Institute of Criminal Justice Studies

Criminal Justice Studies at the University of Portsmouth

Criminal Justice is essentially how we as a society deal with the problem of crime. It involves agencies with which we are all familiar; police, prisons, courts and probation services. for example. Increasingly it also involves local authorities, private sector security services, national and local charities, and in multi-agency working a number of services not normally associated with crime (for example, health, education, housing and social services). Responding to crime, preventing crime, punishing crime and rehabilitating offenders are all aspects of criminal justice. Thousands of staff are employed and billions of pounds are spent each year as government seeks to allay the fear of crime and reassure the public that all is being done to tackle a problem which affects many but in very differentiated ways.

ICJS has excellent contacts with all major criminal justice agencies. We have developed programmes which offer our students a considerable advantage if they plan to join the police service. We deliver over 50% of probation officer training in England and Wales. We use our associations to foster research and work experience opportunities and much of our academic research is enhanced by close working with key partners. Criminal justice in the 21st century is a fascinating subject which covers a range of disciplines (criminology, psychology, social policy forensic studies and politics to name but a few) and our wide academic disciplinary staff group offers students the opportunities to explore criminal justice in its broadest sense.

Courses with Criminal Justice Studies content

Students with a master's qualification can also progress to a professional doctorate: