Course summary

What role should criminal justice agencies play in rehabilitation? How should we manage individuals who have committed a crime? You’ll learn how to question the theory, policy and practice of managing offending behaviour. This Masters, which is delivered entirely online, is perfect if you currently work in probation, prison, youth justice, policing or community settings. Or, if you’re ready to launch your career, we’ll give you a competitive edge. Develop expertise in the issues professionals are facing while working in this challenging area. Explore the processes, contexts, risks and protective factors behind criminal behaviour. You’ll look at the complex web of power connecting crime, law and order. See how offender management is affected by the police, courts and prison system and conduct your own research in an area that interests you. What you'll study Explore the roles of people and the state in different kinds of crime and offending. Uncover the complicated relationships between psychosocial factors and economic realities that lead people into criminality. We’ll help you understand the risk factors that are linked to different offences. You’ll also examine the role of psychosocial and political factors, as well as exploring historical and international views for context. You’ll use research to analyse and assess how the various criminal justice agencies manage people who commit crimes. Then you’ll investigate how offenders can be supported back into mainstream society. You’ll look at the how and the why behind rehabilitation success stories. We’ll also cover research methods and research ethics to prepare you for the culmination of the programme. You’ll write a dissertation critically evaluating an area of offending behaviour management and identifying any gaps in current research.