COURSE TITLE: Criminology (Elective)
COURSE CODE: (PUL 501)
CREDIT UNIT: (3 Credits)
SEMESTER Harmattan
HOURS OF WORK: 3 hours x 15 = 45 hours
LEAD LECTURER: - Dr I .A. Yusuf *
CO-LECTURER: Mr. Ibrahim Imam**
PREPARED BY: Mr. Ibrahim Imam
QUALIFICATION AND TITLE: * Senior Lecturer, Ph.D (IIUM, Malaysia) LL.M (O.A.U Ife) LL.B (UniJos) BL (Lagos), MILR (Unilorin).
** Lecturer I, LL.M (O.A.U Ife) LL.B (Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto) BL (Abuja), NCE (COED Oro).
Department of Public Law Faculty of Law University of Ilorin P.M.B. 1515 Ilorin Nigeria E-MAIL: - * [email protected], [email protected], ** [email protected] OFFICE LOCATION *Room No. 3 Dept. of Public Law
**Room No. 4 Dept. of Public Law
CONSULTATION HOURS *Monday, 12.00 Noon-2.00pm
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Criminology is the study of crime and criminal behaviour. It is the science of crime: its causes, extent, types, trends, prevention, etc. A central concern of criminology is measuring the extent of crime, reporting the frequency with which different categories of crime are committed. This module provides a broad introduction to the nature and concerns of the discipline of criminology, introducing students to different perspectives on the definition, causes and meanings of crime.
COURSE JUSTIFICATION
Criminology should not be confused with scientific detection of crime; it is basically on the study of crime and criminal behaviour carried out by criminologists. Therefore, criminology is concern more about how and why crime comes to be committed.
Thus, at the end of the course students are expected to have adequate and sound knowledge of the workings of criminology from the perspective of its historical existence, definition and to appreciate the limitations thereof
.
Students are further expected to understand and appreciate the importance of criminology in Nigeria.
COURSE OBJECTIVES AND LEARNING OUTCOME The objectives of this course are to:
i. Consider the basic criminological questions, such as ‘what is crime?’ and ‘what is criminology
ii. Outline of the discipline’s development through the major schools of thought: e.g. classicism, positivism, social and environmental approaches to crime and offending behaviour.
iii. Introduce students to the main sources of data concerning crime and the problems associated with their construction and interpretation iv. Use of case study crime categories to illustrate the application of
disciplinary knowledge in informing policy.
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
i. Debate the merits and demerits of different approaches towards explaining crime and criminality;
ii. Assess the usefulness and limits of official statistics and other data related to crime and victimisation;
iii. Recognise links between schools of criminological thought and selected current policies on crime and disorder.
COURSE REQUIREMENT:-
This is an elective course for 500 Level Law students. In view of this, students are expected to participate in all the course activities and have a minimum of 75% attendance to be eligible to write the end of semester final examination.
Methods of Grading
NO ITEMS SCORE %
1 CLASS PARTICIPATION/DISCUSSION 10
2 ASSIGNMENT/TEST 20
3 COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAMINATION 70
4 TOTAL 100
COURSE DELIVERING STRATEGIES
This course will be delivered through a series of lectures, interactive sessions, tutorial-style discussions, group work sessions and exercises, and supplemented by structured web-based resources and reading.
Lectures Week: 1
Topic: - General introduction to criminology
Objective: - At the end of week 1, students are expected to:
have general background knowledge of the study of criminology and its key concepts.
enable the students know the competing perspectives that characterize these key concepts.
Description: - The topic will focus on the general introduction to the study of criminology and its key concepts
Study Questions:
i. Describe the scope of criminology?
ii. Discuss the underlying influence of English Common Law on criminology?
Week: 2
Objectives; At the end week 2; students are expected to:
Appreciate the basis of criminology and it relation with other sciences. Understand the nature extent and the scope of criminology.
Know and appreciate the interest of criminologists regarding the pattern of crime and the study of criminal behavior in the society.
Description: - The topic will focus on the outline listed herein under, i. Basis and meaning of criminology
ii. The nature and scope of criminology
Study questions.
i) Define criminology, examining its nature in the study of criminal behaviour.
ii) Enumerate the scope of criminology.
Week: 3
Topic: - Definition, nature and scope of criminology (continuation) Objectives: - At the end of week 3; students are expected to:
Understand the basis of criminology and it relation with other sciences. Know the nature extent and the scope of criminology.
Appreciate the interest of criminologists regarding the pattern of crime and the study of criminal behavior in the society.
Description: - The topic will focus on the outline listed herein under, iii. Basis and meaning of criminology
iv. The nature and scope of criminology
Study questions.
i. Examine criminology and certain study of study in connection with criminal behavior?
ii. Discuss the nature of criminology?
Week:4
Topic: - Public Conception and misconception of crime
Objective: - At the end of week 4. Students are expected to:
Understand the media and public perception of crime in society. Know the areas of crimes that are not given proper perception.
Appreciate the effect of improper perception of crime society use the knowledge uplift methods of fighting crime in Nigeria.
i) The public conception of crime and criminals in Nigeria. ii) The media conception of crime in Nigeria.
iii) Effects of public and media conception of crime in Nigeria iv) Under perceived areas of crime
Study questions.
i. In legal terms the social class of offender is irrelevant; it is the nature of the offence and the mental intention which are of importance. Discuss with particular reference to white collar crime and enforcement?
ii. Examine the medial perception of crime and its effects in society?
Week: 5
Topic: - The Evolution of criminology thoughts, the classical school, the early precursors the Italian school.
Objective: - At the end of the week; students are expected to: Understand the historical background of criminology.
Know and appreciate the complexity of the subject (criminology) Know the various criminological schools thought.
Description: - The topic will focus on the historical evolution of criminology, the classical school, the earlier precursors, phenomenology, actionology of crime and victimology.
Study questions:
i. Examine theories of crime and criminal behavior as propounded by the classical School of criminology in the study of crimes’ criminal behaviours.
ii. Examine the various school of criminology, pointing into the similarity differences of their theory about crime and criminal behaviours.
Week: 6
Topic: - The Evolution of criminology thoughts, the classical school, the early precursors the Italian school.
Objective: - At the of the week, students are expected to:
Be properly abreast of the historical background of criminology. Understand and appreciate the complexity of the subject (criminology) Know and appreciate the various criminological schools thought and
Description: - The topic will focus on the historical evolution of criminology, the classical school, the earlier precursors, phenomenology, actionology of crime and victimology.
Study questions
i) Discuss the criminological theories of crime and criminal behavior as propounded by the Classical School of criminology?
ii) Examine the precursor and Italian philosophy of criminal tendency in an individual?
Week: 7
Topic: - The biological and psychological, theories of crime. Objective: - At the end of the 7th week, students are expected to:
Various biological theories of crime and criminal behaviour.
Appreciate the genital explanation and neurological abnormalities as predictors of crime and criminal behaviours.
Appreciate what account for criminal motivation in people and attempt to explain human intellectual and emotional development.
Understand and appreciate the environmental and social theories of crime and criminal behaviours.
Description: - The topic shall focus in the biological theories of crime, the generical factors and the neurological abnormalities.
The topic shall also focus in the psychological theories of crime viz, moral developments social learning and personality theories
The topic shall equity focus in the environmental and social theories of crime that is the social structure theories sub-cultural theories and economic causes.
Study Questions
i. Examine the relationship between unemployment with crime and criminal behavior?
ii. Social contract theory assumes that everyone has a predisposition toward criminal behavior: Discuss
Week: 8
Topic: - The environmental and social theories of crime. (Continuation)
Objectives: - At the end of the 7th week, students are expected to:
Understand and appreciate the environmental and social theories of crime and criminal behaviours.
Appreciate the extent to environmental and social factor’s nexus with criminal motivation in people
Know the effect of environmental and social factors in criminal behaviour.
Description: - The topic shall focus in the biological theories of crime, the generical factors and the neurological abnormalities.
The topic shall also focus in the theories of crime from the perspective of moral development, social learning and personality explanation of crime and criminal tendency in individual.
The topic shall equity focus in the environmental and social theories of crime that is the social structure theories sub-cultural theories and economic causes.
Study questions
i. Discuss the influence of environmental factor on crime and criminal behaviour in society?
ii. Analyse the social factors as predictor of crime and criminal behavior iii. Personality attempts to explain how people acquire predispositions to
certain criminal behaviours. Discuss
Week: 9
Topic: - Legal principles relating to Mental deficiency: Classification of mental disorder and mental disorder and crime.
Objective: - At the end of week 9, students are expected to:
To know the distinction between the psychotic disorder from some organic conditions as predictor of criminal disposition in individual.
To appreciate the basic relationship or connection between mental disorder and crime.
Description: - The topic will focus on the outline listed herein under, i) Several ways in which mental disorder may be classified. ii) The connection between mental disorder and crime
iii) The difference ways mental disorder may affect personality. iv) Effect of successful plea of mistake
Study questions
i. Briefly examine the various mental disorders in connection with crime and criminal behavior?
ii. Examine the legal protection for a mentally disordered person against criminal liability?
Week: 10
Topic: - (continuation) Legal principles relating to Mental deficiency: Classification of mental disorder and mental disorder and crime.
Objectives: -At the end of the week, students are expected to:
Understand the distinction between the psychotic disorder from some organic condition and those without organic explanation.
Know the basic relationship or connection between mental disorder and crime.
Description: - The topic will focus on the outline listed herein under, i. Several ways in which mental disorder may be classified. ii. The connection between mental disorder and crime
iii. The difference ways mental disorder may affect personality. iv. Effect of successful plea of mistake
Study Questions
i. Discuss the ways in which the mental disorder may affect personality. ii. Enumerate the possible defences available to a mentally deficient person?
Week: 11
Tutorial and discussion Objectives:
To refresh the student memory on all the topic so far treated in the previous week’
To determine or test the students’ level of understanding of the topic so far examined.
To further broadened the knowledge of the students on the topics.
Description: there will be a general discussion and interaction on all the topics treated in the previous weeks.
i. Define criminology, examining its nature in the study of criminal behaviours?
ii. Enumerate the scope of criminology?
iii. Examine criminology and certain study of study in connection with criminal behaviours?
iv. Examine the classical theory of the Classical School of criminology in the study of crimes’ criminal behaviours?
v. Examine the origin Italian school and its approach to the study of crime and criminal behaviours?
Week 12 Class Test
Description: The students will be assessed on any of the treated topics for 45 minutes.
Week: 13
Topic: - General emotional liability, the role of low intelligence and high intelligent & crime
Objective: - At the end of week 13, students are expected to:
Understand the relationship between general level of emotional stability and tendency towards criminal behaviours.
Know the connection between low intelligence and crime.
Description: - The topic will focus on the general emotion and low intelligence and crime.
Study questions
i) Examine the connection between emotional liability and criminal behaviour
ii) How low and high intelligence can affect crime and criminal behaviour?
Week 14: Revision/ Tutorial Exercises
Description: Students are expected to seek explanation on any difficult concept on topics treated during the course.
Week 15
Topic: Examination Objective
To examine the students at the end of the semester on all the topics taken throughout the weeks
Reading Lists
1. Eugene M, John M., and Gordon H., Criminological Perspectives: Essential Readings (2nd ed., Sage Publications, 2003) p.
2. F. Adler, O. W. Gerhard & W. S. Laufer, Criminology; (McGraw-Hill, Inc, 1995) Pages 316-334
3. Eugene McLaughlin, John Muncie and Gordon Hughes, ed, Criminological Perspectives Essential Readings (2nd edition, Sage Publication, London 2003)
4. Katherin S. Williams, Textbook on Criminology, (Blackstone Press limited, 1991) p 46
5. Danbazau, Criminology and Criminal Justice (Nigerian Defence Academy Press, 1999) pages 135-167
6. J. E. H. Williams, Criminolgy and Criminal Justice (London, Butterworth, 1982) pages 210-220.
7. T. Newburn, Crime and Criminal Justice Policy (London, Longman, 1995) pages 127-142
