Cursos / 1º Ciclo / Faculty of Law :: Criminology

SEGURANÇA E PREVENÇÃO - 2023/2024

2º curricular year
Semestralidade: 2nd semester
ECTS: 6

Teachers

Leading Teacher: Prof. Doutor Samuel Moreira
Assistant Professor: Prof. Doutor Samuel Moreira

Class type and School hours

Orientação Tutorial : 1 Horas
Prática : 1 Horas
Teórica : 2 Horas

Teaching Language

Portuguese

Main Aims/Objectives

The main objective of the curricular unit is to introduce students to one of the main fields of contemporary Criminology - (in)security - focusing on themes and lines of research that are central to an integrated understanding of security in contemporary Western societies.

Specific Aims/Objectives

- Understand the (in)security concepts, dimensions, and determinants;
- Grasp the organization, the functioning, and the nature of the interventions concerning the crime and insecurity phenomena nowadays;
- Know the different actors in the security field and understand their role in the prevention of crime and insecurity;
- Understand the relationship between (in)security and physical and social environmental factors;
- Know and distinguish the different crime prevention models.

Skills to be acquired

Students are expected to:
- Develop skills of analysis and critical reflection on (in)security problems and issues;
- Know the main empirical research methodologies on (in)security and develop application skills;
- Develop skills on search and analysis of relevant scientific literature.

Teaching Procedures

Theoretical and practical classes, combining the exposition of the contents with practical exercises of consolidation of the acquired knowledge.
A combination of the expositive and interrogative methods is used, promoting the students´ involvement in the discussion and reflection on the exposed contents.
Tutorial classes are mostly dedicated to monitoring and guiding students in the preparation of the written assignment on one of the program topics.

Programme

1. Concepts, dimensions, and determinants of (in)security
1.1. Conceptual analysis: security vs. insecurity, objective insecurity vs. subjective insecurity
1.2. Multidimensionality of fear of crime: emotional, cognitive, and behavioral dimensions
1.3. Determinants of fear of crime: individual, contextual, and social variables

2. Security governance: key aspects for understanding current interventions concerning crime and insecurity phenomena

3. The main actors in the (in)security field and the relations between them: State and police, private security, and civil society

4. Physical and social environmental factors related to crime and (in)security
4.1. Environmental Criminology
4.2. Social Capital and Collective Efficacy

5. Introduction to crime and insecurity prevention models: situational, social, and community prevention

Evaluation Type

- Continuous evaluation: 2 tests and 1 written assignment and its oral presentation and defense.
- Final evaluation: exam.

Teaching Resources

Scientific publications, audiovisual materials, and practical exercises.

Sustainability Objectives

Keywords

(In)security
Fear of crime
Security governance
Crime prevention

Main Bibliography

Complementary Bibliography