9 ECTS credits
250 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4015519ENW for working students in the 1st semester at a (E) Master - advanced level.

Semester
1st semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Enrollment Requirements
Volgtijdelijkheid: De student is ingeschreven in de Master Criminologische Wetenschappen en heeft reeds credits behaald voor de studiedelen "Penologie en penitentiair recht", "Criminologische Sociologie", "Methoden van criminologisch onderzoek II" en "Criminologie en Victimologie Werkcollege". Ofwel is de student ingeschreven of geslaagd voor het voorbereidingsprogramma en heeft reeds credits behaald voor de studiedelen "Penologie en penitentiair recht" en “Criminologische Sociologie". Ofwel is de student ingeschreven of geslaagd voor de bachelor Politieke wetenschappen minor criminologie en heeft reeds een credit behaald voor het studiedeel “Penologie en penitentiair recht”. Ofwel is de student ingeschreven of geslaagd voor de bachelor Sociologie minor criminologie en heeft reeds een credit behaald voor het studiedeel “Penologie en penitentiair recht”. Ofwel is de student ingeschreven of geslaagd voor de 2de Master Rechten afstudeerrichting criminologie en heeft reeds credits behaald voor de studiedelen "Penologie en penitentiair recht" en "Criminologische Sociologie".
Taught in
Faculty
Faculty of Law and Criminology
Department
Criminology
Educational team
Kristel Beyens (course titular)
An-Sofie Vanhouche
Marlies Heirstrate
Activities and contact hours

54 contact hours Lecture
36 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
190 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

This course focuses on the sociological, criminological and judicial aspects of imprisonment and community punishment and the criminal justice policies with regard to these sentences.

The following themes will be discussed from a national and international perspective :

1. Penological analysis of the construction of the prison population and the population of persons with a community penalty

2. Penological analysis of the administration of imprisonment with attention for:

2.1. Prisoner's rights

2.2. Prison regimes with a special attention fo the (new) pains of imprisonment, normalisation, dynamic security, etc.

2.3. Digitalisation of sentencing practices and prison architecture

2.4. The comparison of prison regimes

2.5. Immigration dentention 

2.6. Conditional release and recall to prison

3. Penological - systemic analysis of the imposition and implementation of community punishment with specific attention for electronic monitoring (actors, institutions, experiences)

This course is partly taught in English and partly in Dutch.Please consult the learning platform for a detailed schedule of the lectures.  For Erasmus students two contact moments are foreseen where the assessments will be discussed.

Course material
Digital course material (Required) : Opdrachten in het kader van het werkcollege, powerpoints, discussievragen, bijkomende literatuur, video's en podcasts worden ter beschikking gesteld via Canvas. Alle lessen worden opgenomen en via Canvas ter beschikking gesteld., Canvas
Handbook (Required) : Straffen, Een penologisch perspectief, Beyens K. & Snacken, S., Antwerpen, Maklu, 9789046609002, 2017
Additional info

The profile has both an intensive and interactive character, and will be organised in 3 block weeks.

Attendance of the English modules is compulsory for Erasmus students.

CONTACT:  profile coordinator is  Prof. K. Beyens  (Kristel.Beyens@vub.ac.be).

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

Develop in-depth knowledge about  punishment in prison and in the community, with particular attention for electronic monitoring. 

With regard to prison studies, the following topics will be addressed:

  • Prisoners rights;
  • New pains of imprisonment;
  • Comparative Penology;
  • Digitalisation of sentencing practices;
  • Prison architecture;
  • Detention houses;
  • Comparative prison research.

Lectures are only partly given in English. 

A detailed schedule with information when the English courses take place will be available at the start of the course at CANVAS.

Students are expected to actively attend the classes when taught in English.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 30% of the final mark.
PRAC Practical Assignment determines 70% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Written Exam with a relative weight of 30 which comprises 30% of the final mark.

Within the PRAC Practical Assignment category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Practical Assignment with a relative weight of 70 which comprises 70% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

Assessments and evaluation:

30% : written exam in january with open book and open questions
70% : individual assessments during the semester

Students will have to satisfy seminar requirements in order to participate at the first exam session.  If not, they will be referred to the second examination period.

The learning platform Poincarré is regularly updated with seminar assignments, powerpoint presentations, weblinks and recommended readings.

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

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Criminology: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Social Sciences: criminologische wetenschappen (90 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)