| Semester 2, 2020 On-campus Toowoomba | |
| Short Description: | Crime and Justice |
| Units : | 1 |
| Faculty or Section : | Faculty of Business, Education, Law and Arts |
| School or Department : | School of Law and Justice |
| Student contribution band : | Band 1 |
| ASCED code : | 099903 - Criminology |
| Grading basis : | Graded |
Staffing
Examiner:
Other requisites
All students are required to have access to a personal computer, e-mail capabilities and Internet access to UConnect. Current details of computer requirements can be found at:
Rationale
Crime is and always has been a feature in all societies across the world. The problem of crime is universal, as too is the ongoing goal of researchers and policy makers to develop effective responses to it. Understanding how crime is defined, current criminal justice responses to crime, and associated challenges in defining and responding to crime is fundamental to studies within the discipline of Criminology. By understanding crime and society鈥檚 responses to it, students will gain a broader appreciation for the legal and social complexities connected with crime. Developing this knowledge is advantageous for students who anticipate future careers or further research endeavours involving work with offenders or victims, the criminal justice system, and/or developing related policy.
Synopsis
Part one of this course introduces students to the key `what?', `where?', `who?' and `how?' questions associated with crime. Beginning with an examination of what constitutes crime, students will learn about the complimentary and competing definitions of crime, as well as the overarching importance for the study of crime. Different types of crime are then examined in connection with where crime typically occurs, who is deemed responsible for the majority of crimes committed, and how crime is both portrayed by the media and perceived by the general public. Part two builds on students' knowledge of these key questions, with further examination of the current responses to crime, within the Australian context. Responses to crime encompass formal mechanisms in the form of the criminal justice system, informal mechanisms via community-based responses, as well as the inherent challenges present in responding to and preventing crime.
Objectives
On successful completion of this course students should be able to:
- discuss the different types of crime, how crime is defined, the associated challenges with defining crime, and identify the limitations connected with the current understandings of crime;
- explore in detail the reasons underpinning over-representation of some groups over others in the criminal justice system;
- identify how crime is portrayed through various mediums and the influence of this on perceptions of crime;
- explain the key aims and principles of the criminal justice system;
- identify and explain the roles of each of the three key stakeholders within the criminal justice system;
- explain and critically appraise the current challenges associated with the intervention and prevention of crime and present these criticisms through written communication, as well as through verbal interaction.
Topics
| Description | Weighting(%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Course outline and introduction to Crime and Justice | 10.00 |
| 2. | Characteristics of crime | 20.00 |
| 3. | Policing crime: Agencies, Responses & Investigations | 20.00 |
| 4. | Courts: Administration & processes | 20.00 |
| 5. | Corrections: Enacting the aims & principles of sentencing | 20.00 |
| 6. | Examining 鈥楯ustice鈥�: inequalities and challenges in the CJS | 10.00 |
Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed
ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from (unless otherwise stated). (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/textbooks/?year=2020&sem=02&subject1=CRI1121)
Please for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/info/contact/)
* The course examiner will provide instructions for subscribing to Revel in the first week. Students are advised to wait until those instructions are provided before purchasing their subscription. Students are not required to purchase this textbook in hardcopy or as an eBook. Students will be required to subscribe to the online learning platform, Revel, where an eBook version of this text is made available as part of the Revel subscription.
Reference materials
Student workload expectations
| Activity | Hours |
|---|---|
| Assessments | 65.00 |
| Directed 精东传媒app | 39.00 |
| Private 精东传媒app | 61.00 |
Assessment details
| Description | Marks out of | Wtg (%) | Due Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On-line Test | 30 | 30 | 14 Jul 2020 | (see note 1) |
| Reflective Journal | 40 | 40 | 14 Jul 2020 | (see note 2) |
| Tutorial Participation | 20 | 20 | 14 Jul 2020 | (see note 3) |
| Online Quiz | 10 | 10 | 06 Nov 2020 | (see note 4) |
Notes
- Date to be advised
- Due Date to be advised
- Participation will be assessed throughout the semester
- Due Dates to be advised
Important assessment information
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Attendance requirements:
It is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them, to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration. -
Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks for that item. -
Penalties for late submission of required work:
Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4) -
Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course. -
Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted marks obtained for each of the summative items for the course. -
Examination information:
There is no examination for this course. -
Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
Not applicable. -
精东传媒app Student Policies:
Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene 精东传媒app policies and practices. These policies can be found at .
Assessment notes
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Referencing in assignments must comply with the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (AGLC) referencing system. This system should be used by students to format details of the information sources they have cited in their work. The (AGLC) style to be used is defined by the USQ library鈥檚 referencing guide.