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2020/2021

Prison Law

Code: 100458 ECTS Credits: 6
Degree Type Year Semester
2500257 Criminology OB 3 2
The proposed teaching and assessment methodology that appear in the guide may be subject to changes as a result of the restrictions to face-to-face class attendance imposed by the health authorities.

Contact

Name:
Marķa Carmen Navarro Villanueva
Email:
MariCarmen.Navarro@uab.cat

Use of Languages

Principal working language:
catalan (cat)
Some groups entirely in English:
No
Some groups entirely in Catalan:
Yes
Some groups entirely in Spanish:
No

Other comments on languages

If the course is attended by international students, the course will be in Spanish

Prerequisites

Do not apply.

Objectives and Contextualisation

The main objective of the course consists in providing the student with the basic knowledge to be able to draft any report aimed to the Prison’s Administration or to the Judge responsible for the enforcement of judgments relating to the situation of incarcerated people and, especially, about their access to prison privileges; to prison day-release permits or permissions to leave the prison; the disciplinary procedure or about the penitentiary classification. On the other hand, other important objectives pursued by the course are to offer the student the necessary skills to be able to inform any incarcerated person about his situation as well as to know the reality of our prisons. 

 

Competences

  • Ability to analyse and summarise.
  • Clearly explaining and arguing a carried out analysis about a conflict or crime problem and its responses in front of specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Drawing up an academic text.
  • Identifying the most appropriate and effective penal intervention for each particular case.
  • Properly using the legal, psychological, pedagogical and sociological language.
  • Respectfully interacting with other people.
  • Students must demonstrate they know the legal framework and operating model of the crime control agents.
  • Using non-discriminatory and respectful language when referring to the several parties involved in conflict and criminality.
  • Verbally transmitting ideas to an audience.
  • Working autonomously.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Ability to analyse and summarise.
  2. Applying effectiveness criteria when using law in the field of criminology.
  3. Arguing criminality arguments in a verbal and polite way and without bias.
  4. Arguing with accuracy legal concepts at a forum.
  5. Drawing up an academic text.
  6. Effectively communicating by using specific law terms.
  7. Respectfully interacting with other people.
  8. Using the legislation and its means of implementation to the criminal act.
  9. Verbally transmitting ideas to an audience.
  10. Working autonomously.

Content

I:  Spanish penitentiary law

1. Overview

2. Origin and evolution of the Spanish penitentiary law

3. The prison judge.

II. Evolution of the prison

1. The birth of the prison as a punishment

2. Penitentiary systems

3. The Spanish progressive model

III. Organization of the prison

1. Overview

2. Types of prisons

3. Main aspects: admission and transfers, rights and duties, security and control

IV Classification and treatment

1. General overview

2. Assessment and classification. Risk assessment (Riscanvi).  Individual treatment plan.

3. Types of classification: closed regime, ordinary regime and open regime

V. Management of prisons

1. Distribution of functions

2. Prison director, rehabilitation board and disciplinary board

3. Rehabilitation and surveillance staff

4. Reports of the prison staff.

VI. Prisoners rights and duties

1. The status of prisoner

2. Rights

3. Duties

4. Responsibility of the Prison Administration

VII Work and training

1. Overview

2. Prison work

3. Vocational training

4. The Agency for prison training and job settlement

VIII: Prison conditions

1. Overview

2. Hygiene and nutrition

3. Healthcare assistance

4. Instruction, education and recreational activities

IX: Contacts with the outside world

1. Overview

2. Accompanied exits and prison leaves

3. Communications

4. Packages

 XI Discipinary measures

1. Overview 

2. Disciplinary infractions

3. Disciplinary sanctions

4. Procedure

XI. Release from prison

1. Overview

2. Parole

3. Indult

4. Rewards

 XII Women and foreigners in prison

1. Overview

2.  The Spanish and the International Rules regarding the contacts between incarcerated parents and their children.

3. The exercise of motherhood in prison.

4. The rights of the children of incarcerated parents

5. The situation of foreigners in Spanish’s prisons.

 

Methodology

Statement: Teaching and assessment methods may be submitted to change in case health authorities impose restrictions to access to campus

Classes of the “Prison Law” will combine theory and practice. The first part of the class will be devoted mainly to the theoretical study of the Prison Law based on the professor’s explanation. Previously, the student will need to study in detail the subject in question. Sometimes, when this theoretical part ended, the student will be tested in order to verify his knowledge of the subject.

The second part of the class will be dedicated to the correction and commentary of the works presented by the students as well as to doubts and questions about the topic raised by students. Finally, it will be possible to discuss the news appeared along the week into the media regarding the reality of our prisons. 

Classes start on time. Late arrival is not admitted.

 

Activities

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Discussion and resolution of cases studies 15 0.6 4, 3, 6, 7, 9
Lectures 15 0.6 2, 4, 1
Practical cases in classroom 4.5 0.18 4, 3, 6, 5, 1, 10
Resolution of doubts, discussions and conferences 4.5 0.18 4, 3, 6, 7, 1, 9
Type: Supervised      
Assessment 5 0.2 4, 6
Type: Autonomous      
Study of the subject 106 4.24 2, 6, 5, 10, 8

Assessment

There is only one evaluation model: the “continuos evaluation”, that requires the attenance of  the 100 of the classes. Non attendance is only justifiable in case of illness or similar reasons. Documentary evidence will be provided in case of non attendance.

The final grade for the course will be the average grade of the different works that the student has to present along the course (50%) as well as of the grades of two multiple choice exams that the student will do (50%). The average mark for the two exams must be, at least, a 5 in order to pass the course.

A minimum mark of 5 in the two items of assessment is required. In the case of failure of one of the two items of assessment (works and exams) with at least a mark of 3, a second chance will be given.

The student that cheat or attempt to cheat in the exam will fail it and will lose the right to a second chance. Plagiarism will conduct to a fail the essay. In the case of recidivism, the student will receive a fail mark. 

Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Assessments 50% 0 0 2, 6, 5, 1, 10, 8
Individual practices 25% 0 0 2, 4, 6, 5, 7, 1, 9, 8
Working groups 25% 0 0 2, 4, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10

Bibliography

Compulsory readings: 

* Coyle, A. (2009). La Administración Penitenciaria en el contexto de los derechos humanos. Manual para el personal penitenciario (pp. 11-23)

http://www.acaip.info/info/manual_penitenciario.pdf

* Cutiño, S. (2015).  Algunos datos sobre la realidad del tratamiento en las prisiones españolas. Revista electrónica de Ciencia Penal y Criminología, 17, 1-41.

* Navarro,Carmen (2018). El encarcelamiento femenino (pp. 6-101). Barcelona: Atelier.

* Navarro, Carmen (2017). Las recientes reformas de la ejecución de la pena privativa de libertad. Justicia, 2, 275-318.

* Roca de Agapito, L. (2017). La masificación de las cárceles: breve reflexión a propósito del caso de Estados Unidos. Revista Electróncia de Ciencia Penal y Criminología, 19, 1-33.

* Rovira M., Larrauri Elena &  Alarcón, P. (2018) La concesión de permisos. Revista electrónica de Ciencia Penal y Criminología, 20, 1-26. 

Recommended bibliography

* Cervelló, Vicenta (2015).  Derecho penitenciario. València: Tirant lo Blanch.

* Jewkes, Yvonne & Johnston, Helen (2006). Prison readings: a critical introduction to prisons and imprisonment. Cullmpton: Willan.

* Juanatey, Carmen (2016). Manual de derecho penitenciario. Madrid: Iustel.

* Mir,  C. (2012). Derecho Penitenciario. El cumplimiento de la pena privativa de libertad.  Barcelona:Atelier.

* Navarro, Carmen (2019). Ejecución de la pena privativa de libertad. Porto: Juruá

* Navarro, Carmen (2002). La ejecución de la pena privativa de libertad. Garantías procesales.  Barcelona: J.M. Bosch editor.

* Navarro, Carmen (2018). El encarcelamiento femenino. Barcelona: Atelier. 

* Nistal, J. (2016). El sistema penitenciario espanol "de un vistazo". Madrid: Grupo Criminología y Justicia.

* Tamarit, J. M. (Ed.) (2005). Curso de derecho penitenciario. València: Tirant lo Blanch.