Criminology 2200-1W067N
The lecture is addressed to students interested in criminal law, the answer to the question when and why criminal law is effective, the sources and place of pathology, deviation and crime in social life.
The lecture is intended to:
- Present systematic knowledge necessary to pass the course.
- To acquaint students with basic knowledge about research, theory and practice of criminological research and its importance for correct application of criminal law.
- To present knowledge about creating, breaking and implementing the law.
- Explain on what does the amount of crime committed depend? How and in whose interest are deviants produced and how crime is effectively prevented.
The lecture will discuss the main currents of theoretical and research criminological thought, regarding criminal etiology, i.e. the science of causes of crime and other deviant behavior. Basic information about sources of knowledge on the extent of criminal behavior (statistics and crime dynamics), methods of data collection (techniques of criminological and victimological research) and strategies of crime prevention will be presented.
A lecture in criminology develops and strengthens critical and analytical thinking. It gives the ability to combine knowledge from other subjects and to analyse laws with understanding of their content. It makes students aware that criminal law is only one of the forms of controlling social behaviour and indicates when the use of this law can be beneficial.
Students participating in the lecture will deepen their practical knowledge of criminal law, criminal procedure and criminal executive law. They will acquire skills of conscious, critical analysis of media information referring to criminal law and criminal policy. They will understand how the notion of crime and pathology changes in time and space. They will learn to critically examine crime statistics. They will also be able to use a criminological perspective when making a criminal law assessment of the existence or absence of a criminal act.
Criminology is the science of making, breaking and implementing law. It helps to understand when criminal law can effectively counteract a crime. It teaches critical thinking. It broadens horizons and answers the question what connects a student with a criminal, a criminal with a saint and a hero fighting against prejudices, and law with sociology and social psychology. It provides knowledge about the ways in which criminal acts are constructed. Explains how and depending on what the definition and content of social pathology changes. Explains how and why theoretical explanations of phenomena defined as crimes and those considered as pathology are created and how this affects the justice system. It shows how social conditions influence the ways of explaining the sources of crime. It teaches the analysis of criminal law regulations and penal practice. It gives practical skills of using basic criminological concepts in considering issues of criminal law and criminal executive law.
Criminology is the science of making, breaking and implementing law. It enables you to understand when criminal law can effectively counteract crime. It teaches critical thinking. It broadens horizons and answers the question what connects a student with a criminal, a criminal with a saint and a hero fighting against prejudices, and law with sociology and social psychology. It provides knowledge about the ways in which criminal acts are constructed. Explains how and depending on what the definition and content of social pathology changes. Explains how and why theoretical explanations of phenomena defined as crimes and those considered as pathology are created and how this affects the justice system. It shows how social conditions influence the ways of explaining the sources of crime. It teaches the analysis of criminal law regulations and penal practice. Gives practical skills of using basic criminological concepts in considering issues of criminal law and penal executive law.
Mode
Prerequisites (description)
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
At the end of a lecture in criminology, the student/student will be able to:
Knowledge:
1) Outline the reasons for the criminalization of specific behavior.
2) Demonstrate knowledge of criminological theories and reflect critically on ways of explaining the sources of proscribed conduct and their impact on criminal policy.
3) Demonstrate knowledge of criminological and victimological ways of explaining phenomena defined as pathological.
Skills:
1) Use specific criminological theories when examining the causes and means of prevention of specific deviant conduct.
2) Critically examine statistical and descriptive data on crime.
3) Critically explore the relationship between the use of non-academic forms of social control and the statistical scale of crime.
Attitudes:
1) Understand that deciding whether there is a crime and administering justice is not simple and straightforward, even though it is defined by law.
2) Understand the limited role of criminal law in the possibility of solving social problems.
Understand the limitations and challenges that criminology faces in order to advance knowledge of the conditions under which behavior is defined as deviant/criminal and at the same time not to serve to justify the use and abuse of criminal law and criminal policy for current politics.
Assessment criteria
The lecture is conducted using an interactive method with the use of multimedia presentations. It is a form of discussion/discourse with students. Thanks to this, the classes are lively and allow to check whether the intended didactic goal of the classes is achieved. However, a large number of people does not allow only in this form to reliably check the knowledge of participants.
Therefore, the basis for passing a lecture is: (1) active participation in class (55%). (2) Essay (45%) [max. 9 200 characters with spaces; not including footnotes and bibliography. The bibliography must include the name of the author(s), title, publishing house, place of publication, year of publication, cited pages. The same applies to material from the Internet. These must additionally include the full internet address and date of access].
The essay should be written on the basis of the chosen criminological theory and the readings [on the following topics: what is crime, what are its sources, why do people commit crimes, how to prevent them [this includes e.g. domestic violence, rape, rape, etc.]: domestic violence, rape, sexual abuse of children, human trafficking, abortion, traffic accidents, power crimes, burglary, coercion, persistent harassment, incest, assisted suicide] and to what extent (if at all) the criminal code is suitable for this; what institutional violence is and what are the means to prevent it.
Criminological theory is not used to stretch reality under it, but to better understand the social process behind the phenomenon being criminalized. Reasons for criminalizing and/or the existence of a criminalized phenomenon
(3) Those who have not submitted an essay by the end of the lectures in the winter term will be able to take a test. Students will be asked to choose one of the three topics presented during the test and write about it within one hour. During the test, students may use the following aids: a textbook, notes, legal acts. Topics will require a demonstration of thinking and the presentation of arguments.
(4) A possible re-sit examination for those whose essay or colloquium is not passed, provided there are fewer than 5 candidates, may be taken orally.
The examination requires the use of the textbook by Błachut & al. as well as knowledge of 3 readings from the reading list and the ability to discuss them critically. The date of the examination may be set at a time convenient for the candidate.
Bibliography
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Penal Code,
The Code of Criminal Procedure
The Executive Penal Code
Family and Guardianship Code
Code of Civil Procedure
Act of 22 November 2013 on proceedings against persons with mental disorders posing a threat to life, health or sexual freedom of other perpetrators (Journal of Laws 2014, item 24) and other legal acts and
the jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court, the ECtHR and other courts
Current statistical yearbook
Additional texts will be provided on an ongoing basis for current classes
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: