Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act
Students are required to choose a specific victim-centred policy, piece of legislation or reform, aimed at improving the rights, support and/or services provided to victims of crime. The purpose of the poster is to identify the key factors that have contributed to the development of the reform, including the underpinning theoretical perspectives, the role of interest groups, the political context, and an understanding of the aims and objectives of the reform, including any potential barriers to its implementation. This will help students to develop their knowledge and understanding of contemporary and often controversial debates relating to victims’ rights, and the often competing theoretical perspectives that underpin them. It will also assist in raising students’ awareness of the importance of balancing both the rights of the victim and the offender, and the inherent difficulties in attempting to satisfy both elements in order for justice to be seen to be achieved.
Students should draw upon the feedback received on their posters to inform and assist them in developing a critical examination of the subject chosen for their essay.
For the essay, students are required to develop further an issue related to the topic chosen for their poster and to develop their own essay title/question. This will enable students to provide a greater critical analysis of the topic chosen and, in particular, to critically assess the key factors that have contributed to the development of the reform, its implementation, its impact on victims and/or witnesses, and any barriers to its aims and objectives being achieved. Students will be required to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the reform chosen and to draw upon a range of relevant sources, including literature, research, policies and legislation. The work must be referenced using APA (7th edition) format.
All assignments must be structured coherently and argued critically, demonstrating wide reading and research, with all supporting evidence correctly referenced in the text and included in a reference list. All assessments must include a reference list.