UNVERSITY OF BOTSWANA

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY
SOC 127: Introduction to Penology

ACADEMIC YEAR 2019/2020

SEMESTER TWO: January to May 2020

Course Lecturer: Mr Tidimane Ntsabane

Office: 240/154 Social Science Building
Office hours: MWF 9-11 or by appointment.
Class Times : MWF 12:00 Venue : 252- 001
E- mail: [email protected]
Office Phone : 3552677

Faculty Social Sciences

Department Sociology
Code and title SOC 127: Introduction to Penology
Credits 3
Type Optional
Semester 2
Pre-requisites None
Co-requisites None

Rationale
As a beginners course in penology it will seek to introduce the basic
concepts and principles in penology. The course will introduce students to
among other issues what is penology, what the penal system is, history of
penal institutions, and the primary function of penal systems within the
criminal justice system. Provides a theoretical and policy-oriented
consideration of how and why we punish criminal offending, particularly
through the use of imprisonment The course will also examine issues in
sentencing, the sentencing process the different types of sentences such
as custodial, and non-custodial sentences, the different categories of
offenders as well as the opportunities and challenges the different
sentences offer for the development of the penal system.

Course Synopsis

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 Penology derives from the word punishment or penal/penalty. Like the
other ologies it is generally understood as a scientific study. It is
understood to be scientific study of the punishment and treatment of
people who break the law within the criminal justice system. It is
conventionally regarded as a branch of criminology (Criminal Justice
Studies) and focuses on the theory and methods of treatment/punishment
for criminals. Penology as a science could be divided into prevention
science and treatment science. The prevention science operates before
the commission of the crime, while the treatment science takes place
after the occurrence of the crime to amend the criminal and avoid his
recidivism. And also suggests the ideal methods of prevention and
treatment, therefore it traces the ideal criminal policy.
As an introductory course it will be a beginners course in the field of
penology.

Aim and Learning Outcomes

Aim: To introduce students to penology as a sub-discipline in

criminology.

Learning Outcomes: By the end of the course students should be able

to:

 understand the meaning of penology, the penal system and the

place of the penal system in the criminal justice system.

 understand various philosophies underlying treatment and

punishment of lawbreakers.

 understand the structures and processes of both custodial and

non-custodial sentencing in Botswana and other countries.

 be able to identify and engage the key issues, problems, trends,

ideas and debates within the field of penology

 be able to apply concepts and ideas from the course to

Botswana’s penal system.

Course Outline

1. An Introduction to the sociology of crime and deviance

 What is crime and deviance

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  The various sociological explanations of crime and deviance
 The criminal justice system

2. The Penal System: An overview

 Definition of penology and punishment

 Features of punishment and the right to punish
 The place of the penal system within the criminal justice system
 The history of punishment and penal institutions

Readings
Cavadino, M. and Dignan, J (1992), The Penal System: An
Introduction. London: Sage INTRODUCTION
Hudson, B. (2003)-2nd Edn. Understanding Justice: An Introduction to
ideas, perspectives and controversies in modern penal theory.
Buckingham, Open University Press. CHAPTER 1
Shaidi, L. (1992), “Traditional, Colonial and Present Day
Administration of Criminal Justice” in Criminology in Africa,
Tibamaya Mwene Mushanga (ed.)
Hudson B. (1997), “Social Control” in The Oxford Handbook of
Criminology, Maguire, M. et al (eds).

3. Philosophies for justifying punishment

 Retribution
 Reductivism
 Rehabilitation
 Restorative justice

Readings
Cavadno, M. and Dignan, J. (1997), The Penal System, London: Sage
Publications. CHAPTER 2.
Hudson, B. (2003)-2nd Edn. Understanding Justice: An Introduction to
ideas, perspectives and controversies in modern penal theory.
Buckingham, Open University Press. CHAPTER 2, 3, 4, 5 (RJ)

4. The place of punishment in criminal justice process

Pre-sentencing procedures
 Pre-trial procedures
 Plea bargaining
 Bail/remand
 The Trial process
o Pre-sentencing
Sentencing
 The mandate to sentence
 Varieties of sentences and philosophies informing them
 Determinate and indeterminate custodial sentences

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 Custodial and non custodial sentences

o Suspended sentences
o Probation Orders
o Financial Measures
o Corporal punishment
o Capital punishment
o Electronic tagging
 Post sentencing penal management
o Probation
o Parole
 Sentencing in Botswana

Readings
Cavadno, M. and Dignan, J. (1997), The Penal System, London: Sage
Publications. CHAPTER 4, 8.
Hudson, B. (2003)-2nd Edn. Understanding Justice: An Introduction to
ideas, perspectives and controversies in modern penal theory.
Buckingham, Open University Press. CHAPTER 2
Harding, C. and Koffman, L. Sentencing and the Penal System.
Chapter 2 and 6
Love, L. (1992), Court Sentencing in Botswana: A Role for Probation?
In Journal of Social Development in Africa, 7, 2.
Siegel, L.S. (1986), “The Death Penalty” in Criminology, St Pauls:
West Publishing. pp. 127-131.
Inciardi, J. (2000) Elements of Criminal Justice. Harcourt College
Publishers. Fort Worth.
Otlhogile, B. (n.d) Ways of the bench: Speeches by Chief Justices,
Attorneys General and the Bar. Gaborone. Ministry of State
President.

5. Special Categories of Offenders within the penal system

 Women
 Juveniles and Youth
 The role of Social Enquiry Reports in juvenile justice cases during
sentencing (SERs)
 Long term prisoners
 Racial and ethnic minorities

Readings
Cavadno, M. and Dignan, J. (1997), The Penal System, London: Sage
Publications. CHAPTER 5, 9.
Cohen and Taylor (1972) The Psychological Effects of Long-Term
Imprisonment
Harding, C. and Koffman, L. Sentencing and the Penal System.
Chapter 6

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 Hoge, R. and Andrews, D.A. (1996), Assessing the Youth Offender:
Issues and Techniques. New York : Plenum Press.
Crites, Laura (1976), The Female Offender. Lexinton: D.C. Heath.

6. Prisons and Imprisonment

 The Development of the Modern Prison System
 Colonialism and Prisons in Africa
 The prison experience
o Pains of Imprisonment (Gresham Sykes)
o Total Institutions and Modes of Adaptation to Prison (Ervin
Goffman)
o Imprisonisation (Donald Clemmer)
 The Penal Crisis
 Human rights in prison

Readings
Cavadno, M. and Dignan, J. (1997), The Penal System, London: Sage
Publications. CHAPTER 4, 6, 7.
Hudson, B. (2003)-2nd Edn. Understanding Justice: An Introduction to
ideas, perspectives and controversies in modern penal theory.
Buckingham, Open University Press. CHAPTER 2
Harding, C. and Koffman, L. Sentencing and the Penal System. Chapter
4
Bouman, M. (1994) “Crime and Punishment in Botswana” Unpublished
Thesis, University of Botswana Library
Otlhogile, B. (n.d). “For they Pine and Die: Prison and the Native Mind”
Goffman, I. “Modes of Adaptation” in Asylums.
Skyes, G. “The Pains of Imprisonment” in The Society of Captives.
Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Clemmer, D. “Prisonization” in The Prison Community. New York:
Rinehart & Company, Inc.

Learning, Teaching and Assessment Approaches

Lectures
Attendance and active participation in both lectures and tutorials are
important for learning and are thus mandatory rather than optional.
Students are required to read regularly as preparation for lectures and
tutorials. Your course outline is divided into specific topics and each
topic has specific readings. You should read the relevant material in
advance so that you come to lectures prepared and with some idea as
to what the lecture will be about. It is useful to make note of any
questions you would like to have answered, ask these at the lecture or
tutorial, or alternatively look for the answers from the content of the

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 lectures. After each lecture and tutorial you might want to go over the
reading again so as to clarify any remaining areas of confusion.
Not only is reading prior to a lecture an important means of
preparation, but it also allows you to concentrate more on what the
lecturer has to say, and less on taking down notes. If you read prior to
the lecture you will realise that a lot of things which the lecturer covers
are not new to you, so you will not have to write everything down.
Rather, you will be able to write down important points, examples and
so on. Lectures are not to be used entirely for taking down notes. You
need to use the time to listen to the lecturer, think about what she/he
is saying and take down key points. Try to participate in lectures and
tutorials as much as possible by asking questions, thinking about what
is being said and taking note of areas which interest and/or confuse
you. You can then do further reading around these sections of the
course.

Tutorial Sessions
Tutorials, like lectures are compulsory. In order to fully participate in
tutorial discussions every student must complete the readings
assigned for each tutorial.

Test and final examination

There will be two continuous assessment tests and a final examination.
Only materials covered in lectures, tutorial discussions and assigned
readings will be covered in the tests. All tests will be graded out of 100
marks Absolutely no make-up tests will be allowed except in extreme
cases such as medical or family emergencies. In such cases, students
must provide written documentation of the emergency and arrange to
take the make-up test not later than two weeks after the official test
date.

Grading
The final course grade will be based on the students' performance in
continuous assessment and in the final exam as follows

Test 1: 25%
Test 2: 25 %
Final Exam: 50%

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 Core readings

Cavadino, M. and Dignan, J (1992), The Penal System: An Introduction.

London: Sage

Harding, C. and Koffman, L. (1988), Sentencing and the Penal System:

Text and Materials, London: Sweet and Maxwell.

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