Module: Criminal Law 2

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Criminal Law 2
Module Code	LG385 (ITS) / LAW1048 (Banner)
Faculty	Humanities & Social Sciences	School	Law & Government
Module Co-ordinator	Lauren O'Connell
Module Teachers	Luke Noonan
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

None

Description

This module aims: - to build upon the understanding of the criminal law and the criminal justice system which students will have acquired in the Criminal Law 1 module; - to provide a deeper, socio-legal analysis of the development of particular criminal offences and the methods of addressing such offences, through the study of case-law and legislation; - to provide theoretical frameworks for conceptualising and analysing the operation of criminal law and the criminal justice system: - to consider the operation of the criminal justice system through the lens of a number of key moments in the system

Learning Outcomes

1. describe and critically assess the basis of criminal liability, selected offences and selected defences to criminal charges
2. discuss the main criminal justice theories;
3. account for many of the changes in the criminalisation of and responses to certain activities in Ireland (and other jurisdictions);
4. apply criminal justice theories to the development of the Irish criminal justice system, with reference to relevant case-law, legislation and societal influences;
5. and, apply case-law and legislation, as well as theory, to criminal law problems.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	24	No Description
Tutorial	6	Preparation, attendance and participation
Assignment Completion	35	Research and Write up
Independent Study	60	Reading and research
Lecture	24	No Description
Total Workload: 149

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

What is crime?
Consideration of a range of perspectives on the source of the concept of crime, including social construction. Critical reflection on our knowledge about crime, particular crime surveys and statistics

Sexual Offences
Socio-legal analysis of the law relating to sexual offences: overview of legislation and case law, recent changes, rape myths, problems in the system

Current Criminal Issues
study of current issues of criminal law which allow for critical, socio-legal analysis of the role and function of criminal law. May include, for instance, abortion, sex work, drugs, terrorism, domestic violence

Theoretical Perspectives
Theoretical perspectives on the criminal justice system, in particular Packer's Models of due process and crime control

Pre-Trial Process
May include research led teaching assessment of the regulation and operation of garda station interviews of suspects

Juvenile Justice
An examination of criminal procedure in relation to child offenders: age of criminal responsibility; garda diversion programme; Children Court; sentencing; imprisonment as last resort

Victims
Victims' place in the criminal justice system: victim information rights; compensation; victim impact statements

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Essay	Individual Written Assessment	80%	n/a
Participation	n/a	20%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Hale, Hayward, Wahidin and Wincup,: 2009, Criminology, 2nd,
Maguire, Morgan and Reiner: 0, The Oxford Handbook of Criminology,
O'Mahony: 2002, Criminal Justice in Ireland,
O'Donnell and O'Sullivan: 0, Crime Control in Ireland: The Politics of Intolerance,,
Lacey, Quick and Wells: 0, Reconstructing Criminal Law,

Other Resources

None