1. Using a criminal offence to illustrate your points, critically examine the criticisms of rational choice theory in our understanding of criminal liability?

Guidelines: 1. You should write your essay after you have done enough reading of relevant academic literature ( i.e. books and journal articles) and official sources such as legislation, court cases, and policy documents. So you must read before attempting to complete the assignment. Please note that newspapers and other media sources do not count as appropriate literature for this assignment, and should not be referenced in your essay. 2. Look carefully at the learning outcomes for this assignment. These are listed as learning outcomes 1 (L01) and learning outcome 2 (LO2) as follows: (LO1) Critically examine criminological perspectives on issues in criminal law (LO2) Apply criminological theories in the analysis of legal problems. 3. You are expected to show that you are able to use criminological perspectives (for example, perspectives about rational choice theory (Q1), or about preventive justice (Q2)) to legal issues in relation to crime (for example, establishing criminal liability for a particular offence (LO1). That means you need to show that you understand the details of rational choice theory (i.e. what it says explain criminal behaviour) and examine how that is applicable to the rules and principles used in criminal law to determine liability. Be critical. That means you should remember that there is a debate among academics about explanations of criminal behaviour. For example, there are critics of rational choice theory. It will be helpful for you to look out for and highlight the weaknesses of rational choice theory. Some of these will be apparent when you look at elements of the offence you are using to illustrate your answer. Similarly, preventive justice is one approach in understanding and critiquing the use of the law to respond to certain crimes, but this approach has weaknesses too. 4. You are expected to show that you are able to use criminological theories (for example, rational choice in Q1, or Nicola Lacey’s discussion of Lucia Zedner’s and Andrew Ashworth’s argument about preventive justice (Q2) to analyse legal problems (LO2). The offence(s) you are using to illustrate your answer raise particular problems in any given scenario or situation. For either question, you should use scenarios (i.e. the material facts ) from a leading court case about an offence or type of offence. The legal issue(s) from problems in those facts are what the court(s) ruled on and handed down their judgments. Your essay should apply criminological theories to analyse those problems. That means you should be critical of the court judgment(s). 5. Further guidelines will be post here, including from the scheduled assignment workshop: CM6008 Essays Guidelines-22A.pptxDownload CM6008 Essays Guidelines-22A.pptx pt. CPS Standard Rubric 2021/22 Dept. CPS Standard Rubric 2021/22 Criteria Ratings This criterion is linked to a learning outcomeKnowledge and Understanding Students should demonstrate their ability to make sense of and apply relevant concepts and theories covered on the module. This criterion is linked to a learning outcomeEvaluation and Analysis Students should demonstrate their ability to weigh up theoretical ideas, and their ability to use evidence to support an argument. This criterion is linked to a learning outcomeReading and Referencing Students should ensure that they have read and engaged with relevant academic materials, and they have referenced their work correctly, using Harvard Referencing. This criterion is linked to a learning outcomePresentation and Grammar Students should demonstrate their ability to structure their work in a coherent way, which clearly outlines and develops their argument. They should demonstrate accuracy in spelling and grammar. The assignment • Write a 1500-word essay on one of the following questions: • 1. Using a criminal offence to illustrate your points, critically examine the criticisms of rational choice theory in our understanding of criminal liability? • 2. Critically discuss Nicola Lacey’s idea of preventive justice in criminal law with respect to one of the following: a) terrorism-related offences or b) possession of knives and offensive weapons. • [Access the link to Lacey’s review of Zedner and Ashworth on preventive justice via the Assignment page on Canvas and/or via the topic page for week 3 (see the `Schedule page).] 1. Reading • 1. You should write your essay after you have done enough reading of relevant academic literature ( i.e. books and journal articles) and official sources such as legislation, court cases, and policy documents. So you must read before attempting to complete the assignment. Please note that newspapers and other media sources do not count as appropriate literature for this assignment and should not be referenced in your essay. 2. The Learning Outcomes • 2. Look carefully at the learning outcomes for this assignment. These are listed as learning outcomes 1 (L01) and learning outcome 2 (LO2) as follows: • (LO1) Critically examine criminological perspectives on issues in criminal law • (LO2) Apply criminological theories in the analysis of legal problems. 3: Criminological perspectives and legal issues • You are expected to show that you are able to use criminological perspectives (for example, perspectives about rational choice theory (Q1), or about preventive justice (Q2)) to legal issues in relation to crime (for example, establishing criminal liabiliaqwty for a particular offence (LO1).