Criminologists play an important role in the criminal justice system. They conduct research, teach and work with various law enforcement agencies. They study the social and psychological factors that cause people to commit crimes and research which approaches to rehabilitation do and don’t work.
Subject Information
An understanding of criminology is relevant to many job roles within the criminal justice sector, social and probation work and sociology and psychology.
Course Details
Criminology is an A-Level equivalent qualification with elements of psychology, law and sociology that complements studies in humanities. It has been designed to offer exciting, engaging experiences that focus learning for students through the acquisition of knowledge and understanding in contexts linked to the criminal justice system.
Students will have the opportunity to:
- Develop an understanding of different types of crime, and influences on perceptions of crime
- Plan campaigns for change relating to crime
- Consider links between societal perceptions of crime and policy-making
- Review the justice of verdicts in criminal cases
The qualification would support learners’ progression from GCSEs in Sociology, Law, Psychology, Philosophy and other humanities subjects.
Subject Specific Entry Requirements
- Grade 6 in a GCSE humanities subject.
Where could Criminology take me?
An understanding of criminology is relevant to many job roles within the criminal justice sector, social work, probation work, sociology and psychology. Criminology is a course designed to support learners progressing to university. These courses include: BSc Criminology; BA Criminology; BA Criminology and Criminal Justice; BSc (Hons) Criminology and Psychology; LLB (Hons) Law with Criminology; BA (Hons) Criminology and Sociology; BA (Hons) Criminology; BSc (Hons) Psychology and Sociology; BSc Criminology with Law.
Alternatively, the qualification allows learners to gain the required understanding and skills to be able to consider employment within some aspects of the criminal justice system, e.g. the National Probation Service, the Courts and Tribunals Service or the National Offender Management Service.
Reading List
Textbooks
- Henderson, C. (2022)
WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate & Diploma Criminology: Revised Edition
Illuminate Publishing
ISBN: 9781912820986 - Webb, R. and Townend, A. (2021)
Criminology Book 1 for the WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma: Revised Edition
Napier Press
ISBN 9781838271503 - Webb, R. and Townend, A. (2021)
Criminology Book 2 for the WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma: Revised Edition
Napier Press
ISBN 9781838271510
Journals and Blogs
- A Level Law Review
Hodder Education - The British Society of Criminology
The BSC blog: all about current issues on crime, criminology and criminal justice
thebscblog.wordpress.com
Articles and official reports
You will be directed to news articles, journal articles and official reports via the super-curricular channel on Teams.
Examples for Unit 1, AC1.1-1.6 include:
- The Guardian (2017)
Only 5% of honour crimes reported to police are referred to CPS
theguardian.com/society/2017/nov/07/only-5-of-honour-crimes-reported-to-police-are-referred-to-cps - The Independent (2017)
Male victims of domestic violence are being failed by the system independent.co.uk/voices/domestic-violence-male-victims-shelters-government-funding-stigma-a7626741.html - BBC (2019)
Should prostitution be a normal profession?
bbc.com/worklife/article/20190419-should-prostitution-be-a-normal-profession - The Guardian (2015)
Durham Police stop targeting pot smokers and small scale growers theguardian.com/society/2015/jul/22/durham-police-stop-targeting-pot-smokers-and-small-scale-growers - BBC Newsround (2022)
London Pride parade: history of gay rights in the UK bbc.co.uk/newsround/40459213 - Atlantic Monthly (1982)
Kelling, G. and Wilson, J.
Broken Windows - Science Journal (2008)
Keizer, K. et al
The spreading of disorder - Crime data integrity: the crime recording process
Justice Inspectorate
justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmicfrs/our-work/article/crime-data-integrity/crime-recording-process - Office for National Statistics
Crime Survey of England and Wales: statistical bulletins
ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulletins
Books about true crime
- The Secret Barrister (2019)
The Secret Barrister: stories of the law and how it’s broken
Pan Macmillan
ISBN: 9781509841141 - Bilton, M. (2012)
Wicked Beyond Belief
Harper Collins
ISBN: 9780007450732 - Li, C.A. (2020)
The murders at White House Farm
Pan Macmillan
ISBN: 9781529013313
Wider reading
- Newburn, T. (2018)
Criminology: a very short introduction
Oxford University Press
ISBN: 9780199643257 - Carrabine, E., Cox A. et al (2014)
Criminology: A Sociological Introduction
Routledge
ISBN: 9781138566262 - Treadwell, J. and Lynes, A. (2019)
50 facts everyone should know about crime and punishment in Britain
Policy Press
ISBN: 9781447343813 - Frank, P.E. and Cabula, I. (2020)
Criminology and criminal profiling for beginners
Independently published
ISBN: 9781654727239 - Frank, P.E. and Cabula, I. (2020)
Forensics psychology and criminal minds for beginners
Independently published as an ebook
ASIN: BOBGCJ3HNY
