Criminal Justice and Social Policy

Criminal justice and social policy is a combination that examines crime not in isolation but as a social problem embedded in the structures, institutions and policies of society. Criminal justice is concerned with the systems of policing, courts, prosecution, sentencing and correctional practice through which society responds to crime, and with the effectiveness, fairness and consequences of those responses. Social policy examines how governments address social problems more broadly: through welfare systems, healthcare, housing, education and employment policy.

Together, they give you the tools to understand crime, punishment and social disadvantage as interconnected aspects of how societies are organised and how inequality is managed or reproduced.

At the University of York, this three-year full-time degree develops your understanding of crime as a social phenomenon within a wider global framework. You will study criminal justice systems in comparative perspective, social policy theory and practice, the sociology of crime and deviance, victimology, penology, and the relationship between criminal justice policy and broader social policy agendas. A sandwich year placement, a year abroad, and a work placement are all available, giving you substantial professional and international experience that situates your academic learning within real systems and practices.

The year abroad in particular gives you the opportunity to study criminal justice and social policy in a comparative international context, which deepens your understanding of how different societies respond to crime and social need.

You will develop strong analytical and research skills, the ability to evaluate complex evidence and policy arguments, and the communication capabilities that careers in criminal justice, social policy and related fields require.

Graduates move into probation, social work (with further training), policy research, local government, the voluntary sector, criminal justice administration, research, journalism, and a wide range of roles concerned with social justice and welfare. Postgraduate study in social policy, criminology, social work, or public administration is a well-supported pathway.