Module manager: Dr Matthew Tidmarsh
Email: M.J.Tidmarsh@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
There are no pre-requisites, but some knowledge of criminal justice is required and some pre-reading should be undertaken - please as preparation read Scott, D. 2008. Penology. London: Sage.
| LAW3137 | Contemporary Imprisonment |
| SLSP3910 | Discipline and Punish |
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module examines the use of custodial and community sentences in contemporary society. The aim of the module is to provide detailed knowledge and understanding of issues relating to imprisonment in England and Wales and various ways in which offenders are punished and/or supervised in the community. The module discusses theories of punishment, takes a historical look at prisons and probation and conducts an evaluation of the current criminal justice system in England and Wales: looking at sentencing, imprisonment, community orders and post-release supervision.
Aims and objectives:
This module aims to introduce students to the workings of the criminal justice system’s final stages – punishment, imprisonment and offender supervision.
It also looks at the aims of the Ministry of Justice in administering these sanctions, including rehabilitation, cessation of illicit drug use and resettlement. It looks closely at the function of prisons in England and Wales and the issues within the system, including overcrowding, understaffing and drugs and violence.
It introduces students to the role of HM Prison and Probation Service and the challenges it faces and to think critically about why these issues have occurred and how these challenges can be addressed.
This module uses group discussion and independent study as a means of furthering understanding and discussing key issues in Penology.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
Consider advanced issues in crime and responses to crime, including in an international and comparative context.
Evaluate major normative and practical issues in punishment in a social and political context.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
Undertake independent information searching to identify reliable evidence.
Apply advanced critical thinking skills to formulate sophisticated and persuasive arguments.
Development of the prison
The use of imprisonment
Aims and function of imprisonment
Justice and legitimacy in prison
Prison privatisation
Women in prison
Ethnic minorities in prison
Early release and resettlement
Conceptualising and measuring the use of community punishment
The development of the Probation Service
The effectiveness of imprisonment and community sentences
Drug-using offenders in prison and in the community
The punishment and rehabilitation of sex offenders
Electronic monitoring of offenders
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Seminar | 5 | 2 | 10 |
| Private study hours | 179 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 21 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
179
A formal formative assessment opportunity will be provided for each summative assessment task, which is specifically pedagogically aligned to that task. As part of this, each student will receive feedback designed to support the development of knowledge and skills that will be later assessed in the summative task.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Coursework | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 07/05/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team