Diploma in Criminology and Criminal Justice

Upon successful completion of the course, the students will be able to

1. Explain the underlying philosophies, history, processes, components, and best practices of the Criminal Justice system (i.e., police, courts, correctional agencies).
2. Analyze the role of ethics, diversity, culture, political power, and corporate power on the components of the Criminal Justice system.
3. Evaluate the nature, extent, causation, and prevention of crime and critique the major criminological theories.
4. Demonstrate social scientific research methodologies and analyze data to formulate defensible conclusions. 
5. Apply the principles of substantive, procedural, and evidentiary criminal laws that regulate and guide the Criminal Justice system and its actors and apply classroom-based information to a real-world setting (e.g., social support agency, police department, courtroom, correctional facility) and critically examine the practices, policies, or processes of that setting.

The development policy analysis has become important for Sri Lanka since the country intends to achieve a higher growth rate every year. However, the country’s growth rate and the entire development has not been satisfactory throughout the post independent period. As such, it is important to train those who are interested in development policy with a more specialty. This diploma programme accomplishes this goal by offering a broad array of analytical techniques, a wide perspective on pressing policy issues, and practical experience in the dynamics of policy-making organizations at local and national level.

The role of knowledge in the policy process has remained a central theoretical puzzle in policy analysis. The evidence-based policy making has focused on the debate on questions of how knowledge use can improve the quality of policy choices. The overall objective of this programme is to provide an opportunity to explore the way in which theory and evidence can be used to analyze contemporary policy issues. The programme should be of particular value to students who intend to work as professionals in government institutions or other agencies, where they will be expected to provide analysis and advice on specific issues of policy, including new and unfamiliar issues.