Presentation

Responses to increasing social concerns about crime are being played out on a number of fronts: on the one hand, there is increasing relevance and use of innovative technologies in criminal justice systems, such as the transnational sharing of forensic information in the European Union - through the sharing of genetic, biometric and custom data processed on a large scale. On the other hand, “classical” institutions of social control such as educational centres and prisons are reproduced and (re)legitimized. These are placed in ambiguous positions that span from punishment and retribution and re-education and rehabilitation.

This advanced training course explores how these new tendencies, despite appearing diverse and apparently disjointed, are part of safe practices of risk management that reproduce and amplify selective practices of police and judicial institutions, perpetuating and reinforcing processes of discrimination and stigmatization of groups and social categories most vulnerable to criminalization. Given these pillars of reflection, this CES Summer School invites students to critically reflect on the forms certain control mechanisms pose particular challenges at the current citizenship configurations. 

Scientific Coordination: Helena Machado
Coordinators: Filipe Santos, Rafaela Granja and Susana Costa

The programme is organised around four main themes that include elements ranging from criminal investigation and the enforcement of educational tutelary measures to criminal conviction.

1. Criminal investigation using DNA technologies in Portugal;
2. European cooperation in combating crime based on the sharing of genetic information;
3. Execution of educational tutorial measures;
4. Enforcement of prison sentences.

The teaching team is formed by social scientists with vast and consolidated experience in these subjects.

At the end of the course, the students will be able to:

1. Know theoretical and methodological tools in the area of social studies of forensic genetics, crime and penalties;
2. Analyse the mobilisation of technologies in criminal investigation;
3. Understand the exchange of DNA information in the framework of cross-border police cooperation within the European Union;
4. Apprehend the social and legal dimensions of compliance with tutelary measures;
5. To explore the implications of the coexistence of criminal rationalities in the experiences of seclusion and social reintegration;
6. Reflect critically on issues of power and inequality articulated with the interrelationships between science, technology and social control;
7. Discuss the citizenship configurations related to the use of surveillance technologies and practices among certain social groups.

The course will involve several expository sessions and four practical activities, namely: i) a workshop on the construction of criminal narratives; ii) a field trip to the prisons of Coimbra; iii) a mock trial developed in the classroom and iv) a broad debate about citizenship configurations and mechanisms of social control
 

Target audience: students from all levels of university education and professionals in the areas of social sciences, criminology, law, social work, law and science sciences

Duration: 20 hours

Registration: Students: 25 euros | Regular: 40 euros

The course will be held with a minimum of 13 registrations and a maximum of 20. 

Organisers: Project Exchange and Science, Economy and Society Research Group (NECES)