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

INSTÂNCIAS FORMAIS DE CONTROLO E SISTEMAS PENITENCIÁRIOS - 2025/2026

3º curricular year
Semestralidade: 1st semester
ECTS: 6

Teachers

Leading Teacher: Mestre Josefina Castro
Assistant Professor: Mestre Josefina Castro

Class type and School hours

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

Teaching Language

Portuguese

Main Aims/Objectives

The main objective of curricular unit is to introduce students to the knowledge of one of the most relevant areas of contemporary criminology: the study of social control of crime and deviance, and, in particular, formal social control carried out by the criminal justice system.

Specific Aims/Objectives

By the end of the Curricular Unit, students are expected to:

-Be able to identify, distinguish, and communicate the core concepts, key issues, and broad theoretical lines on social control of crime and deviance;

- Have acquired knowledge about Portuguese formal crime control agencies, their mission, and key aspects of their organization.

Skills to be acquired

By the end of UC, students are expected to (cont.)
- Understand key elements in the analysis of social control, justice and criminal policies in contemporary societies.
- Develop basic methodological and analytical skills for the scientific study of crime control and criminal justice.

Teaching Procedures

Theoretical classes:
Practical and tutorial classes: teaching methodologies which comprehend eliciting techniques that provide the opportunity to consolidate and apply concepts and theoretical knowledge. The classes also provide the opportunity for follow- up and guide the group written assignment .The written assignment consists on identifying a topic and analyzing it according to the theoretical perspectives and empirical developments.

Programme

I.Social control of crime and deviance: an introduction
1. Conceptual and disciplinary delimitation.
2. Theoretical map of sociology and criminology of social control
3. Scientific research on formal social control of crime: data sources and main methodologies.

II Criminal justice system and formal control bodies
1. The concepts of system and criminal justice system
2. Formal control agencies and criminal justice system (Portugal): i) Law; ii) Police; iii) Public Prosecution Service; iv) Courts; (v) Penitentiary and probation services

III. Criminology and the criminal justice system: key themes and theoretical-empirical research lines

1. Processes of criminalization and decriminalization
2. Deterrence, legitimacy, and procedural justice
3. Prison adaptation and prison climate

IV. Social control, punishment, and criminal policies: contemporary trends and perspectives

1. The legacy of M. Foucault
2. "The Culture of Control" (D. Garland)

Evaluation Type

Two tests and a written assignment.

Teaching Resources

Databases and scientific literature

Sustainability Objectives

The CU´s objectives align with Goal 16 of the UN Agenda 2030 which aims to promote peaceful, just, and inclusive societies for sustainable development. By introducing students to the study of social control of crime and deviance, particularly through the formal mechanisms of the criminal justice system, the UC contributes to understanding and strengthening justice and security systems at both national and global levels.

Keywords

Social control; criminal justice; criminal policies; police and policing; sentencing; punishment; deterrence; prison; procedural justice.

Main Bibliography

Complementary Bibliography