Course

Introduction to Corrections

Faculty
Humanities & Social Sciences
Department
Criminology
Course code
CRIM 1170
Credits
3.00
Semester length
15
Max class size
35
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Course designation
None
Industry designation
None
Typically offered
To be determined

Overview

Course description
This course examines the current theory and practice of Canadian corrections. Topics include the history of corrections, sentencing, alternatives to incarceration, the incarceration process, correctional workers, institutional programs (e.g., work, education, security, social rehabilitation), community-based corrections programs, and community involvement in corrections. The functions and dysfunctions of corrections will be analyzed and current issues and reform initiatives will be reviewed.
Course content
  1. Aspects of Corrections
    • Purpose and principles
    • Correctional jurisdiction in Canada
  2. An Historical Overview of Corrections
  3. Sentencing and Corrections
    • Purpose and principles
    • Options and justifications
    • Sentencing disparity
  4. Correctional Facilities: Institutional and Community
    • The operation of external and internal influences on correctional facilities
    • Challenges to Correctional Service of Canada meeting its objectives
    • The carceral experience and long-term impacts
    • Working in the correctional environment
  5. Classification, Case Management, and Treatment
    • The classification process
    • Challenges of measuring treatment success
    • The delivery of correctional treatment
  6. Alternative Sanctions and Community-Based Corrections
    • Philosophy, justification, and importance of community-based programs
    • Controversies surrounding alternative and community-based sanctions
  7. Current Issues and Challenges for Reform such as:         
    • Specialized groups: youth, women and indigenous offenders
    • Overpopulation of racialized groups 
    • Mental health
    • Impact of aging prisoner populations
    • Restorative justice
    • Diversity  
    • Trauma-informed approaches 
  8. Identify Possible Future Trends in Canada
Learning activities

The course will employ a variety of instructional methods to accomplish its objectives, including some of the following:  lectures, group work, case studies, audio-visual materials, small group discussions, guest speakers, prison tours, and research papers.

Means of assessment

Evaluation will be based on course objectives and will be carried out in accordance with Douglas College Evaluation policy. The instructor will provide a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester.  Evaluation will be based on some of the following:

  1. Short Answer Tests
  2. Exams
  3. Case Analysis
  4. Individual and/or Group Assignments
  5. Research Project / Term Paper
  6. Class Participation and Professionalism

 An example of one possible evaluation scheme would be:

Attendance, Participation, and Professionalism

10%

In-class (mini) assessments

10%

Sentencing Assignment (case analysis)

10%

Case Management Assignment (case analysis)

10%

Term Paper (e.g. Argumentative Essay, Corrections  , Case Analysis)

20%

Group Quiz 

10%

Midterm Exam

15%

Final Exam 

15%

Total

100%

Instructors may use a student’s record of attendance, level of active participation in the course, and/or professionalism as part of the student’s grade  Where this occurs, expectations and grade calculations will be clearly defined in the Instructor Course Outline.

Learning outcomes

At the conclusion of the course, the successful student will be able to:

 

  1. Identify the current and historical philosophy and purposes of corrections in Canada.                                               
  2. Discuss the historical development of correctional practice in Canada, emphasizing the evolution and use of prisons.
  3. Explain concepts such as punishment, rehabilitation, and justice in terms
    of practical application within corrections.
  4. Describe pre-court diversion, community service, restorative conferencing, and community involvement as they contribute to court dispositions for youth and adults as practised in Canada.
  5. Discuss the various sentencing options and how they influence corrections.
  6. Discuss political and public/societal influence on correctional institutions and correctional practice, emphasizing importance of  ideology.
  7. Describe the philosophy, rationale, operation, and evidence of success of probation, parole, and conditional release.
  8. Identify key groups (i.e., prisoners, institutional staff and administration, community) in institutions and understand the nature of the relationship between them.
  9. Identify the range, rationale, integrity, accessibility, and efficacy of correctional programs, including educational, vocational, and cognitive-behaviourally based programs.
  10. Describe post-institutional corrections, namely the conditional release process.  Discuss the philosophy, rationale, and evidence of success of conditional release programs.
  11. Identify possible and probable future trends in corrections in Canada.
Textbook materials

Textbooks and materials are to be purchased by students. A list of required textbooks and materials is provided for students at the beginning of the semester. Example texts may include:

A bibliography of materials/resources and a Coursepack of relevant selected readings may be required. 

Griffiths, C.T. and Murdoch, D.J. (2022). Canadian Corrections (current edition)*. Toronto: Nelson Education Ltd.

Barath, J. and Laferriere, M. (2018) Corrections in Canada. Toronto: Edmond Montgomery Publications Limited.

 

Requisites

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None

Equivalencies

None

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer details for CRIM 1170
Camosun College (CAMO) CAMO CRIM 252 (3)
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU SOC 1XX (3)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU CRIM 2214 (3)
Langara College (LANG) LANG CRIM 2315 (3)
Okanagan College (OC) OC ARTS 1XX (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU CRIM 241 (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU CRIM 1XXX (3)
Trinity Western University (TWU) TWU GENS 1XX (3)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) UBCO SOCI_O 1st (3)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) UBCV SOCI_V 1st (3)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC SOSC 1XX (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV CRIM 101 (3)
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC SOSC 1XX (1.5)
Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU CRIM 241 (3)

Course Offerings

Summer 2025

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
0
Remaining seats:
35
On waitlist
0
Building
Coquitlam - Bldg. D
Room
D1020
Times:
Start Time
12:30
-
End Time
15:20
Section notes

See Legal Studies (LGST) for other university transferable law and legal system courses.

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
0
Remaining seats:
35
On waitlist
0
Building
Coquitlam - Bldg. D
Room
D1020
Times:
Start Time
15:30
-
End Time
18:20
Section notes

See Legal Studies (LGST) for other university transferable law and legal system courses.