| CODE | CRM5001 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TITLE | Dynamics in Parole: Assessment and Interpersonal Concerns | ||||||||||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Criminology | ||||||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit introduces students to the world of the parole officer, discussing parole form a theoretical and practical point of view. During this study-unit, the students will learn: the theories which underpin parole; the process involved in issuing parole; the role of the parole officer and other professionals involved in the parole process; the legislative process; as well as the tools employed in the implementation of the services in the Maltese context that can be created to regularize parole in Malta. Students will be trained to use LSI-R (the official risk assessment tool used by the Probation Services). This unit will also consider the Maltese prison and the laws and regulations governing it. Therefore, this study-unit requires a mixture of theoretical and practical sessions, focusing on the introduction of parole in Malta and its ramifications. The second part of the unit will deal with the interpersonal issues and circumstances encountered by the parole officer. Study-unit Aims: To familiarize students with: the parole process; the role of the parole officer and the other professionals involved; the use of LSI-R (the official risk-assessment tool); Maltese prison and the laws that govern it; the interpersonal issues that emerge during the parole process and the theoretical issues of parole. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Describe the process of issuing parole; - Explain the assessment process of prospective parolees; - Write the relevant reports; - List the factors that render risk-assessment tools reliable - or not; - List the steps required to collect, analyze and present information for the parole board; - Describe the mechanisms involved in monitoring and supervising parolees; - List and describe the main difficulties encountered by the parole officer. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Gather, analyze and validate (prospective parolee-related) information as well as compile the reports required of officers; - Argue and analyze the theoretical perspectives in parole and risk assessment; - Use LSI-R (a risk-assessment tool). Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - Fitzgerald, R., Frieberg, A., Dodd, S., and Bartels, L. (2023). Parole on Probation. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. - Gelsthorpe, L and Morgan, R (2007) Handbook of probation. Willan Publishing: USA. - Hanser, R.D. (2007) Special needs offenders in the community. Prentice Hall: USA. - Maier, K., Ricciardelli, R.and McNeill, F. (Ed.) (2023). Punishment, Probation and Parole: Mapping Out ‘Mass Supervision’ In International Contexts, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds. - Padfield, N (2007) Who to release? Parole, fairness and criminal justice. USA: Willan Publishing. - The Prison Act (1976). - The Prison Regulations (1995). - The Restorative Justice Act (2012). |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Seminar | ||||||||||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Kevin Henwood Sandra Scicluna (Co-ord.) |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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