Criminology: Crime Prevention and Evaluation Methodology

The aim of this course is for the students to develop knowledge of crime prevention and evaluation methodology. Special attention is awarded to evaluation methods to establish the evidence base of crime preventive measures and programs targeting individuals and/or environments, and prevention measures and programs that have practical relevance for the health care services, social services, forensic psychiatry, prison and probation services, police, and other actors relevant to the criminological field. The course aims to expand the students’ ability to critically assess the effects of crime reduction measures, as well as critically analyse existing evaluations of these measures, as well as how crime prevention can contribute to the development of a socially sustainable society.

The course is divided in two partly overlapping sections with a focus in the first on crime prevention. The first section focuses on the theoretical and empirical foundations of contemporary crime prevention strategies, preventive measures, treatment and care programs, and their practical application. Definitions of relevant concepts and their interconnected relations will be discussed and exemplified with national and international research. The second section focuses on evaluation methodology, where different evaluation approaches and evaluation designs will be introduced. Several examples of classic evaluations are assessed for both their design and execution, including evaluations of treatment and care programs, interventions, projects, and organizational change. The emphasis is on designs and methodologies that are practical and applicable in criminological relevant organizations, such as the health care services, social services, forensic psychiatry, prison and probation services, and the police.

Syllabus autumn 2024

Earlier syllabuses

Malmö University provides students who participate in, or who have completed a course, with the opportunity to express their opinions and describe their experiences of the course by completing a course evaluation administered by the University. The University will compile and summarise the results of course evaluations. The University will also inform participants of the results and any decisions relating to measures taken in response to the course evaluations. The results will be made available to the students (HF 1:14).