Last modified: 18 Aug 2025 11:16
The course examines topical legal issues, themes and debates relating to children, young people and crime, within a legal, social and political context. This includes the recent incorporation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into Scots law. Topics will be chosen annually to reflect contemporary debates but might include: the age of criminal responsibility; children’s participation in the justice system as offenders or witnesses; sexual offences committed by and against children; domestic abuse and children; sentencing; the impact of childhood offending later in life; and case-studies on youth justice issues in other legal systems.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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One or more of these courses have a limited number of places. Priority access will be given to students for whom this course is compulsory. Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions for more details on this process.
The course examines topical legal issues, themes and debates relating to children, young people and crime, within a legal, social and political context. This includes the recent incorporation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into Scots law. The focus of the course is domestic Scots law but comparisons with the law of other systems will be made where appropriate.
Topics will be chosen annually to reflect contemporary debates but might include: the age of criminal responsibility; children’s participation in the justice system as offenders or witnesses; sexual offences committed by and against children; domestic abuse and children; sentencing; the impact of childhood offending later in life; and case-studies on youth justice issues in other legal systems.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 60 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
2,250-word essay worth 60% of the overall grade. |
Word Count | 2250 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | To develop an understanding of the legal rules relating to the treatment of young people and children in the criminal justice system |
| Factual | Evaluate | To further develop the ability to research independently and identify relevant, reliable sources. |
| Procedural | Analyse | To think critically about the debates relevant to the area, developing the ability to solve problems and construct arguments in a logical fashion. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 31 | Feedback Weeks | 34 | |
| Feedback |
2,000-word essay worth 40% of the overall grade. |
Word Count | 2000 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | To develop an understanding of the legal rules relating to the treatment of young people and children in the criminal justice system |
| Factual | Evaluate | To further develop the ability to research independently and identify relevant, reliable sources. |
| Procedural | Analyse | To think critically about the debates relevant to the area, developing the ability to solve problems and construct arguments in a logical fashion. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Failed elements will be capped at grade 09 (D3). |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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|
||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural | Analyse | To think critically about the debates relevant to the area, developing the ability to solve problems and construct arguments in a logical fashion. |
| Factual | Evaluate | To further develop the ability to research independently and identify relevant, reliable sources. |
| Conceptual | Understand | To develop an understanding of the legal rules relating to the treatment of young people and children in the criminal justice system |
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