Gain a detailed understanding of how a modern prison system operates and survives from a theoretical & practical perspective.
Delivered by leading academics and prison experts, the purpose of the Diploma in Penology & Prison studies is to equip learners (from a variety of professional or interested backgrounds) with an understanding of the origins of punishment and sentencing in Ireland. Students will consider, sentencing, criminology and “What Works” when it comes to best prison practice. All lectures will be related to various theories of crime and offending. At the end of the course, learners will have a detailed understanding of how a modern prison system operates and indeed survives from both a theoretical and practical perspective.
During this course the student will learn how to identify certain types of criminals and their likely behaviours within the prison environment. In particular they will look at how both prisoner and prison officer exist both together and separately in a modern prison environment. They will also learn about the context in which the prison system currently sits in Ireland including sentencing policies and the likely direction of the Irish Prison Service into the future.
Who Should Apply?
Those working in the Prison Service in Ireland. Those working in the criminal justice system in Ireland who have a special interest in penology matters. Those in other careers, with an interest in prison studies and how it can affect society as a whole.
Course Content
Week 1 – Prisons and Imprisonment in Ireland
Week 2 – The Legal Context: The Criminal Justice System in Ireland
Week 3 – Punishment: historical and modern perspectives
Week 4 – Nature or nurture? The perennial debate
Week 5 – Bad men in good jails – the psychopaths amongst you
Week 6 – Sex Offenders: a special category?
Week 7 – Life on the Inside – The Inmate Code
Week 8 – Justice for the Forgotten – The Modern Prison Officer
Week 9 – Sentencing and Sentencing Policy
Week 10– Non-custodial options – the future?
Course Fee
Classroom-based: €995
(€1,095 if paying in instalments)
Online course: €895
(€995 if paying in instalments)
If paying in instalments by direct debit, the deposit to book a place is €150 and the balance is split into three equal monthly payments.
Non-EU students: Call +353 1 4160034
Assessment
A pass grade on the written assignment will be required for awarding of the Diploma.
Similarly, the assignment must be submitted on the due date unless a sound reason for lateness is provided. In such instances, an extension may be awarded at the discretion of the lecturer.
Lecturer
John Deane-O’Keeffe FRSA
John Deane-O’Keeffe is a Criminologist, Lecturer in Law & Forensic Psychology and a Historian. He is also a Journalist and Radio Broadcaster.
John is currently Dean, College of Criminology & Policing Studies at City Colleges, Dublin where he is also a Senior Lecturer in Criminal Law on the FE1 programme. He is a Magistrate in England where he sits on the Northumbrian Bench and is also a Tutor in the Department of Continuing Education at the University of Oxford, where he teaches Criminology & the Psychology of Criminal Behaviour.
John is formerly Adjunct Faculty at Trinity College Dublin where he was Assistant Professor in the School of Psychology. He also spent a decade as Head of the Law School at Dublin Business School and was Communications Director and Editor of the Garda Review at the Garda Representative Association. John also worked for many years in the City of London as a Banker in UBS where he was an Associate Director in the Risk Management division before holding the position of Assistant Director in the Legal Department (Debt & Derivatives) at Investment Bank, ING Barings.
John has undertaken undergraduate studies in History & Law at UCD, UWE Bristol and the University of Oxford and holds post graduate degrees in Criminology/Forensic Psychology and law from TCD, London Met and the University of Cambridge. He holds a number of visiting posts at UK Universities and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Member of the Royal Historical Society. John has a special interest in British and Irish history as the historical canvass against which the disciplines of law, criminology and forensic psychology operate in Ireland today.
Why City Colleges
- Courses for students who are passionate about their subject, delivered by leaders in their field.
- Live lectures which are also streamed live on Moodle and recorded for review
- City centre location in South Great George’s Street, convenient for bus, LUAS, DART
- Southside Dublin, Ireland location
- Study rooms and library in our City Centre location in Dublin, Ireland
- Limited class size
- Parking
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