Drawing upon research expertise in this area at De Montfort University, this course examines the theory and practice of how the criminal justice system operates. It assesses the efficacy of the law's processes to achieve justice for the victims of criminal behaviour and those accused of criminal offences.

You will learn to critically appraise aspects of criminal law, practice and procedure to formulate, evaluate and adapt solutions to contemporary problems. Through various assessments, including presentations, case study analysis, individual exercises, report writing, and essay writing, you will independently develop and present legal arguments with a theoretical and conceptual basis to support positions. In addition, you will deepen your understanding of the methodologies which can be used to pursue a career in criminal justice research.

Each module on the programme examines a different stage in the criminal justice process. The combination of the modules provides a straightforward narrative journey through the criminal justice process, culminating in a research-led portfolio or academic dissertation piece.