02513 - Criminology

Learning outcomes

Learning of the main developments of contemporary social control processes and of the principal theories in sociology of deviance and sociology of the criminal justice system.

Course contents

The course aims to deepen the analysis of the literature on research topics in sociology of deviance and criminology (theory of anomy, differential association, labelling theory, environmental and integrated approaches). A particular focus will be devoted to the relation between criminal adaptations and the structure of opportunities in a changing labour market. During some lessons will be proposed a critical analysis of empiric studies which dealt with the relation between crime, immigration: in particular, the methodological aspects will be discussed.

Summary of the contents:

-introduction to the course; deviance and social order

-sociology and penal law: definition of the objects of study

-criminology and critical criminology: different or complementary approaches?

-labeling and causal nexus

-consent and functionalist paradigms

-merton and sutherland

-the chicago school: disorganization and assimilation

-the conflict paradigm and the marxian roots

-deterrance and less eligibility

-criminality and immigration flows

-actuarial justice and mass incarceration

-from the internal colonialism to the neo-colonial perspectives

-migration, mobility and the process of criminalization

-criminology and qualitative research: research in prison and research in the inner cities.

Readings/Bibliography

A) FOR STUDENTS ATTENDING CLASSES

TEXTBOOKS

- Classroom notes

- Alvise Sbraccia e Francesca Vianello, SOCIOLOGIA DELLA DEVIANZA E DELLA CRIMINALITA', Laterza, Roma, 2010

READINGS AND HOMEWORK

To define with the teacher

B) FOR STUDENTS NOT ATTENDING CLASSES

TEXTBOOKS

-Alvise Sbraccia e Francesca Vianello, SOCIOLOGIA DELLA DEVIANZA E DELLA CRIMINALITA', Laterza, Roma, 2010 (available from april 2010)

-Cirus Rinaldi e Pietro Saitta, CRIMINOLOGIE CRITICHE CONTEMPORANEE, Giuffré, Milano

ONE READING
To define with the teacher via e-mail

Teaching methods

- lessons
- seminars (scholars, institutional control's actors)
- methodological seminar

Assessment methods

- oral exam (no differences for erasmus students)

- paper for the attendees (optional, to be discussed at the oral exam)

the exam's evaluation will be defined according to the following elements:

- participation and critical attitude during lessons and seminars (for the students attending classes)

- capability in applying the theoretical frameworks to the case studies related to the optional readings (for all the students) and to the video documentsaries (for the students attending classes)

- knowledgwe acquired with reference to the criminological theories (with specific attention to the comparison between the two textbooks' perspectives for the students not attending classes)

By way of example, the following criteria will be used to assess the final mark (that will be out of 30/30):

- sufficient or barely sufficient knowledge on the programme, limited reasoning ability, some difficulties in using socio-criminological language → 18-21/30;

- fairly good knowledge of the programme, adequate critical reasoning ability, sound use of socio-criminological language → 22-25/30;

- comprehensive knowledge of the programme, notable reasoning ability, good command of socio-criminological language → 26-29/30;

- extensive knowledge of the programme, very good reasoning ability, and ability to fully master socio-criminological language → 30-30L/30.

Teaching tools

documentaries

Office hours

See the website of Alvise Sbraccia