Within the week following grade release, students may book an appointment with the course instructor to discuss the evaluation. Modalities are announced on Moodle.

Other information

Other Information

• The timetable and course plan are announced in advance on Moodle.
• Students are encouraged to consult Moodle regularly for updates, documentation, and announcements of recommended activities.
• An online forum is available for student questions.
• At the end of the year, students are asked to evaluate the course on Moodle.

Online resources

Online Resources

• Numerous resources and hyperlinks are available on Moodle.

Bibliography

Aucune

Faculty or entity

> DRTB