Penology and Penitentiary Law

6 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 2 with catalog number 1006889BER for all 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 de 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.

Taught in

Dutch

Faculty

Faculty of Law and Criminology

Department

Criminology

Educational team

Kristel Beyens (course titular)
An-Sofie Vanhouche
Lars Breuls

Activities and contact hours

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

Course Content

Analysis of aims of punishment and their social functions.
Analysis of the death penalty from a national and international perspective.
Analysis of deprivation of liberty, focusing on the national and international legal framework and penological insights on the functioning of prison. What are the effects of being in prison?
Analysis of prison organization, prison population and prison staff.
Legal - criminological analysis of the internal and external legal status of prisoners. What rights do prisoners have and how and when can they be released?
Visit to a Belgian prison (optional for Erasmus students)

Course material

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
Handbook (Required) : Straffen, Een penologisch perspectief, Beyens K. & Snacken, S., Antwerpen, Maklu, 9789046609002, 2017

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).

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

Knowledge and Understanding.

Graduates are familiar with the central theoretical concepts, perspectives, and research traditions of a variety of research disciplines (in this case, law, psychology, philosophy, history, sociology).
Graduates have knowledge and understanding of the role and functioning of the various actors in the administration of criminal justice.
Graduates have knowledge and understanding of the role and functioning of various actors in the administration of criminal justice.
Graduates understand subject-specific terminology.

Research Skills

Graduates can situate, analyze and process basic criminographic information and (inter)national professional literature within criminology.

Communication skills and practice-oriented competencies.

Graduates can communicate clearly, articulately, correctly and critically in writing on a theoretical or practice-oriented criminologically relevant topic, both to peers and laypersons.
Graduates can theoretically connect insights from penology with criminological practice.
Graduates have written and oral language skills in Dutch.

Attitudes

Graduates have an interested, inquisitive and independent attitude towards the acquisition and construction of knowledge.
Graduates have a strong interest in and sensitivity towards social and criminological topics.
Graduates possess a strong affinity and interest in human rights and the rights of prisoners.
Graduates possess a scientific cross-disciplinary attitude with openness to different problem definitions and research methods.
Graduates have a respectful attitude toward individuals in the criminal justice system.

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