Core Areas of Study

• Criminal Law:
  • Foundations of criminal law: principles, theories, and philosophies
  • Elements of a crime: actus reus, mens rea, causation
  • Specific crimes: homicide, theft, assault, sexual offenses, property offenses, etc.
  • Defenses: self-defense, duress, insanity, necessity
  • Criminal procedure: arrest, search and seizure, interrogation, trial process
• Criminal Justice:
  • The criminal justice system: police, courts, corrections
  • Policing: law enforcement, community policing, police ethics
  • Criminal courts: structure, roles of participants, trial process
  • Corrections: prisons, jails, probation, parole, rehabilitation
  • Juvenile justice: the juvenile court system, juvenile delinquency
  • Victimology: the study of crime victims and their experiences
  • Criminology: theories of crime, crime causation, and prevention

Course Structure and Delivery

• Lectures: Formal presentations of key concepts and theories
• Seminars/Tutorials: Smaller group discussions and problem-solving exercises
• Case Studies: Analysis of real-world criminal cases to apply legal principles
• Practical Exercises: Simulations of courtroom proceedings, police investigations, etc.
• Research Projects: Independent research on specific criminal justice topics

Potential Course Outcomes

Upon completion of a Criminal Law and Criminal Justice course, students may be able to:

• Understand the fundamental principles of criminal law
• Analyze criminal statutes and case law
• Apply legal reasoning to criminal justice problems
• Critically evaluate the criminal justice system
• Develop research and writing skills related to criminal justice
• Prepare for careers in law enforcement, legal professions, corrections, or social work

Example Course Structures

To get a more specific idea of the course content, you can visit the websites of universities offering Criminal Law and Criminal Justice programs. They often provide detailed course outlines.

Here are a few examples of universities offering such courses:

• University of Sussex: Offers an LLM in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice with a focus on theory, comparative criminal justice, terrorism, and human rights.
• Coventry University: Provides an LLB (Hons) in Criminal Law and Justice with a strong emphasis on the English legal system and access to justice.
• University of Birmingham: Offers an LLM in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice with a focus on the holistic analysis of the criminal process.