Penology and Penitentiary Law

6 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1006888BEW for working students in the 1st semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.

Semester

1st semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Possible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Enrollment Requirements

Volgtijdelijkheid: De student is ingeschreven in de Bachelor Criminologische Wetenschappen en heeft reeds 60 studiepunten verworven binnen de Bachelor Criminologische Wetenschappen en credits voor "Sociologie I", " Inleiding tot de criminologie en strafrechtsbedeling", "Psychologie" en "Inleiding tot het recht". Hiernaast is de student ingeschreven op het studiedeel “Strafrecht-strafvordering”. Of de student is ingeschreven in de bachelor criminologische wetenschappen met studieduurverkorting. Of de student is ingeschreven in het schakelprogramma Criminologische Wetenschappen. Of de student is ingeschreven in het voorbereidingsprogramma Criminologische Wetenschappen. Of de student is ingeschreven in de Master in de Rechten en heeft reeds 20 studiepunten van de opleiding Master in de Rechten verworven. Of de student is ingeschreven in de Bachelor Politieke Wetenschappen en heeft in deze opleiding reeds 60 studiepunten verworven. Hiernaast is de student ingeschreven op de studiedelen “Criminologie en victimologie” en “Strafrecht-strafvordering”. Of de student is ingeschreven in de Bachelor Sociologie en heeft in deze opleiding reeds 60 studiepunten verworven. Hiernaast is de student ingeschreven op de studiedelen “Criminologie en victimologie” en “Strafrecht-strafvordering”. Of de student is ingeschreven in de Bachelor Wijsbegeerte en Moraalwetenschappen. LET OP: Inschrijven voor deze aanbieding is daarnaast enkel mogelijk voor studenten die als werkstudent geregistreerd staan of die geregistreerd staan met een toelating om de specifieke lessen voor werkstudenten te volgen. Gewone studenten kunnen niet inschrijven voor de lessen behorend bij deze aanbieding, zij kunnen enkel lessen volgen van aanbiedingen waarvan het studiegidsnummer eindigt op een R. Bij vragen of problemen, neem contact op met het Studenten Administratie Centrum via SAC@vub.ac.be.

Taught in

Dutch

Faculty

Faculty of Law and Criminology

Department

Criminology

Educational team

Kristel Beyens (course titular)
An-Sofie Vanhouche

Activities and contact hours

20 contact hours Lecture
30 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study

Course Content

- Exploration of the concept of punishment from the perspective of its various penal objectives and social functions.

- Analysis of the death penalty from an international and national perspective.

- Criminological analysis of the implementation of detention in Belgium: knowledge of the different kinds of prisons in Belgium and the prison regimes, the effect of imprisonment, the evolution of the prison population in Belgium.

- Judical and criminological analysis of the internal and external judicial position of prisoners from an international and national perspective.

- The subjective experiences of punishment.

- Visit of a Belgian prison (optional and only for criminology students).

Course material

Handbook (Required) : Straffen, Een penologisch perspectief, Beyens K. & Snacken, S., Antwerpen, Maklu, 9789046609002, 2017
Digital course material (Required) : De lessen worden gegeven met behulp van powerpointpresentaties die ter beschikking worden gesteld evenals lesopnames, video's, podcasts en wetenschappelijke publicaties, Canvas

Additional info

For English speaking students a reading course is available and two contact sessions will be organised to guide the students through the course.

A visit to a Belgian prison will be organised (participation is optional, language is Dutch).

Please contact Prof. Dr. Kristel Beyens; Room 4B337; tel. 02/629.13.91; Kristel.Beyens@vub.be

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

Knowledge and insight in the social and legal aspects of punishment as a social phenomenon in Belgium (objectives and execution of punishment in prison).
Knowledge of the evolution of the application of the death penalty from a national and an international perspective.
Knowledge and insight in the internal and external legal position of prisoners (penitentiary law).
Knowledge and insight in the pains of imprisonment and the different prison regimes

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Written Exam with a relative weight of 100 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

Written exam, with open questions for English speaking students who are registered for the reading course.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context